Well
David Byrne Lyrics


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This is not a David Byrne song, it is a Captain Beefheart song titled 'Well'.
David Byrne had performed it live

Light floats down day river on uh red raft o' blood
Night blocks out d' heaven like uh big black shiny bug
Its hard soft shell shinin' white in one spot well
It's hard place dat I'm livin' but I'm doin' well well
The white ice horse melted like uh spot uh silver well
Its mane went last then disappeared the tail
My life ran thru my veins
Whistlin' hollow well
I froze in solid motion well well
I heard the ocean swarmin' body well well
I heard the beetle clickin' well
I sensed the thickest silence scream
Then I begin t' dream
My mind cracked like custard
Ran red until it sealed
Turn t' wooden 'n rolled like uh wheel well well
Thick black felt birds uh flyin'
With capes of solid chrome
With feathers of solid chrome
'n beaks of solid bone
'n bleach the air around them
White 'n cold well well
Till it showed in pain
The hollow cane clicked like ever after




Its shadow vanished shinin' silence
Well well

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Captain Beefheart's song "Well" offer a surreal snapshot of a moment in time. The natural imagery used to describe light, night, and the melting of an ice horse contrasts with the singer's experience of living in a "hard place." Throughout the song, the singer seems to be sifting through memories and emotions, trying to make sense of the world around them. The repetition of "well well" at the end of each verse adds to the dreamlike quality of the lyrics, as if the singer is trapped in a cycle of confusion and searching.


The song's lyrics are open to interpretation, but a few themes stand out. The use of light and dark imagery could be seen as a metaphor for the struggle between good and evil, or the search for understanding in a world of contradictions. The melting ice horse could be read as a symbol of impermanence or the fragility of life. The line "My mind cracked like custard" suggests a mental breakdown or a moment of intense emotional upheaval. Overall, the lyrics of "Well" offer a lyrical, enigmatic portrait of a mind in flux.


Line by Line Meaning

Light floats down day river on uh red raft o' blood
The sunlight looks like it is floating down the river and is reflecting the red color of blood.


Night blocks out d' heaven like uh big black shiny bug
The night sky blocks the view of the stars and looks like a big black bug.


Its hard soft shell shinin' white in one spot well
A bug's hard shell is shining white in a particular place.


It's hard place dat I'm livin' but I'm doin' well well
Although the surroundings are tough, one is trying their best to do well.


The white ice horse melted like uh spot uh silver well
The white ice horse melts and looks like a silver spot.


Its mane went last then disappeared the tail
The mane of the ice horse vanished, followed by its tail.


My life ran thru my veins
I felt every moment of my life running through my veins.


Whistlin' hollow well
A whistling sound that feels empty.


I froze in solid motion well well
I stopped moving abruptly and got stuck.


I heard the ocean swarmin' body well well
I heard the sound of the ocean very clearly.


I heard the beetle clickin' well
I heard the sound of a clicking beetle.


I sensed the thickest silence scream
Even though it was really silent, it felt like it was screaming.


Then I begin t' dream
And then I started to dream.


My mind cracked like custard
My mind broke down like liquid custard.


Ran red until it sealed
Bled out and then stopped bleeding.


Turn t' wooden 'n rolled like uh wheel well well
Then turned into wood and rolled like a wheel.


Thick black felt birds uh flyin'
Thick, black birds are flying.


With capes of solid chrome
The birds have capes made of solid chrome.


With feathers of solid chrome
Their feathers are also made of solid chrome.


'n beaks of solid bone
The birds have beaks made of solid bone.


'n bleach the air around them
And they make the air around them white and cold.


White 'n cold well well
It feels very cold and looks very white.


Till it showed in pain
The surroundings have a painful sensation.


The hollow cane clicked like ever after
The hollow cane made a sound that felt like it was going to last forever.


Its shadow vanished shinin' silence
The shadow disappeared with a bright and silent flash.


Well well
Repeated for emphasis or as a pause.




Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Fragrance Oils Direct

Memories watching this at Sheffield City Hall. Byrne in front of a black backdrop and he belts out Well (without the drums). That's how to open a show !

Tom Anderson

Fun to see david cover a captain beefheart classic.

Chad

This made my day! I did not know Byrne liked Beefheart.

Sam R

This is the song he played to open the "Uh Oh" show, except on solo acoustic guitar - no drums. Those were added later, along with the horn section. Who could imagine?

matommy

This was one of the great moments in my musical life.

mcbillygoat !

Byrne was a major Beefheart fan.

Patrick

right up until the incident......

Starless

Which serious popular musician isn't?

Markus The Great

grande

Markus The Great

we will beef-rock you well

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