Japan, which also included Mick Karn, Rob Dean, Richard Barbieri and Sylvian's brother Steve Jansen, started out as a confusing hybrid rock/sleaze outfit in the mould of David Bowie and The New York Dolls. Their music quickly evolved as, at least to begin with, they drew heavily on the influence of Roxy Music's art rock stylings. Their visual image developed in parallel and the band were (unwillingly) tagged as forerunners of the New Romantic movement.
Japan recorded five studio albums between March 1978 and November 1981. Their biggest hit single, the minimalist Ghosts, which reached the Top 5 in the UK charts in 1982, was a clear pointer to Sylvian's future direction. After a successful tour, the band split in late 1982, and Sylvian embarked upon a solo career.
Around the time of Sylvian's first solo album he collaborated with 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto) on the soundtrack music for the Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), which produced a Top 20 hit single, Forbidden Colours.
Sylvian's debut solo album, the jazz and ambient-influenced Brilliant Trees (1984), met with critical acclaim and yielded the single Red Guitar, another Top 20 hit. Guest artists included Jon Hassell and Holger Czukay. His follow-up was an instrumental EP Alchemy which cemented his drift away from commercial pop
The EP was in turn followed by the double album Gone to Earth (1986), which flouted convention (and perhaps commercial wisdom) by featuring one record of songs (predominantly atmospheric ballads) and one consisting almost entirely of ambient instrumental tracks. Guest artists included guitarists Robert Fripp and Bill Nelson.
His third album, Secrets of the Beehive (1987), was more acoustic and oriented towards somber, emotive ballads laced with string arrangements by 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto). It yielded one of Sylvian's most well-received songs, Orpheus, and was supported by his first solo tour, 1988's "In Praise of Shamans". Sylvian's touring band included ex-Japan bandmates Jansen and Barbieri along with trumpeter Mark Isham, bassist Ian Maidman and guitarists David Torn and Robbie Aceto.
Never one to conform to commercial expectations, Sylvian then collaborated on several ambient music projects with artists including Holger Czukay and Russell Mills.
In 1991, a highly-anticipated Japan reunion (excluding Rob Dean) ended in acrimony. Sylvian insisted on calling the project and the album Rain Tree Crow, to the dismay of both his label Virgin Records (who were hoping for a hit "comeback" album) and his former bandmates. Guitarists Bill Nelson, Phil Palmer and Michael Brook augmented the quartet for the recording of the album.
In late 1991, Robert Fripp approached Sylvian and asked him to be part of a new King Crimson. Sylvian declined and instead suggested they work on a future collaboration resulting in the release of The First Day.
A period of relative musical inactivity followed, during which time Sylvian moved to the United States. Eventually in 1999, Sylvian released Dead Bees on a Cake. It showed the most eclectic influence of all his recordings, ranging from soul music to jazz fusion to Eastern spiritual chants, and most of the songs' lyrics reflecting Sylvian's inner peace with his marriage (to the wonderful poet/singer Ingrid Chavez), family and beliefs. Guest artists included longtime friend 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto), as well as Talvin Singh, Marc Ribot, Kenny Wheeler and Bill Frisell.
Sylvian parted ways with Virgin and launched his own independent label, Samadhi Sound. Sylvian experimented alone with treated sounds made from his guitar and computer. The results were recorded during February of 2003. A few months later, he released the album Blemish. The disc was stark in its sound and content. The lyrical subject matter dealt primarily with the impending dissolution of Sylvian's marriage. In 2005 The Good Son vs The Only Daughter was released, which was comprised of remixes of tracks from Blemish.
With the conclusion of "A Fire In The Forest Tour" in 2004, work resumed on a joint project between Sylvian and Jansen. Yet the course of the album took on a completely new tone after Sylvian decided to add keyboardist/vibraphonist/programmer Burnt Friedman to the proceedings and make him an equal partner in the collaboration. The band name of Nine Horses was adopted and the CD, titled Snow Borne Sorrow, was released in October of 2005. The sound was a return to more traditional avenues for Sylvian after the radical departure he took with Blemish. Elements of avant-garde jazz, pop, folk and electronic music were all blended together
Nine Horses' Money For All EP was released in 2006, which included new material as well as Burnt Friedman remixes of songs selected from their first disc.
News on Sylvian's website was released in March stating that "We're preparing for the release of David’s new album Manafon. It’s a powerfully bold, uncompromising work featuring contributions from Evan Parker, John Tilbury, Keith Rowe, Christian Fennesz, Otomo Yoshihide, and many more."
David Sylvian's official website: www.davidsylvian.com
Blemish
David Sylvian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She doesn't notice
I fall outside of her
She doesn't notice at all
And mine is an empty bed
I think she's forgotten
She's forgotten I know
Put the brakes on
Put the brakes on
Cos I'm fading fast
Can't find the link
Between me and her
He who was first's coming in last
I fall outside of her
And the trouble is there's no telling
Just who's right or who's wrong
Don't tell me love is all there is
I know don't I?
Don't crowd me pappy
Got too much to think about
The game's not lost
If I say it's not
And it's not
Give me one more chance to do things right
Don't crowd me pappy
got too much to think about
There's no talking to her
Talking to her
I'll keep my thoughts to myself
Unless I'm asked
Like blemishes upon the skin
Truth sets in
Life's for the taking so they say
Take it away
I fall outside of her
She doesn't notice
She doesn't notice at all
And mine is an empty bed
I think she's forgotten
All is bloated and far from youth
Let's secure that reputation
Place the dummy upon the roof
Stitch him a tongue
Give him proof
Don't tell him love is all there is
I know, I know
Just pull the wool down over his eyes
One more time
Her heart's a foreign place
I visited for a while
And although I tried to please her
She came at night and stole my visa
Come away now, run away now little man
You'll not make sense of it
Try as you might to understand
Like blemishes upon the skin
Truth sets in
The lyrics of David Sylvian's song “Blemish” are an expression of feelings of abandonment and neglect from a loved one. The poet expresses his feelings of being ignored by someone he loves and the agony of falling out of love in the relationship. The lines “I fall outside of her, She doesn't notice” are repeatedly emphasized to create an atmosphere of being left behind. The emotional pain in the words is felt throughout the song, and the lyrical repetition indicates the immensity of hurt felt by the singer.
The second half of the song proves to be more introspective. Sylvian speaks of the difficulties of understanding interpersonal relationships and the struggle that comes with navigating them. The metaphor of “blemishes upon the skin” is used to describe the harsh truths that need to be accepted in life. The singer expresses his disillusionment with love, saying “Don't tell me love is all there is; I know, don't I?," indicating an acceptance of reality.
The lyrics of "Blemish" could be interpreted in different ways, but the pain and the disillusionment are evident in the words. The song touches on the complexities and harsh realities of relationships, the difficulties of dealing with them, and the eventual acceptance that comes with time.
Line by Line Meaning
I fall outside of her
She does not care about me, and does not notice me.
She doesn't notice
She is not aware of my presence, or my feelings.
She doesn't notice at all
My existence is of little significance to her.
And mine is an empty bed
I feel lonely and unimportant without her.
She's forgotten I know
I am aware that she has forgotten me.
Put the brakes on
Slow down and take control of the situation.
Cos I'm fading fast
I am losing my sense of self, and my connection to her.
Can't find the link
I am unable to find a connection or bond between us.
Between me and her
There is a disconnect or distance between us.
He who was first's coming in last
The person who was once most important is now being ignored.
And the trouble is there's no telling
It is difficult to determine who is right or wrong in this situation.
Don't tell me love is all there is
Love alone cannot sustain a relationship.
I know don't I?
I am aware of the limitations of love.
Don't crowd me pappy
Please give me space to think and reflect.
Got too much to think about
I am preoccupied with deep thoughts and emotions.
The game's not lost
The situation can still be turned around for the better.
If I say it's not
I have the power to influence the outcome of this situation.
And it's not
I believe that things can still improve.
Give me one more chance to do things right
I want to try again and rectify the situation.
There's no talking to her
There is a communication breakdown between us.
I'll keep my thoughts to myself
I will not express my feelings unless I am asked to.
Unless I'm asked
I will only speak when prompted or invited to do so.
Like blemishes upon the skin
The truth can be unpleasant, but it must still be acknowledged.
Truth sets in
The harsh reality becomes apparent.
Life's for the taking so they say
People often say that we should take advantage of life's opportunities.
Take it away
Seize the moment and make the most of it.
All is bloated and far from youth
Everything around me is aging and losing its appeal.
Let's secure that reputation
We need to take steps to protect our image and standing in the world.
Place the dummy upon the roof
We can deceive others by presenting a false front or image.
Stitch him a tongue
We can create false stories or narratives to support our deception.
Give him proof
We must provide evidence or justification for our lies.
Her heart's a foreign place
I do not understand or relate to her feelings or emotions.
I visited for a while
I tried to connect with her, but it was only a temporary engagement.
And although I tried to please her
I made every effort to make her happy or satisfied.
She came at night and stole my visa
She left me without warning or explanation, revoking my access or connection to her.
Come away now, run away now little man
It is time to escape or separate from this situation.
You'll not make sense of it
This situation is confusing and nonsensical.
Try as you might to understand
Despite your best efforts, you will not comprehend or rationalize this situation.
Contributed by Jeremiah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.