By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas. Their next, the critically-acclaimed Heaven Up Here, reached the Top Ten in 1981, as did 1983's Porcupine and '84's Ocean Rain. Singles like "The Killing Moon" (later used in the soundtrack to Donnie Darko, a film whose imagery owed much to the artwork of the band's early records.), "Silver," "Bring on the Dancing Horses," and "The Cutter" helped keep the group in the public eye as they took a brief hiatus in the late 1980s. Their 1987 self-titled LP was a small American hit, their only LP to have significant sales there.
McCulloch quit the band in 1988. De Freitas was killed in a motorcycle accident one year later. The others decided to continue, recruiting Noel Burke to replace McCulloch on vocals in Reverberation (1990), which did not generate much excitement among fans or critics. Burke, Sargeant and Pattinson split after that, but the surviving three fourths of the original band reformed in 1997 and released Evergreen (1997), What are You Going to Do with Your Life? (1999), Flowers (2001) , Siberia (2005), and the latest addition, The Fountain (2009). The group's old audience liked the return to their classic sound, and they also managed to gain a number of new, younger listeners.
Echo and the Bunnymen were managed early on by Bill Drummond, who went on to be a founder member of The KLF.
All My Colours
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know I'm not coming down
You're trying
But you know you must soon go down
All my colors turn to clouds
All my colors turn to clouds
Zimbo
What d'you say
When your heart's in pieces?
How d'you play
Those cards in sequence?
That box you gave me burned nicely
That box you gave me burned nicely
Zimbo
Flying down
Flying down
All my colors turn to clouds
Hey, I've flown away
Hey, I'm blown away
The lyrics to Echo & the Bunnymen's song "All My Colours" suggest a feeling of being lost and disconnected from reality. The opening lines, "Flying, and I know I'm not coming down," could be interpreted as being in a state of euphoria or delusion, where the character is escaping from their troubles. The repetition of "flying" and "down" set up a tragic irony, indicating that the character is ignorant of the dangers and consequences of their behavior.
The chorus develops this idea further, with the character's colors turning to clouds. This could be a metaphor for the fading away of their identity, as if they are dissolving into the sky. The use of the word "clouds" also suggests a feeling of being lost and adrift in the world, with little direction or purpose. The repeated refrain of "Zimbo" adds to the sense of confusion, as if the character is calling out in desperation for guidance or reassurance.
The second verse introduces the idea of heartbreak and loss, with the lines "What d'you say when your heart's in pieces? How d'you play those cards in sequence?" These lines suggest that the character is struggling to cope with a significant loss, perhaps a breakup or death. The repetition of "Zimbo" could be seen as a way of avoiding confronting the pain directly, instead retreating into a vague and ambiguous world of nostalgia and fantasy.
Line by Line Meaning
Flying
I am soaring through the skies.
And I know I'm not coming down
I feel like I am living life to the fullest and have no plans of slowing down.
You're trying
You are doing your best to keep up with me and my carefree attitude.
But you know you must soon go down
However, you understand that eventually, I will come down from my high and face the realities of life.
All my colors turn to clouds
As time passes, my vibrant outlook on life will fade, and I will become more grounded in reality.
Zimbo
Switching to a new perspective or thought.
What d'you say
In times of heartbreak, what are the right words to say?
When your heart's in pieces?
How do you cope when you are emotionally shattered?
How d'you play
What strategies do you use to get through challenging times?
Those cards in sequence?
How do you plan out your life and make the most of it?
That box you gave me burned nicely
The items you gave me as a symbol of our love have been destroyed.
Flying down
My previous life of freedom and fun is coming to an end.
All my colors turn to clouds
The vivid colors of my life are slipping away, leaving behind the plain realities of life.
Hey, I've flown away
I have escaped from my mundane life into a place of joy and freedom.
Hey, I'm blown away
I am completely consumed and overcome by this temporary feeling of liberation.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE PATTINSON, PETE FREITAS, WILLIAM SERGEANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind