By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Cut & Dried
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been too much
You've gone too far
And when thine lie offends
Thee prop against the bar
You ? awkward stage
As you approach middle age
Hard to gauge
So goodbye cut and dry
Nice to have known you
But something went awry
And I've outgrown you
I slither awhile
Before I shed my skin
And laugh when you said
There was no such thing as sin
No, no there is no greater me
The lad inspired by total greed
'Til it breaks
'Til it bleeds
So goodbye cut and dry
Nice to have known you
But something went awry
And I've outgrown you
And all your confidence
Has gathered dust on shelves
And all those who lent an ear
Heard no good of themselves
No market here for sound advice
And those who seek must pay the price
Blood from stone
Blood of Christ
So goodbye cut and dry
Nice to have known you
But something went awry
And I've outgrown you
The lyrics of Echo & the Bunnymen's song Cut & Dried seem to be deeply reflective and introspective. It begins with the acknowledgement that the singer or the listener has seen, felt, and experienced a lot. They have pushed themselves to the limit and beyond. The idea that the lie offends and hence the need to prop oneself against the bar highlights that there are certain kinds of behaviours and attitudes that are not acceptable anymore. As we grow older, we become more cautious and aware of how we are perceived and judged.
The lyrics then proceed to explore the idea of shedding one's skin or persona. The singer or the listener is no longer the same person they used to be. The ideals they once held dear no longer resonate with them. The line "And laugh when you said there was no such thing as sin" suggests that the singer has abandoned certain religious and moral beliefs that once defined their worldview. They are no longer shackled by these notions and are free to explore new ideas and perspectives.
The last stanza of the song reiterates the idea that the singer or the listener has outgrown the old ways. The phrase "all your confidence has gathered dust on shelves" suggests that the old beliefs and ideas no longer have any currency. The reference to "Blood from stone, blood of Christ" can be interpreted as a critique of religious dogma and the idea that people must pay a price or make sacrifices to attain salvation. The chorus "So goodbye cut and dry, nice to have known you, but something went awry, and I've outgrown you" is a poignant farewell to the old ways and a welcome to new possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
You've seen enough
You have experienced enough of life and its difficulties.
You've been too much
You have been overwhelmed with experiences and sensations.
You've gone too far
You have exceeded your limits and cannot turn back.
And when thine lie offends
When your deception causes harm or injury.
Thee prop against the bar
You seek support and comfort from alcohol.
You? awkward stage
You are in a stage of life that is difficult to navigate.
As you approach middle age
As you grow older and begin to realize your own mortality.
Hard to take
Difficult to accept or understand.
Hard to gauge
Difficult to measure or assess accurately.
So goodbye cut and dry
Farewell to the simple and straightforward.
Nice to have known you
It was pleasant while it lasted.
But something went awry
Something went wrong and caused things to change.
And I've outgrown you
I have matured and moved beyond what you represent.
I slither awhile
I move along cautiously and carefully for a time.
Before I shed my skin
Before I am able to let go of the past and fully embrace change.
And laugh when you said
I find humor in your belief that there is no sin.
There was no such thing as sin
You deny the existence of wrongdoing or moral failure.
No, no there is no greater me
There is no ideal or perfect version of myself.
The lad inspired by total greed
I am motivated by selfish desires and material wealth.
'Til it breaks
Continuing to pursue selfish goals despite the harm it may cause.
'Til it bleeds
Continuing to pursue selfish goals despite the emotional pain it may cause.
And all your confidence
Your sense of certainty and self-assuredness.
Has gathered dust on shelves
It is stagnant and no longer useful or relevant.
And all those who lent an ear
Those who listened to your advice or opinions.
Heard no good of themselves
They did not benefit or grow from your words.
No market here for sound advice
There is no demand or need for wise counsel.
And those who seek must pay the price
Those who seek guidance or assistance must bear the burden or cost.
Blood from stone
Trying to achieve the impossible or get something from nothing.
Blood of Christ
The sacrifice required for redemption or salvation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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