By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Explosions
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How the light goes on and so numb…
On the tip of my tongue… and I need to know…
How the fight goes on
One more round
One more round
Explosions… always make that sound…
Like the world is falling down
Erosion… always wears me down…
Follows me around…
’Til my leaves are turning brown…
No pulse in my stethoscope… and I need to know…
Where my heartbeat’s gone… and not much, neither breath nor hope…
And I need to know… how to right these wrongs
Get the light back on
The light back on
Explosions… always make that sound…
Holes blown in the ground…
Like the world is falling down
Oceans… full of cargo bound…
For worlds that Marco found…
Beyond the seas where sailors drowned…
Explosions explosions explosions explode around
Explosions explosions explosions explode around
Get what you want now, get what you can
Take what you want now, take what you can
No sign… that I’ll ever find…
What I need to know… where I belong
And no sight… of a guiding light…
I need to know… where the road has gone…
Explosions… always make that sound…
Holes blown in the ground…
Like the world is falling down
Oceans… full of cargo bound…
For worlds that Marco found…
Beyond the seas where sailors drowned…
Devotion… always wears a crown…
Always kneels me down…
To pray one day my prayers are found…
Explosions… always make that sound…
Holes blown in the ground…
Like the world is falling down
Explosions explosions explosions explosions
Explosions explosions explosions explosions
Explosions explosions explosions explosions
The lyrics to "Explosions" by Echo & the Bunnymen reflect a sense of despair, uncertainty, and the desire for clarity. The opening lines "No sun on the horizon and I need to know how the light goes on..." speaks to a lack of direction or hope. The following lines "Explosions... always make that sound/holes blown in the ground like the world is falling down" can be interpreted as a metaphor for the chaos and destruction that can surround us in life. The lyrics continue to ask questions and seek answers, with lines such as "No sign... that I'll ever find what I need to know where I belong/And no sight of a guiding light... where the road has gone."
The song seems to touch on themes of searching for identity, purpose, and meaning, while also dealing with the uncertainty and pain that can come with such a search. The repeated lines "Explosions... always make that sound" creates a sense of urgency, as if the singer is constantly searching for something amidst a world that is constantly exploding and changing. The lyrics also touch on the idea of devotion, with the lines "devotion always wears a crown/always kneels me down to pray one day my prayers are found." This can be interpreted as the singer seeking guidance or solace in religion or spirituality during this time of uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
No sun on the horizon… and I need to know…
I feel lost and uncertain, and I crave understanding of how to move forward.
How the light goes on and so numb…
I want to understand how to find hope and joy again, even though I currently feel disconnected and apathetic.
On the tip of my tongue… and I need to know…
There's something I feel I should say or do, but I don't know what it is or how to proceed.
How the fight goes on
I'm struggling to overcome something difficult, and I don't know how long or how hard the battle will be.
One more round
Despite my weariness, I'm willing to keep pushing forward and facing challenges.
Explosions… always make that sound…
I hear chaos, violence, and destruction all around me, and it's overwhelming and frightening.
Holes blown in the ground… like the world is falling down
I witness pain, loss, and devastation, and it feels like the world as I know it is collapsing.
Erosion… always wears me down… follows me around… 'til my leaves are turning brown…
I experience weariness, depression, and despair, and it seems to be a persistent part of my life that gradually takes a toll on my health and happiness.
No pulse in my stethoscope… and I need to know…
I feel like something vital and essential is missing from my life, and I desperately want to find it.
Where my heartbeat’s gone… and not much, neither breath nor hope…
I feel lifeless and empty, as though I've lost my passion, my motivation, and my sense of purpose.
And I need to know… how to right these wrongs
I want to learn how to fix the mistakes, flaws, and problems in my life and create a better future for myself.
Get the light back on
I want to rediscover hope, joy, and optimism, and I'm willing to work hard to make that happen.
Oceans… full of cargo bound… for worlds that Marco found… beyond the seas where sailors drowned…
I imagine vast, mysterious, and dangerous places that I long to explore and discover, even though they may hold peril and risk for me.
Devotion… always wears a crown… always kneels me down… to pray one day my prayers are found…
I experience devotion, faith, and reverence, and it humbles and inspires me, even though I'm not sure if my hopes and wishes will ever be answered.
Get what you want now, get what you can. Take what you want now, take what you can.
I feel compelled to seize opportunities and chase my dreams, even if it means taking risks or being selfish, because I don't want to miss out on anything.
No sign… that I’ll ever find… what I need to know… where I belong
I feel lost and unsure of my identity, my values, and my purpose, and I worry that I'll never discover the answers I seek.
No sight… of a guiding light… I need to know… where the road has gone…
I can't see a clear path or direction in my life, and I feel like I'm stumbling in the dark, desperately seeking a way forward.
Devotion… always wears a crown… always kneels me down… to pray one day my prayers are found…
My faith and hope sustain me, even though I don't always feel confident or assured, and I trust that someday my desires and needs will be fulfilled.
Explosions explosions explosions explosions...
I feel overwhelmed by the chaos, noise, and turmoil of the world around me, and it's hard to find peace or clarity.
Contributed by Gavin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.