By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Forgotten Fields
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
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Some are born too pretty, some are born too real
Some to death-wish pity, while the selfish steal
Some ground
So just hunch back plans to start to feel
As the rise of man names his price to deal
It's look Ma, no hands on the steering wheel
Goes round
Slows down
Some are early blooms, some are made to wait
Some arrive too soon, some way too late
Some think the moon can navigate
Life round
Hey, can't you see
What will be?
Can't you see?
It's behind you
What's behind you
Look behind you
Hey, can't you see
What will be?
Can't you see?
The lyrics to "Forgotten Fields" by Echo & the Bunnymen describe life and the natural world in an almost poetic way, with the tree-lined cities and forgotten fields representing different aspects of existence. The first few lines suggest that some people are born with beauty or authenticity, while others suffer from feelings of despair and others take advantage of them. The line "some ground" could mean that those who are downtrodden are ultimately brought low, or it could simply refer to the idea of being grounded or rooted in one's beliefs.
The chorus then comes in, urging listeners to pay attention to what lies ahead and what has come before. The phrase "can't you see what will be?" suggests a sense of inevitability or fate, while the repetition of "hey, can't you see?" encourages the listener to take notice of what's happening around them.
The song continues with descriptions of disparate elements of life, including those who bloom early or late, those who feel a sense of impatience, and the idea that the moon can somehow guide us. Throughout it all, there's a sense of circling back to the same themes and ideas, with the repetition of "going round" and "slows down" suggesting that the cycle of life continues no matter what.
Line by Line Meaning
In the tree-lined cities in forgotten fields
In the abandoned and neglected areas of cities, where nature has taken over and trees line the streets.
Some are born too pretty, some are born too real
Some are blessed with good looks, while others have to face the harsh reality of life head-on.
Some to death-wish pity, while the selfish steal
Some people constantly crave attention and self-pity, while the selfish ones take advantage of them.
Some ground
Some lose their footing and struggle to catch up.
So just hunch back plans to start to feel
One should plan carefully and be cautious to avoid making mistakes.
As the rise of man names his price to deal
As society progresses, people set higher expectations and impose more demands on themselves and others.
It's look Ma, no hands on the steering wheel
People often take unnecessary risks and underestimate the consequences of their actions.
Going round
Life goes on, and things repeat themselves.
Goes round
Life goes on, and things repeat themselves.
Slows down
Life slows down as people age and reflect on their experiences.
Some are early blooms, some are made to wait
Some people achieve success early in life, while others have to work harder and wait longer for their chance.
Some arrive too soon, some way too late
Some people are not ready to handle success when it comes their way, while others miss out on opportunities due to circumstances beyond their control.
Some think the moon can navigate
Some people are too naïve and believe in things that are not possible or realistic.
Life round
Life continues in cycles, with ups and downs.
Hey, can't you see
An urgent call to pay closer attention to the truth.
What will be?
What will happen in the future? What will come next?
Can't you see?
Can't you perceive what is really going on?
It's behind you
What you need to know is already present in your past experiences.
What's behind you
Your past experiences hold the key to understanding the present and anticipating the future.
Look behind you
Take a closer look at your past experiences to learn from them and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: IAN MCCULLOCH, JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, SIMON PERRY, WILL SARGEANT, DAVID THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind