By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Happy Death Men
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Happy death men
Happy death men polish and shine
Happy death men
Happy death men
The last breath men
Happy death men
Happy death men
No regret men
Happy death men
Like to keep things dark
Happy death men stand in lines
Happy death men
Happy death men polish and shine
Happy death men
Happy death men
The last-breath men
Happy death men
Take 'em to your heart
Happy death men
No regret men
Happy death men
Like to keep things dark
Okay
Here we go...
"Happy Death Men" is a song that tackles the concept of mortality and the different ways people choose to confront it. The lyrics depict a group of men who are content with the idea of death, hence the ironic description of them as "happy death men". These men polish and shine, standing in lines, essentially waiting for the inevitable end.
The chorus of the song reinforces this idea, with the repeated phrase "happy death men", highlighting the acceptance of death as an integral part of life. The line "take 'em to your heart" can be interpreted as a call to embrace death as the ultimate destination, while "no regret men" implies that these individuals do not have any lingering regrets or unfulfilled desires.
There is an element of mystery throughout the song, manifested through the line "like to keep things dark". This could suggest that these men have secrets, or maybe it reflects their preference for a more somber and introspective outlook on life.
Overall, the song offers a poignant commentary on the human condition from the perspective of those who have come to terms with their own mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
Happy death men stand in lines
There exist a group of men who are content with their imminent demise, and they stand patiently awaiting their turn.
Happy death men
These men are unafraid of death and are almost gleeful about the prospect of it.
Happy death men polish and shine
Even as they wait for their end, they take pride in their appearance and present a gleaming facade.
The last breath men
These men know that their time is limited, and they face their final moments with acceptance and resolve.
Take 'em to your heart
The artist is addressing someone and urging them to embrace these happy death men and their philosophy.
No regret men
While others may lament missed opportunities or unfulfilled desires, these men have lived their lives in such a way that they have no regrets.
Like to keep things dark
These men prefer to avoid the light and instead dwell in a more melancholy, introspective space.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE PATTINSON, PETE FREITAS, WILLIAM SERGEANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind