By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Nothing Lasts Forever
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings
I need to live in dreams today
I'm tired of the song that sorrow sings
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
And never let you know the way I feel
Under skin is where I hide
The love that always gets me on my knees
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
Nothing ever lasts forever
Nothing ever lasts forever
I want it now, I want it now
Don't tell me that my ship is coming in
Nothing comes to those who wait
Time's running out the door you're running in
So I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
Nothing ever lasts forever
Nothing ever lasts forever
All the shadows and the pain
Are coming to you
The lyrics of Echo & the Bunnymen's song "Nothing Lasts Forever" deal with the theme of the fleeting nature of life and the human desire for instant gratification. The first verse expresses a dissatisfaction with waiting for the promises of tomorrow and a need to live in the present moment. The second verse speaks of the intense desire for a person and hiding one's feelings beneath the surface. The chorus starkly declares that nothing lasts forever, and the final verse highlights the urgency of living and taking action before it's too late.
The song suggests that time moves quickly and that life is too short to wait for things to happen. The lyrics express a yearning to seize the day and make the most of every moment. The line "Nothing comes to those who wait" hints at the belief that action and persistence is needed, rather than passively hoping for something to come one's way. The repeated refrain of "Nothing ever lasts forever" carries the weight of finality and inevitability, reminding the listener that all things come to an end.
In summary, the song's lyrics tap into universal themes of time, love, and the human condition. They urge the listener to embrace the present and to act with purpose and determination, rather than waiting for things to happen.
Line by Line Meaning
I want it now, I want it now
I desire immediate gratification without waiting for tomorrow.
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings
I don't want empty promises about the future, I want something tangible now.
I need to live in dreams today
I want to live in a world of imagination now, not in the reality of tomorrow.
I'm tired of the song that sorrow sings
I'm done with feeling sad and want something uplifting.
And I want more than I can get
I long for something that's beyond my reach.
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
I'm trying to forget past hurts and disappointments to move on to something better.
I'd walk to you through rings of fire
I'd go through danger and hardship just to be with you.
And never let you know the way I feel
I don't want to reveal my emotions to you and be vulnerable.
Under skin is where I hide
I conceal my true feelings beneath a mask of indifference.
The love that always gets me on my knees
Despite my tough exterior, love has the power to make me weak and submissive.
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everything is temporary and doesn't last indefinitely.
I want it now, I want it now
I want to seize the moment and not wait for opportunities to pass me by.
Don't tell me that my ship is coming in
Don't give me false hope or expectations.
Nothing comes to those who wait
I can't rely on waiting for good things to happen, I need to take action and make them happen.
Time's running out the door you're running in
Time is passing quickly, and you need to act fast to seize opportunities.
All the shadows and the pain
All the negative experiences and emotions of life.
Are coming to you
You will have to face and deal with these negative aspects of life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ian Mcculloch, Leslie Pattinson, William Sergeant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Staphorst724
I want it now, I want it now
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings
I need to live in dreams today
I'm tired of the song that sorrow sings
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
I'd walk to you through rings of fire
And never let you know the way I feel
Under skin is where I hide
The love that always gets me on my knees
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
Nothing ever lasts forever
Nothing ever lasts forever
I want it now, I want it now
Don't tell me that my ship is coming in
Nothing comes to those who wait
Time's running out the door you're running in
So I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
Nothing ever lasts forever
Nothing ever lasts forever
All the shadows and the pain
Are coming to you
@justingrainger6627
One of the greatest and most underrated song writers of all time.
@BarryGrant-uo6yh
Absolutely agree 👍💯
@shellsupertramp2682
My good friend that I've known since school, died a few days ago, I asked him to send me a sign, when driving with the radio on. This song came on and I knew. We loved these from school in the 80s and this song means so much more than ever to me now.
Echo and the bunny men always had a strong nostalgia for me, I'm booking to see them now In March. Brilliant. I'd forgot how ace they are and how much I loved them ❤
@thestonedrose7962
Ooooooh Spooky.
@jakeenvelopes9561
I have this on a playlist I made. My brother died recently and when it came on I decided I'd like it to play at his funeral.
@user-xk7ev3lx7b
Had the same special experience, was talking to my girlfriend in the car abouth my best friend who died at the age of 18 years, that year the bends came out from Radiohead, we loved the song high and dry , and it was that have could being written about his way of living the fast lane, i can Remember how long it was that i heard this song on the radio, as we stept in the first store this song was on, sometimes weird thinks can happen , but that moment was something magic
@GazV1
Was played at brothers funeral amazing song always makes me remember my brother and the good times I had with him always taken to soon
@jonathanwilliams4818
Sorry for your loss brother. Remember the good times with him. 💙
@meercat70
That touched me. My sister has cancer and I don’t know how I’ll cope, but we have the same flesh and blood and she’s a part of me and my mum and daughter and always will be, so take good care of yourself 💝💝💝
@Paul-dn2bj
Stay strong x