By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Of a Life
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Infra-reds and ultra-violets
No one there to mend your wings
Flown by unconscious pilot
Tell me I'm not seein' things
Say it's love I've sighted
I wanna song to learn and sing
This is where the beggin' ends
No more Trevi fountains
No more kneelin', no more bends
No more jumpin' off the mountain
Tell me I'm not seein' things
Say it's love I've sighted
I wanna song to learn and sing
Of a life requited.
Of a life requited
Of a life requited
Of a life requited
No more champs and childish things
No more time for waistin'
Now its time to find the things
I'm forever chasin'
Tell me I'm not seein' things
Say it's love I've sighted
I wanna song to learn and sing
Of a life requited.
Tell me I'm not seein' things
Say it's love I've sighted
Wanna song to learn and sing
Of a love requited.
Of a life requited
Of a life requited
Of a love requited
Of a life requited
Of a life requited
The lyrics to Echo & the Bunnymen's song "Of a Life" are poetic and introspective. The first stanza poses the question, "Is this how the end begins?" which sets a reflective tone for the rest of the song. The imagery of "infra-reds and ultra-violets" suggests a world of extremes, where things are either too dark or too bright to see clearly. This is followed by the line, "No one there to mend your wings," which implies a feeling of vulnerability and a need for support. The last line of the stanza, "Flown by unconscious pilot," suggests a lack of control or direction in one's life.
The second stanza picks up on the themes of love and longing, as the singer asks to be told that what they are seeing is real love. They express a desire for a "song to learn and sing" that speaks to this love, suggesting a need for emotional expression and connection. The next stanza seems to signify a turning point, as the singer acknowledges the end of something and the need to move forward. There are references to famous landmarks like the Trevi Fountain and jumping off a mountain, which could symbolize a desire for adventure or a need to let go of the past.
The final stanza brings everything full circle, as the singer returns to the themes of love and longing. They emphasize that there is no more time for "champs and childish things" and that it is time to pursue what they are "forever chasing." The repeated lines of "Of a life requited" and "Of a love requited" imply a sense of satisfaction or fulfillment that the singer is searching for.
Overall, the lyrics to "Of a Life" are impressionistic and open to interpretation. They touch on themes of love, loss, and self-discovery, and use vivid imagery to evoke a sense of longing and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this how the end begins?
Wondering whether this is the start of the end
Infra-reds and ultra-violets
Using light waves to convey that the situation is complex and ambiguous
No one there to mend your wings
Feeling alone and helpless, with nobody to help or support
Flown by unconscious pilot
Being driven by subconscious or irrational forces, without control
Tell me I'm not seein' things
Looking for reassurance that reality is not distorted or deceptive
Say it's love I've sighted
Hoping that the object of affection is true and real
I wanna song to learn and sing
Seeking a meaningful and inspiring theme to express emotions and thoughts
Of a love requited.
Desiring to experience a reciprocated and fulfilling love.
This is where the beggin' ends
Indicating a clear boundary or limit to past behavior or expectations.
No more Trevi fountains
Letting go of romantic or idealistic dreams.
No more kneelin', no more bends
Rejecting former submissive or subservient roles or gestures.
No more jumpin' off the mountain
Avoiding extreme or reckless behavior that can lead to self-destruction.
No more champs and childish things
Abandoning superficial or fleeting pleasures and desires.
No more time for waistin'
Recognizing the value of time and the urgency of pursuing meaningful goals.
Now its time to find the things
Embracing the challenge of seeking one's true purpose or calling.
I'm forever chasin'
Acknowledging the eternal pursuit of self-improvement and fulfillment.
Of a life requited.
Expressing the longing for a satisfied and accomplished existence.
Of a love requited
Echoing the same sentiment and desire from earlier in the song.
Of a life requited
Repeating the plea for a purposeful and gratifying life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, WILLIAM SERGEANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind