By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Satellite
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
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Insight, out of sight
Something's certain
Draw the curtains, draw them
Take the night when it calls
Take the night when it falls
When it falls, when it falls, when it falls
You will, I might
Talking satellites
Rockets, comets
Something's coming
Take the night when it calls
Take the night when it falls
When it falls
Take the night when it falls
What out, all out
In doubt, far out
Wheels in motion
Take it, take it, take it the potion
Take the night when it calls
Take the night when it falls
When it falls, when it falls, when it falls
Moonlight
Starlight
Insight
Out of sight
Take the night when it calls
Take the night when it falls
When it calls, when it falls
When it falls, when it calls
When it falls, when it falls
When it calls, when it falls
Oh when it falls
It falls, it falls
It falls, it falls
It falls
The song "Satellite" by Echo & The Bunnymen is a dreamy and introspective track that speaks of the longing for something in the infinite space. The song begins with the lyrics "Moonlight, starlight, Insight, out of sight", which evoke the vastness of outer space and the mystery that comes with it. The next verse speaks of something certain, yet not quite tangible, something coming that we can almost grasp but not quite. The song then urges the listener to take the night, to embrace the darkness and the unknown that comes with it.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of wonder and curiosity about the universe, about rockets and comets, and about the potential for something new and exciting on the horizon. The lyrics "Take it, take it, take it the potion" suggest a desire to experience something extraordinary and break away from the ordinary.
In conclusion, "Satellite" is a poetic exploration of the human desire for meaning and connection in the vast and infinite void of space.
Line by Line Meaning
Moonlight, starlight
The serene ambiance of the night, lit by the radiant moon and twinkling stars.
Insight, out of sight
Deep understanding is elusive and hidden from sight.
Something's certain
There is an assured sense that change is coming.
Draw the curtains, draw them
The need to shut out distractions and focus on the present moment.
Take the night when it calls
Seize the moment when opportunities present themselves, particularly under the shroud of night.
Take the night when it falls
Be ready to act when there is a sudden shift, particularly under the cover of darkness.
You will, I might
While the future is uncertain, there is a chance that some potential may be realized.
Talking satellites
Communicating with entities high above the earth that act as the mediators of intent or possibility.
Rockets, comets
Emblematic of powerful forces from above that carry with them the potential for change and transformation.
Something's coming
The anticipation of great change, which could represent either fear or hope.
What out, all out
Be alert and prepared for any eventuality, as a reactive response may be necessary in the face of uncertainty.
In doubt, far out
Uncertainty brings alienation and distance from the familiar.
Wheels in motion
The buildup of energy that is propelling forward movement, which could be either positive or negative.
Take it, take it, take it the potion
Consume the elixir that embodies the possibility of change, as it could hold the key to unlocking the future.
Oh when it falls
A recognition that change is often sudden and beyond control.
It falls
The inevitability of change, which may bring either loss or new opportunities.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE PATTINSON, PETE FREITAS, WILLIAM SERGEANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind