By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
Stars Are Stars
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
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When you're in the cradle
The rain will fall
And wash your dreams
Stars are stars
And they shine so hard
Now you spit out the sky
All your dreams
Are hanging out to dry
Stars are stars
And they shine so cold
I saw you climb
Shadows on the trees
We lost some time
After things that never matter
I caught that falling star
It cut my hands to pieces
Where did I put that box?
It had my name in it
I saw you climb
Shadows on the trees
We lost some time
After things that never matter
The cogs have clicked and
The clocks will have their say
In the making of a day
You came here late
Go home early
Who'll remember?
Now you've gone away
Gone away
Gone away
The song Stars Are Stars by Echo & The Bunnymen tells the story of disillusionment with life and its complexities. The opening lines of the song suggest a sense of innocence and purity that is inherent when we're born, and how the rain can wash away any imperfections we carry. The idea of stars shining hard is a reference to the unyielding nature of success and reiterates how things can appear perfect on the surface yet still be cold and unfeeling. However, as we grow up and encounter the harsh realities of the world, we start to see the emptiness that surrounds us, and it becomes harder to hold onto our dreams.
This feeling is reflected in the lines "Now you spit out the sky because it's empty and hollow, all your dreams are hanging out to dry". The sky and the stars are metaphors for the lofty ideals we set for ourselves and our aspirations. The song also talks about the futility of chasing things that don't matter, "we lost some time after things that never matter", and how in the end, it's all a fleeting existence as suggested by "cogs have clicked and the clocks will have their say in the making of the day".
In conclusion, the song Stars Are Stars explores themes of disillusionment, loss of innocence, and the fleeting nature of existence. It urges the listener to recognize the hollowness of the things we blindly chase and focus on what really matters in life.
Line by Line Meaning
The sky seems full
When you're young and naive, the world appears vast and full of endless possibilities.
When you're in the cradle
This state of mind typically occurs in one's youth or early childhood, where they have yet to experience life's hardships and disappointments.
The rain will fall
Life's troubles and obstacles will inevitably come and dampen one's optimism.
And wash your dreams
As one faces life's hardships, their dreams and aspirations may be forgotten or seemingly washed away.
Stars are stars
No matter how much we change, there are certain things in life that remain constant.
And they shine so hard
Some constants can be relied upon to guide us through dark and difficult times.
Now you spit out the sky
As we grow older, we may become disillusioned with the idea of endless possibilities and optimism we once held.
Because it's empty and hollow
The reality of life can be harsh and lacks the beauty and wonder we hoped for.
All your dreams
Our hopes and aspirations may become fleeting and hard to hold onto.
Are hanging out to dry
Our dreams and aspirations may no longer hold the same significance they once did.
And they shine so cold
The constants in life may become more distant and difficult to rely on.
I saw you climb
I witnessed you strive for something important to you.
Shadows on the trees
Your path may not always be clear, and the obstacles you face may cast shadows on your goals.
We lost some time
Along the way, we may experience setbacks which can negatively impact our progress.
After things that never matter
Our focus may be misplaced, and the things we put effort into may not truly be important in the grand scheme of things.
I caught that falling star
I once had the opportunity to grasp something remarkable.
It cut my hands to pieces
However, in trying to obtain that remarkable thing, I ended up hurting myself.
Where did I put that box?
I may have misplaced something valuable and important to me.
It had my name in it
This valuable and important thing is intimately tied to my own identity and sense of self.
The cogs have clicked and
The passage of time and life's events have brought us to a particular moment.
The clocks will have their say
Ultimately, time and the inevitable march of change will dictate our lives.
In the making of a day
Our daily lives comprise the sum of our experiences, and the choices we make shape our lives over time.
You came here late
You may have missed opportunities or arrived too late to make the most of them.
Go home early
Sometimes, it's just best to cut your losses and head home early.
Who'll remember?
In the end, it may not really matter who remembers any one of us or what we did in our lives.
Now you've gone away
Inevitably, we will all eventually leave this world behind, and our experiences here may ultimately be forgotten.
Gone away
Our time here may be fleeting and impermanent, but we must make the most of it while we can.
Gone away
The cycle of life will continue, and our time on this earth will eventually come to an end.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE THOMAS PATTINSON, PETE DE FREITAS, WILLIAM SERGEANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind