By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
The Cutter
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's in the bottom drawer
Waiting for things to give
Spare us the cutter
Spare us the cutter
Couldn't cut the mustard
Until I see another hurdle approaching
Say we can, say we will
Not just another drop in the ocean
Come to the free for all
With cellotape & knives
Some of them six feet tall
We will escape our lives
Spare us the cutter
Spare us the cutter
Couldn't cut the mustard
Conquering myself
Until I see another hurdle approaching
Say we can, say we will
Not just another drop in the ocean
Am I the happy loss
Will I still recoil
When the skin is lost
Am I the worthy cross
Will I still be soiled
When the dirt is off
Conquering myself
Until I see another hurdle approaching
Say we can, say we will
Not just another drop in the ocean
Ocean
Watch the fingers close
When the hands are cold
Am I the happy loss
Will I still recoil
When the skin is lost
Am I the worthy cross
Will I still be soiled
When the dirt is off
Am I the happy loss
Will I still be soiled
When the dirt is off
The lyrics to "The Cutter" by Echo & the Bunnymen explore themes of self-discovery, perseverance, and the search for meaning. The opening lines, "Brewing alternatives, what's in the bottom drawer, waiting for things to give," suggest a desire for change and a need for something more. The chorus, "Spare us the cutter, couldn't cut the mustard," speaks to the fear of failure and the struggle to overcome obstacles, while the verses emphasize the importance of persisting in the face of adversity. The lines "Conquering myself until I see another hurdle approaching, say we can, say we will not just another drop in the ocean," reinforce the idea that each person has the power to overcome their own limitations and make a meaningful impact on the world.
The second half of the song shifts to a more surreal and abstract tone, with references to "cellotape & knives" and "six feet tall" individuals. These lines may suggest a desire to escape from the pressures of everyday life, or a longing for something more exciting or adventurous. The final lines, "Am I the happy loss, will I still be soiled when the dirt is off," are somewhat cryptic, but seem to allude to the idea that even when we discover who we truly are, there may still be challenges or imperfections we must confront.
Overall, "The Cutter" is a complex and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to embrace their own unique journeys, and to never give up on their goals and dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Brewing alternatives
Considering different options
What's in the bottom drawer
What hidden things are waiting to be found
Waiting for things to give
Hoping for a resolution to present itself
Spare us the cutter
Don't harm us with your criticism
Spare us the cutter
Don't harm us with your criticism
Couldn't cut the mustard
Failed to meet expectations
Conquering myself
Overcoming personal obstacles
Until I see another hurdle approaching
Continuing to strive despite anticipating future difficulties
Say we can, say we will
Expressing confidence and determination
Not just another drop in the ocean
Believing in personal significance
Come to the free for all
Participating in unrestricted and chaotic behavior
With cellotape & knives
Using makeshift materials as weapons
Some of them six feet tall
Facing intimidating opponents
We will escape our lives
Wanting to break free from one's current circumstances
Watch the fingers close
Be mindful of one's actions
When the hands are cold
In times of hardship or difficulty
Am I the happy loss
Questioning personal contentment
Will I still recoil
Will I still be affected negatively
When the skin is lost
When I am stripped of personal identity
Am I the worthy cross
Asking if personal sacrifices are worthwhile
Will I still be soiled
Will I still have personal flaws
When the dirt is off
When I am stripped of all coverings or facades
Ocean
The vastness of existence
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE THOMAS PATTINSON, PETER LOUIS VINCENT DE FREITAS, WILLIAM ALFRED SERGEANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind