By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
With a Hip
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nobody's allowed
Strictly verboten
Out, out, out, out
Bounds
Of course we know no bounds
Until, at least, and then
Trespass all the way down
And I want some
I can handle it
And I want some
Relax
Feel the pleasure inside
Error and trial
Collide, collide
You'll listen
I don't expect you to
We've lost
And something's all we can do
With a hip-hip-hop
And a flip-flap-flop
Gonna steal some bananas
From the grocer's shop
With your head in the clouds
And your trousers undone
Gonna shit on the carpet
Just like everyone
This is the one for the money
This is the one for the trees
This is the one called Heaven
And this is the one for me
You've yet to discover
Discover the difference
The difference between
The moral and motto
They've got it
And I had some
I couldn't handle it
But I had some
Hold it in the light
And see right through it
For God's sake
Make a decision
Take it for a walk
And hold it hold it
Pin it on the wall
And fasten onto
Move into the bathroom
Oh yes, oh yes
Do what must be done
And don't say maybe
This is the one for the money
This is the one for the trees
This is the one called Heaven
And this is the one for me
The lyrics to Echo & the Bunnymen’s song “With a Hip” are open to interpretation as they are abstract and cryptic. However, one possible interpretation is the theme of forbidden or taboo actions, and the cravings or desires that drive individuals to pursue them. The singer tells the listener that nobody is allowed (halt) and that something is out of bounds. However, despite knowing the consequences, the singer wants to get a taste of it, handling it without fear.
The phrase “With a hip-hip-hop and a flip-flap-flop, gonna steal some bananas from the grocer’s shop” can be interpreted to mean that the singer is going to do something daring and nonsensical, like stealing bananas, and not care about the consequence.
The lyrics “This is the one for the money, this is the one for the trees, this is the one called heaven, and this is the one for me” suggest that the singer is choosing a path to follow, one that may be deemed morally questionable or wrong by society, but is necessary for their own growth and development.
Overall, the lyrics to “With a Hip” convey a sense of rebellion against social norms and the desire to experience something new or different, even if it means crossing boundaries or engaging in taboo actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Halt
Stop, don't go any further
Nobody's allowed
No one is permitted
Strictly verboten
Definitely forbidden
Out, out, out, out
Leave immediately
Bounds
Limits or boundaries
Of course we know no bounds
We will not be constrained
Until, at least, and then
Until a certain point in time and beyond
Trespass all the way down
Go beyond the boundaries completely
They got it
They have obtained something desirable
And I want some
I also desire it
I can handle it
I am capable of dealing with it
Relax
Calming down
Feel the pleasure inside
Experience a feeling of joy
Error and trial
Making mistakes and learning from them
Collide, collide
Crash, crash
You'll listen
I don't expect you to understand
We've lost
We have been defeated
And something's all we can do
All we can do is to make an attempt
With a hip-hip-hop
Making a rhythmic sound
And a flip-flap-flop
Making a flapping sound
Gonna steal some bananas
Going to commit robberies
From the grocer's shop
Stealing from a shop selling groceries
With your head in the clouds
Daydreaming or being unrealistic
And your trousers undone
Being disheveled or unkempt
Gonna shit on the carpet
Going to do something wildly inappropriate
Just like everyone
Just like many others
This is the one for the money
This is the one with the most value
This is the one for the trees
This is the one that symbolizes nature
This is the one called Heaven
This is the one that represents paradise
And this is the one for me
This is the one I desire
You've yet to discover
You have not yet realized
Discover the difference
Understand the variation
The difference between
The distinction or contrast
The moral and motto
The lesson and the catchphrase
They've got it
They have succeeded
And I had some
I also experienced similar success
I couldn't handle it
I was not equipped to deal with it
But I had some
But I also managed to have a taste of it
Hold it in the light
Analyze it carefully
And see right through it
Look beyond its surface appearance
For God's sake
As a measure of urgency
Make a decision
Choose a course of action
Take it for a walk
Test it out
And hold it hold it
Secure it firmly
Pin it on the wall
Display the outcome
And fasten onto
Preserve for future reference
Move into the bathroom
Commence the next step
Oh yes, oh yes
Expressing enthusiasm
Do what must be done
Take the necessary action
And don't say maybe
Be decisive
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE PATTINSON, LESLIE THOMAS PATTINSON, PETE DE FREITAS, PETE FREITAS, WILLIAM SERGEANT, WILLIAM ALFRED SERGEANT
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