By the time of their debut album, 1980’s Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas.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.
(On the cover of their third album 'Porcupine' the band's name was written 'Echo & the Bunnymen' with the word 'and' replaced by an ampersand symbol. Both this abbreviated form and the original full written form have been used on subsequent albums and singles.This double usage has been the source of many discrepancies in meta-data in streamed and downloaded versions of the band's recordings)
Nothing Lasts Forever
Echo And The Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want it now
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings
I need to live in dreams today
I'm tired of the song that sorrow sings
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
I'd walk to you through rings of fire
And never let you know the way I feel
Under skin is where I hide
The love that always gets me on my knees
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
[Repeat: x4]
Nothing ever lasts forever
I want it now
I want it now
Don't tell me that my ship is coming in
Nothing comes to those who wait
Time's running out the door you're running in
So, I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
[Repeat: x4]
Nothing ever lasts forever
[Repeat: x8]
All the shadows and the pain are coming to you
The lyrics to Echo and the Bunnymen's "Nothing Lasts Forever" speak of a person who is restless and eager to live in the present rather than waiting for the future or dwelling on the past. The first verse expresses the singer's impatience with promises of tomorrow and the song of sorrow that seems to be their constant companion. They seek to live in dreams and want more from life than what they currently have.
The second verse speaks to the depth of feeling the singer has for someone else, hidden under their skin. They would go through anything to be with this person, but they fear confessing their love and being rejected. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and the singer's desire to seize the moment.
The final verse further emphasizes the singer's desire for immediate gratification and their impatience with waiting for good things to come to them. Time is running out, and they feel a sense of urgency to live their life fully. The repetition of the chorus and the final line, "All the shadows and the pain are coming to you," suggest that while nothing lasts forever, both good and bad experiences will come to everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
I want it now
I desire something immediately, without any delay
I want it now
I am restless and anxious to fulfill my desire
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings
I am not satisfied with the hope of tomorrow fulfilling my desire
I need to live in dreams today
I want to experience the fulfillment of my desire even if it's only in my dreams
I'm tired of the song that sorrow sings
I am exhausted by the sadness caused by unrealized desires
And I want more than I can get
My desire is greater than what I can attain
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
I am attempting to forget my unfulfilled desires
I'd walk to you through rings of fire
I am willing to face any obstacle to be with you
And never let you know the way I feel
I would keep my emotions hidden from you
Under skin is where I hide
I hide my true feelings underneath the surface
The love that always gets me on my knees
My intense desire for love causes me to feel vulnerable
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everything has an end, nothing is permanent
Don't tell me that my ship is coming in
I don't want to be given false hope that my desires will soon be fulfilled
Nothing comes to those who wait
Sitting idly and waiting for things to happen will not make them come true
Time's running out the door you're running in
Time is fleeting, and if you don't take action, you will miss your chance
All the shadows and the pain are coming to you
The negative consequences of your actions will eventually catch up to you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ADAM LEVINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Staphorst724
I want it now, I want it now
Not the promises of what tomorrow brings
I need to live in dreams today
I'm tired of the song that sorrow sings
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
I'd walk to you through rings of fire
And never let you know the way I feel
Under skin is where I hide
The love that always gets me on my knees
And I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
Nothing ever lasts forever
Nothing ever lasts forever
I want it now, I want it now
Don't tell me that my ship is coming in
Nothing comes to those who wait
Time's running out the door you're running in
So I want more than I can get
Just trying to, trying to, trying to forget
Nothing ever lasts forever
Nothing ever lasts forever
All the shadows and the pain
Are coming to you
@justingrainger6627
One of the greatest and most underrated song writers of all time.
@BarryGrant-uo6yh
Absolutely agree 👍💯
@shellsupertramp2682
My good friend that I've known since school, died a few days ago, I asked him to send me a sign, when driving with the radio on. This song came on and I knew. We loved these from school in the 80s and this song means so much more than ever to me now.
Echo and the bunny men always had a strong nostalgia for me, I'm booking to see them now In March. Brilliant. I'd forgot how ace they are and how much I loved them ❤
@thestonedrose7962
Ooooooh Spooky.
@jakeenvelopes9561
I have this on a playlist I made. My brother died recently and when it came on I decided I'd like it to play at his funeral.
@user-xk7ev3lx7b
Had the same special experience, was talking to my girlfriend in the car abouth my best friend who died at the age of 18 years, that year the bends came out from Radiohead, we loved the song high and dry , and it was that have could being written about his way of living the fast lane, i can Remember how long it was that i heard this song on the radio, as we stept in the first store this song was on, sometimes weird thinks can happen , but that moment was something magic
@GazV1
Was played at brothers funeral amazing song always makes me remember my brother and the good times I had with him always taken to soon
@jonathanwilliams4818
Sorry for your loss brother. Remember the good times with him. 💙
@meercat70
That touched me. My sister has cancer and I don’t know how I’ll cope, but we have the same flesh and blood and she’s a part of me and my mum and daughter and always will be, so take good care of yourself 💝💝💝
@Paul-dn2bj
Stay strong x