Collins' music is mostly electric guitar-driven pop, and his songwriting and vocal delivery range from the acerbicly satirical to the soulfully tender, although he is better known for the former. He built his own studio in 1994 and produced his own third solo album, Gorgeous George. He has also worked as producer with other artists, including The Proclaimers, The Cribs, and Little Barrie. Collins also produced and starred in the Channel 4 sitcom West Heath Yard.
Collins lives with his long term partner, Grace Maxwell, who also manages his career. The couple, who live in London, have one son.
In a BBC 6 Music radio interview on 18 February 2005 Collins had said he felt unwell, but ascribed the nausea and vertigo to food poisoning. Two days later he was admitted to intensive care in London's Royal Free Hospital after apparently suffering a major cerebral haemorrhage. On 25 February he underwent an operation, reportedly after suffering a second haemorrhage. The procedure was successful, and Collins began a lengthy programme of neurological rehabilitation.
Sept 2007 saw the release of Home Again, the first album since his illness. Recorded before Collins’ hospitalisation but only mixed and produced after his recovery, Edwyn worked on the album during his recovery. He was heard to sing a few bars on BBC Radio 4's Front Row, sharing strumming and chord duties with Grace. 'Crap' he said afterwards; some listeners begged to differ.
7th Son
Edwyn Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that don't make you the golden one
Seventh son of a seventh son
But that don't make you the chosen one
Sun burned the molten sky
You singed your wings so you couldn't fly
You fell to earth that's no disgrace
But earthbound you stuck around
Underwhelmed by the realm you found
They sold you out for what it's worth
Welcome to the planet earth
You flew too near the sun
But that that don't make you the golden one
Seventh son of a seventh son
But that don't make you the chosen one
Back street preacher's blues divine
Bitter sweet like holy wine
But when your flock had gathered round
You had to dumb your message down
But still they didn't understand
A stranger ¡n a stranger land
They sold you out that's no disgrace
Welcome to the human race
You flew too near the sun
But that don't make you the golden one
Seventh son of a seventh son
But that don't make you the chosen one
Now you've found yourself alone
The lyrics of Edwyn Collins’s song “7th Son” are evocative and introspective. The first verse speaks of flying too close to the sun, a nod to the myth of Icarus who also fell from the sky after his wings melted. The implication is that this person was so eager to achieve greatness that they pushed themselves to their limits and beyond, paying the price for reaching too high. However, the next line, “But that don't make you the golden one,” suggests that even though they were ambitious and daring, they did not necessarily become the best or achieve what they had hoped.
The second verse takes a more melancholy turn, as it describes how the singer fell to earth and found their soul “when (they) lost (their) face.” This suggests that they had to go through a painful and humiliating experience to truly understand themselves and their place in the world. However, when they become “earthbound,” they find themselves disappointed by the world they encounter, feeling underwhelmed by the realm that they had been so excited to explore. The “they” in the line “They sold you out for what it's worth” is ambiguous, but it could be interpreted as the people who disappointed the singer or as the singer themselves, selling themselves short.
The chorus repeats the idea that being a seventh son of a seventh son does not automatically give you special status, either as the “golden one” or the “chosen one.” The final lines (“Now you've found yourself alone”) suggest that perhaps the singer has come to terms with their place in the world and is content to be on their own, having learned valuable lessons through their experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
You flew too near the sun
You took a big risk and it didn't pay off
But that don't make you the golden one
Your failure does not define you or make you any less valuable
Seventh son of a seventh son
You have a special heritage
But that don't make you the chosen one
Your special heritage does not automatically make you superior
Sun burned the molten sky
You experienced something intense and dangerous
You singed your wings so you couldn't fly
You suffered consequences for your actions
You fell to earth that's no disgrace
You made mistakes but it's not the end of the world
You found your soul when you lost your face
You discovered something important about yourself when things got tough
But earthbound you stuck around
You are still here, even though things may not have turned out as planned
Underwhelmed by the realm you found
The world you are living in is not what you expected or hoped for
They sold you out for what it's worth
People betrayed you to benefit themselves
Welcome to the planet earth
Life can be difficult and unfair
Back street preacher's blues divine
You have a spiritual calling or message to share
Bitter sweet like holy wine
The experience is both positive and negative
But when your flock had gathered round
People came to hear your message
You had to dumb your message down
You had to simplify your message to make it more accessible
But still they didn't understand
Even with simplification, people still did not comprehend your message
A stranger in a stranger land
You feel disconnected from those around you
They sold you out that's no disgrace
People betrayed you but it's not your fault
Welcome to the human race
This is the reality of human life and relationships
Now you've found yourself alone
You are now isolated or on your own
Contributed by Thomas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.