Edwyn Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician from Edinburgh, … Read Full Bio ↴Edwyn Collins (born 23 August 1959) is a Scottish musician from Edinburgh, Scotland. He formed the Nu-Sonics in 1976, which became Orange Juice in 1979. The group is perhaps best known for the No. 8 hit "Rip it Up", its only UK top 40 single. In 1985, Orange Juice broke up, and he has since then pursued a solo career. Edwyn Collins is best known for his 1994 hit, "A Girl Like You", which was featured in the films Empire Records and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, and "Magic Piper of Love", a 1997 single which featured on the soundtrack of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

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.

Liberteenage Rag
Edwyn Collins Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The morning dawned and I logged on
The poisoned fruit of the devil's spawn
There was nothing sacred as far as I could see
There was nothing sacred as far as I could see
The libertine's dream in virtual reality

I took a walk to clear my head
Like a snake with a skin to shed

If I could break out I surely would
But there's a stake-out in my neighborhood
And my getaway car's got away for good

I'll take a train, I'll take a plane
Away up north where they know my name
But they don't bug me the way that some folks do
I'll take this guitar, I'll maybe start anew
Cos otherwise I'll stay down here and stew

Upon a Hill of Many Stones
Five miles south of the Great Grey Cairns
I felt the full force of five thousand years
I felt the full force of five thousand years
And I felt the sting of time's eternal tears

The libertine's dream in virtual reality
And I called this song my liberteenage rag

Overall Meaning

The song "Liberteenage Rag" by Edwyn Collins delves into the theme of modern-day technology and the impact it has on people, especially youth. The lyrics talk about logging on to the internet, discovering that there is nothing sacred left in the world and everything seems to be part of the libertine's dream in virtual reality. The character in the song decides to take a walk to clear his head, with a desire to break free but seems to be trapped. The metaphor of the snake shedding its skin is used to signify letting go of previous habits and starting anew. However, the character can't seem to escape as there's a stake-out in his neighborhood, and his getaway car is gone for good.

The character then decides to venture north, where nobody knows his name and escape his world, take the guitar and perhaps start a new life. But as the song progresses, the character seems to be stuck in his thoughts, cannot let go of his problems, and ends up feeling the full force of five thousand years weighing down on him. The lyrics move towards an introspective stage, where the character thinks about time's eternal tears and how technology hasn't fulfilled his dream of liberation.

Line by Line Meaning

The morning dawned and I logged on
I started my day by getting online

The poisoned fruit of the devil's spawn
The negative consequences of technology

There was nothing sacred as far as I could see
I couldn't find anything of value or importance

The libertine's dream in virtual reality
The freedom and indulgence that technology provides

I took a walk to clear my head
I needed to take a break and think

Like a snake with a skin to shed
I felt the need to shed my negative thoughts

If I could break out I surely would
I wished to escape from my problems

But there's a stake-out in my neighborhood
There are obstacles in my way

And my getaway car's got away for good
My solution to escape is no longer available

I'll take a train, I'll take a plane
I'll do whatever it takes to escape

Away up north where they know my name
A hopeful destination where he's known and nobody bothers him