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.
The Magic Piper
Edwyn Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's best that I stay sober.
No rolling in the clover,
No Gretna Green trip over.
No honeymoon in Paris,
I only feel embarrassed
For the cool cats,
The charmed kittens,
That he's written.
Caught in the sights
Of a deadly sniper:
The magic piper of love.
The magic piper of love.
Of love, of love.
My girlfriend, she go blotto
Of cunning's and his grotto.
It turns out he's a dirty old man.
The nice place that I want to be,
Is sat up on this Christmas tree,
While playing these games of
Catch as catch can.
Cause he's a sweet talker,
A silent stalker.
All the savvy of a street walker.
More deadly than a horned viper:
The magic piper of love.
The magic piper of love.
Of love, of love.
He's a heart breaker,
A mover and a shaker:
The magic piper of love.
It's kind of hard to swallow,
You know you've gotta follow,
The magic piper of love.
Cause he's a city slicker,
An expert politic-er:
The magic piper of love.
Of love, of love.
Of love, of love.
Of love, of love.
The song "The Magic Piper" by Edwyn Collins, is a jazzy and upbeat track that speaks about the dangers of love and the captivating lure of lust. The lyrics describe the singer's resolution to avoid falling in love and to stay away from the seductive nature of romantic relationships. The song starts with the lines, "I'm through with love hangovers, It's best that I stay sober, No rolling in the clover, No Gretna Green trip over" indicating the singer's decision to remain single and avoid the messy aftermath of a breakup. Collins mentions other romantic hotspots such as a honeymoon in Paris and "the cool cats" and "the charmed kittens" who are smitten by love songs that the singer is embarrassed to listen to.
The song's title, "The Magic Piper," symbolically represents the alluring nature of love that can captivate the senses of even the most confident people. The lines "Caught in the sights of a deadly sniper: The magic piper of love" suggest that love can be likened to a sniper's shot, luring unsuspecting individuals to fall under its spell. The song also warns listeners about the dangers of falling in love with manipulative people. The line, "He's a sweet talker, a silent stalker, all the savvy of a street walker more deadly than a horned viper: The magic piper of love" describes the magic piper as a dangerous person, with the ability to weave his web of seduction and trap individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm through with love hangovers,
I no longer want to suffer from the pain caused by love.
It's best that I stay sober.
It's better for me to avoid falling in love altogether.
No rolling in the clover,
I won't get carried away by romanticizing love anymore.
No Gretna Green trip over.
I won't elope with someone without a second thought or impulsively.
No honeymoon in Paris,
I won't waste time and money on an unrealistic romantic getaway.
I only feel embarrassed
I'm ashamed of falling for love traps.
For the cool cats,
People who are flirtatious and attractive.
The charmed kittens,
People who are easily attracted to others without much reason.
Both smitten by the love songs
Both of them are emotionally affected by the romantic music played by the piper.
That he's written.
That the piper has composed.
Caught in the sights
Trapped in the clutches.
Of a deadly sniper:
Of someone very dangerous.
The magic piper of love.
The person who has the power to make others fall in love with him/her.
My girlfriend, she go blotto
My girlfriend gets drunk with the romantic ideas.
Of cunning's and his grotto.
Of the attractive and deceptive way in which the love piper lures his prey.
It turns out he's a dirty old man.
The love piper is a person with impure and immoral intentions.
The nice place that I want to be,
The place where I desire to be in a romantic sense.
Is sat up on this Christmas tree,
Is away from any notion of love or affection, even during festive occasions.
While playing these games of
Engaging in these tactics or maneuvers of
Catch as catch can.
In a haphazard or random way, that may or may not lead to a romantic relationship.
Cause he's a sweet talker,
The piper knows exactly what to say to make people fall for him.
A silent stalker.
The piper follows people around in a very subtle, unnoticed way.
All the savvy of a street walker.
The piper has the same level of cunning and tactics used by prostitutes on the streets, but used for luring people into love traps.
More deadly than a horned viper:
More dangerous (even lethal) than a poisonous snake.
The magic piper of love.
The master manipulator of people's emotions, who has the power to make anyone fall in love with him/her.
He's a heart breaker,
The piper has no intention of being with anyone, and he only aims to break people's hearts.
A mover and a shaker:
The piper is very successful in doing what he does, and he gets everything he wants.
It's kind of hard to swallow,
It's difficult to accept.
You know you've gotta follow,
One feels compelled to fall for the piper's tricks, despite knowing they are not sincere.
Cause he's a city slicker,
The piper is sly and streetwise.
An expert politic-er:
The piper has great skill in the art of persuasion, albeit not to anyone's benefit but his own.
Of love, of love.
Of one's romantic feelings.
Of love, of love.
Of one's romantic feelings.
Of love, of love.
Of one's romantic feelings.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: EDWYN STEPHEN COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacko9179
So criminally underrated/overlooked by the masses, great song.
@jurrrena
agreeeeeeee - wtf wtf wtf???? pure gold so unknown???
@willflo3277
@Jacko Hear Hear.
I agree with you 💯 %
@jodibrooklyn1033
💯
@sulalee7413
It makes no sense: this should be number one today!
@T0nN9th
An Austin Powers International Man Of Mystery Soundtrack!!!
@chriswood8112
wildly underrated soundtrack! hit after hit
@trevonpernell0814
@@chriswood8112 You ain't lying! Soul Bossa Nova, Incense and Peppermints, Austin Powers, You Showed Me, Secret Agent Man, BBC, The Magic Piper (Of Love)...the list goes on and on.
@mirelessalazarjaime5812
Or Daria Soundtrack.
S2 E1: Arts 'n' Crass.
@mrx656
This is the magic of the 90's that I miss so much.