After Erland recorded a track –‘Coming Home’ produced by Nock for Tongs Butterfly recordings compilation- “What the folk vol2”- the three of them began writing and playing together around London. Following in the path of Pentangle, The Trees and early Fairport they decided to form their group entitled “Erland and the Carnival.”
Carnival are best known for their contemporary arrangements of traditional Scottish and English folk songs, including Sally Free and Easy, The Parting Glass, Was You Ever See and Love Is a Killing Thing collected by Ralph Vaughn Williams. The band have just finished recording their debut album at Damon Albarns Studio, 13 and have released material, independently, through various collaborative projects.
The band's name comes from the Jackson C Frank song My Name is Carnival after the band recorded their own version of the song from his album Blues Run the Game. They are inspired by the likes of super folk groups Pentangle and Fairport Convention.
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Nothing Can Remain
Erland and the Carnival Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some lessons you don't
And why am I still here?
There's some people you use
Some people you lose
Why am I still here?
Can never be the same again
No matter how you try
Can never be retained
Message when it came
Cut softly to the vein
Point of no return
From which I had to learn
Can never be the same
Nothing can remain
Some moments you change
Some moments you don't
Why am I still here?
All my plans changed
Can never be the same again
No matter how you try
Can never be attained
Message when it came
Cut softly to the vein
Point of no return
From which I had to learn
It can never be the same
Nothing can remain
In "Nothing Can Remain," Erland and the Carnival beautifully explore the theme of impermanence and the idea that some things in life cannot be retained. The opening lyrics suggest that the singer has gained some knowledge or insight through their experiences, but not all lessons are learned. They then question why they are still present in a situation where they have used some people and lost others. The repetition of the last two lines of each of these verses creates a melancholic feeling, as though the singer is stuck in a cycle they cannot escape from.
In the chorus, the singer reflects on how their plans have changed and cannot be retained, no matter how much they try. This could be interpreted as a reflection on how life can often throw us unexpected curveballs, forcing us to adapt and alter our plans. The line "nothing can remain" reinforces the idea that all things are transient and that change is an inevitable part of life.
The second verse echoes the sentiment of the first, with the singer emphasizing how some moments in life can be changed, while others cannot. The repetition of the line "why am I still here?" suggests that the singer feels a sense of stuckness or confusion about where they currently are in life. The last two lines of the verse reinforce the idea that certain things cannot be retained or regained.
Overall, Erland and the Carnival's "Nothing Can Remain" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the inevitability of change and the transience of all things in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Some lessons you learn
There are some lessons in life that you are able to learn.
Some lessons you don't
There are some lessons in life that you are unable to learn.
And why am I still here?
Despite learning some lessons and not being able to learn others, the singer still questions their purpose or reason for existing.
There's some people you use
There are some people in life that may be used for personal gain.
Some people you lose
There are some people in life that may be lost or removed from your life.
Why am I still here?
Despite experiencing different people and their effect on the singer's life, the singer still questions their purpose or reason for existing.
All my plans changed
All of the singer's plans have been altered or impacted in some way.
Can never be the same again
Due to the changes in plans, life can never return to its previous state.
No matter how you try
Despite attempts to revert or fix the changes, it is impossible.
Can never be retained
Life cannot be kept or maintained in its previous state.
Message when it came
A message was delivered to the singer, whether physical or metaphorical.
Cut softly to the vein
The message had a deep impact or emotional effect on the singer.
Point of no return
There was a significant turning point or moment where the singer realized there was no going back.
From which I had to learn
The point of no return led to a learning experience or realization for the singer.
Can never be the same
Life cannot return to its previous state or be the same again.
Nothing can remain
Life is constantly changing and evolving, nothing can stay the same forever.
Some moments you change
There are moments in life where you have the power to change the outcome or impact.
Some moments you don't
There are moments in life where you have no control over the outcome or impact.
All my plans changed
Once again, the singer's plans have changed or been impacted in some way.
Can never be the same again
Life cannot return to its previous state, whether it be plans or otherwise.
No matter how you try
Despite attempts to revert or fix the changes, it is impossible.
Can never be attained
The previous state of existence or plans cannot be achieved or obtained again.
Message when it came
The same message as before, something was delivered to the singer in some form.
Cut softly to the vein
The same message as before, it had a deep impact or emotional effect on the singer.
Point of no return
The same point of no return as before, a moment where the realization was made that there was no going back.
From which I had to learn
The same learning experience as before, the point of no return led to a realization for the singer.
It can never be the same
Life cannot return to its previous state or be the same again.
Nothing can remain
The same realization as before, life is constantly changing and evolving, nothing can stay the same forever.
Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.