His live performances saw him support the likes of American Music Club, John Prine, Turin Brakes and rising newcomers Joanna Newsom and Willy Mason. Turin Brakes' Olly Knights has said that Regan's "ability to paint weighty and sublime imagery with words is untouchable and very rare, yet it's combined with a sweet charm that renders all cynicism impotent."
Regan is known to have taken a DIY approach to recording sessions, using analogue equipment and recording in houses, a shed and a barn to try and capture a live sound. In February 2010, Regan released his sophomore effort, the more rock-influenced The Shadow Of An Empire.
Fionn's third studio album 100 Acres of Sycamore was released in August, 2011, to a generally positive response. A lot of reviewers point out a return in terms of themes and style to his debut, with many comparing the tone and use of strings to Nick Drake.
The title track of the album, can be downloaded for free at the website.
http://www.fionnregan.com
Bunker or Basement
Fionn Regan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You always go for the jugular
Like a juggernaut
Spinning off the asphalt
We wait around pacing round this table
You arrive on time to help us lift the trophy
Bunker or basement the bills pile up
The street level it's a mining disasterThe options are blocked
Wait there girl you leave this place like a smuggler
Across the borders and the trenches we dug
We wait around in the resident's lounge
You arrive on time for the family photograph
Bunker or basement the bills pile up
The sea view never was an option
Below sea level
It's a mining disaster
The options are blocked
You always go for the jugular
Like a juggernaut
Spinning off the asphalt
We wait around pacing round this table
You arrive on time to help us lift the trophy
Bunker or basement the bills pile up
The street level it's a mining disaster
The options are blocked
Wait there girl you leave this place like a smuggler
Across the borders and the trenches we dug
We wait around in the resident's lounge
You arrive on time for the family photograph
Bunker or basement the bills pile up
The sea view never was an option
Below sea level
It's a mining disaster
The options are blocked
The lyrics to Fionn Regan's "Bunker or Basement" speak to the overwhelming pressure of financial and social expectations, and the stifling feeling of being stuck in place. The first stanza portrays a sense of urgency, with the singer feeling like they're constantly being attacked ("go for the jugular") and the world is moving too fast ("juggernaut spinning off the asphalt"). The second stanza describes a sense of entrapment, with bills piling up ("bunker or basement") and options being blocked.
The imagery of a "mining disaster" reinforces the idea that the singer is stuck in a deep and dark place, with no clear way out. The third stanza introduces the character of a girl who seems to have broken free from the constraints that bind the singer ("you leave this place like a smuggler/Across the borders and the trenches we dug"). However, the singer seems to be stuck waiting in a "resident's lounge," surrounded by trophies and family photographs, with no real sense of progress.
Overall, the lyrics of "Bunker or Basement" paint a picture of a person struggling to break free from the limitations of their circumstances. The pressure of the world around them is suffocating, and they feel trapped by their environment. The song ends with the singer and their companions stuck in the same situation they started in, with the bills still piling up and the sea view still out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait your turn
Be patient and wait for your chance
You always go for the jugular
You are always aggressive and ruthless in your approach
Like a juggernaut
Like an unstoppable force
Spinning off the asphalt
Moving quickly and uncontrollably off the road
We wait around pacing round this table
We anxiously wait and move around the table
You arrive on time to help us lift the trophy
You come at the right time to help us achieve our goal
Bunker or basement the bills pile up
We have limited options and are struggling to pay our bills
The street level it's a mining disaster
Living on the street level is chaotic and destructive
The options are blocked
There are no other alternatives or solutions available
Wait there girl you leave this place like a smuggler
Be patient and leave this place discreetly and quietly
Across the borders and the trenches we dug
We have had to overcome many obstacles and challenges to reach our destination
We wait around in the resident's lounge
We stay and wait in the common area for the residents
You arrive on time for the family photograph
You come at the right time for a family picture
Below sea level, it's a mining disaster
Living below sea level is dangerous and destructive
The sea view never was an option
We never had the luxury of a view of the sea
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: FIONN REGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind