The band's genesis was in the proverbial 'one off' as part of the celebrations of Newman's record label Swim's 10th anniversary, but it quickly became apparent that the band was more than a mere collection of individuals and that it was able to generate its own style with an ease that escapes many better-starred collaborations.
Initially 'drummerless', the band wrote and rehearsed in Swim's otherwise over-cramped studio from the outset, thus guaranteeing that all outbreaks of creative genius could be instantly recorded. This meant that as well as building up a repertoire, the band was also recording towards an end of released material, and subsequently able to fairly rapidly develop enough finished material to enable selections to be made for release.
Thus the debut EP Headgit was released before the band had played its third gig, and material towards the debut album, 2005's Profile was already in the works before the band had even played two gigs!
The first three shows were performed without a live drummer, but it had always been the band's intention to be able play with live drums. Various applicants were considered, but in the end it was perhaps inevitable that Max Franken from Malka's band Minimal Compact would be the man to fill the drum stool.
The 4 piece released their sophomore effort, Art POP in 2007.
INFORMATION FROM THE GITHEAD WEBSITE
Darkest Star
Githead Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Division of labour
Playing with dice
Substance device saver
Measure the pleasure
Thirsty we are
We search at leisure
For the darkest star
Magic happens suddenly
Life becomes a mystery
You don't expect
Light is creeping through the dark
Shadows fail to leave their mark
When you awake
Turning round & coming down
& coming down & turning round
Another day
Slowing down & speeding up
& speeding up & slowing down
It's all the same
Higher than the law
Lower than the grave
Secrets for secrets sake
Fearless and not broken
Time, you disappoint
Words remain unspoken
Language to appoint
I am remembering to forget, I am forgetting to remember
Magic happens suddenly
Life becomes a mystery
You don't expect
Light is creeping through the dark
Shadows fail to leave their mark
When you awake
Turning round & coming down
& coming down & turning round
Another day
Slowing down & speeding up
& speeding up & slowing down
It's all the same
The lyrics of the song Darkest Star by the British band Githead seem to revolve around the theme of searching for an elusive source of pleasure or happiness. The song opens with the mention of "sisters and language," which could be interpreted as a reference to the bonds between women and the ways in which language can create connections or divisions. The mention of "division of labor" and "playing with dice" suggests that the search for pleasure or fulfillment is a game or a task that requires effort and strategy. The reference to a "substance device saver" could imply that the search for pleasure involves the use of drugs or other artificial means.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more abstract and poetic. The singer describes the way in which "magic happens suddenly" and "life becomes a mystery" when pleasure or happiness is found. The lines "Higher than the law / Lower than the grave" suggest that the search for pleasure involves breaking rules or taking risks. The reference to "secrets for secrets sake" implies that the search for pleasure is often a private, personal endeavor. The lyrics also touch on the disappointment of time and the power of unspoken words.
Overall, the song seems to capture the complexity and elusiveness of happiness and pleasure, suggesting that they are difficult to find and even harder to hold onto.
Line by Line Meaning
Sisters and language
The connection between siblings and communication
Division of labour
Splitting tasks among two or more people
Playing with dice
Taking chances, throwing caution to the wind
Substance device saver
Using something tangible to preserve memories or experiences
Measure the pleasure
Calculating the enjoyment obtained from certain actions or experiences
Thirsty we are
Seeking something we desire
We search at leisure
Looking for our desired outcome with a relaxed, casual approach
For the darkest star
For the most elusive or profound answer or truth
I am remembering to forget, I am forgetting to remember
Being caught in a cycle of trying to move on from the past while still holding onto it
Magic happens suddenly
Unexpected occurrences can bring about positive results
Life becomes a mystery
Life can be unpredictable and full of surprises
You don't expect
Surprises can come from the most unexpected sources
Light is creeping through the dark
Hope is still present even in difficult times
Shadows fail to leave their mark
Negative experiences do not always leave a lasting impact
When you awake
When you finally come to realize something
Turning round & coming down & coming down & turning round
Cycling through life's ups and downs
Another day
A new day to start fresh
Slowing down & speeding up & speeding up & slowing down
Life is full of changes in pace and tempo
It's all the same
Despite the fluctuations, life is still life
Higher than the law
Living outside of societal rules and expectations
Lower than the grave
In a state of being worse off than death
Secrets for secrets sake
Keeping information private just for the sake of keeping it private
Fearless and not broken
Unafraid and unashamed of one's true self
Time, you disappoint
Feeling let down by the passage of time and how it changes things
Words remain unspoken
Unsaid things that may be difficult to express
Language to appoint
Words to describe and differentiate
Writer(s): Colin Newman, Robin Rimbaud, Malka Spigel Copyright: Gitsongs
Contributed by Hannah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.