In 1987 guitarist Alexey Belov, vocalist Nikolay Noskov, bassist Alexander "Big Sasha" Minkov
, guitarist Jan Janenkov, and drummer Alexander Lvov (formerly from Aria) came together to form Gorky Park. Stas Namin, a famous 70's soviet musician and a leader of Tsvety, became band's manager. Since Gorbachev has lifted the censorship, many of underground rock bands, including Gorky Park, became able to recieve more widespread popularity. Later that year the band left Russia for USA in search of a record deal.
In the U.S. the band soon made some connections in the record business. One of the first people to take notice was famous guitarist Frank Zappa. Also Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora helped them to secure a deal with Mercury Records.
The band released a self-titled debut album in 1989, featuring initials GP stilized as Hammer & sickle on the cover. With a fall of the Iron Curtain and growing interest to soviets in western countries, Gorky Park soon became widely known. The band seemed to be a kind of symbol of American-Russian friendship. The band's first video, "Bang," received MTV rotation. Their next two singles, "Try to Find Me" and a collaboration with Bon Jovi, "Peace in Our Time," received rotation on mainstream radio stations.
Gorky Park participated on that year's Moscow Music Peace Festival alongside Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Scorpions. The band continued into 1990 touring with Bon Jovi and performing at the Goodwill Games opening ceremony. Gorky Park live shows often featured the band dressed in traditional russian style, waving soviet and american flags. In 1991 the band recieved scandinavian Grammy award as the best new international act.
As perestroika era came to its end, the group's fame in America subsided rather quickly. Nikolai Noskov left the band in 1990 but GP remained active and kept releasing albums in the '90s. 1993's Moscow Calling sold 500,000 copies outside the US. Their next album, Stare, came out in 1996, released only in Russia, followed up by promotional tour of the former USSR states. In 1998 the band released Protivofazza. In 1999 Alexander Minkov left the band and started his solo career under the scenic name Alexander Marshall. Gorky Park was never officially claimed to disband, but actually inactive since 2001.
Ego
Gorky Park Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So deep a web you weave
I don't see I stuck in me
Ego ego ego ego ego
My blood is full of fate
And in your play my line is late
I never know when you're winking your eye
If the truth is here when it's time that lies
Step in to my size
Suffer through my highs
Set down when I rize
Live in my disguise
Ego ego ego ego ego
Your ground it hangs in space
And when you move I'm so displaced
Hard to change when my water's ice
And I see the cracks in really
It bites
Step in to my size
Suffer through my highs
Set down when I rize
Live in my disguise
Step in to my size
Suffer through my highs
Set down when I rize
Live in my disguise
The song "Ego" by Gorky Park is about the all-consuming nature of ego and how difficult it is to escape its grasp. The repetition of the word "ego" emphasizes how overwhelming and suffocating it can be. The lyrics talk about being stuck in the web of ego and how it affects one's perception of reality. The line "I never know when you're winking your eye, if the truth is here when it's time that lies" suggests that ego can distort the truth and make it difficult to discern what is real. The song also touches upon the theme of identity and how ego can cause someone to live in a false persona. The chorus encourages the listener to step into the shoes of others and experience their highs and lows to gain a better understanding of themselves and others.
Overall, "Ego" is a commentary on how one's ego can be both a source of power and a burden, and how it can be difficult to escape its hold. The song encourages listeners to consider the impact of their own egos and work to recognize and overcome their limitations.
Line by Line Meaning
Ego ego ego ego ego
The song is about ego, as highlighted in the repetition of the word 'ego' at the beginning of every verse.
So deep a web you weave
The ego can be tangled up in complex illusions that we create for ourselves.
I don't see I stuck in me
It's hard to recognize one's own ego and how it may be impacting their thoughts and behaviors.
My blood is full of fate
The ego can be intertwined with a sense of destiny or a feeling of being 'meant' for something.
And in your play my line is late
The ego can make us feel like we're constantly playing catch-up, following a script that we didn't write.
I never know when you're winking your eye
It can be hard to discern the truth when our egos are involved, as we may be prone to interpreting things in self-serving ways.
If the truth is here when it's time that lies
The ego can make it hard to see reality clearly, especially when we're invested in a certain version of events or narrative about ourselves.
And dies
Our ego can hold us back or even be destructive if left unchecked.
Step in to my size
The song encourages the listener to try and understand the experiences and perspectives of others, in order to gain greater empathy and insight.
Suffer through my highs
This line suggests that even positive experiences can be challenging or difficult for others to relate to, and that true understanding requires empathy for both the good and bad times.
Set down when I rize
The ego can inflate itself during moments of achievement or success, and it's important to stay grounded and humble in those moments.
Live in my disguise
Everyone wears a 'disguise' of sorts, projecting an image of themselves to the world - this line suggests the importance of recognizing that others may be presenting a certain image that doesn't necessarily reflect their true selves.
Your ground it hangs in space
This line suggests that the ego can feel untethered, or unmoored from reality.
And when you move I'm so displaced
If someone's ego is driving the conversation or situation, it can be hard for others to keep up or feel like they're on solid footing.
Hard to change when my water's ice
The ego can make it very hard to change or be flexible, especially when we're feeling stuck or rigid.
And I see the cracks in really
Sometimes we can recognize that our ego is creating problems or vulnerabilities, but it can be hard to know how to address them.
It bites
The negative effects of ego can feel painful or unpleasant.
Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.