Dull… Read Full Bio ↴Greg Dulli (born May 11, 1965) is a singer and instrumentalist.
Dulli was born and brought up in a working-class suburb of Hamilton, Ohio. He is of Greek (father) and Irish (mother) descent. He first came to public attention in Cincinnati in the late 1980s with The Afghan Whigs, when Dulli joined D.C. transplant bassist John Curley and Louisville, Kentucky, guitarist Rick McCollum. Dulli's half-hour-long on-stage cigarette breaks, complete with running commentary on sexual politics and attempts at matchmaking at first enraged, but later fascinated the clientele.
Dulli's budding career in the rock and roll production business was halted as The Afghan Whigs began playing more and better gigs, drawing bigger and bigger crowds. The band was soon brought to the attention of Sub Pop Records in Seattle. Sub Pop's signing of The Afghan Whigs created quite a stir; they were the first non-Northwestern U.S. band to record for the label. The Whigs split in 2001.
In 1994, Dulli was a lead vocalist in the Backbeat Band, an alternative-rock supergroup that recorded the soundtrack to The Beatles biopic, Backbeat. Other members of the Backbeat Band were Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Don Fleming (Gumball), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Dave Grohl (Nirvana, later Foo Fighters), and Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum).
In 1997, Dulli (with Ted Demme and director Mark Pellington) bought the movie rights to a book by Ann Imbrie called Spoken in Darkness but the film was never made. He is now the lead singer and main songwriter of the band The Twilight Singers who released their fourth album titled Powder Burns in May 2006.
Dulli is working with Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age, Mark Lanegan Band) in the project, The Gutter Twins. Lanegan also appears on The Twilight Singers new EP, A Stitch In Time. He released his first CD under his own name in 2005, Amber Headlights, and followed it with a live recording in 2008, Live At Triple Door.
Pantomima
Greg Dulli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come and get it
Broken hearted
I don't regret it
Fixed impulse
Now you're listening to me
I have something to show you
And how it came to hypnotize me
Pantomima
So you said it
I believed you
Don't you forget it
Dislocation (where you goin?)
Bought on credit (I'll come with you)
Comes in colors
I dream in red
Waiting on a breeze
I'm waiting on a breeze
I'm waiting on the fever
That will bring me back alive
Follow scent
I'm alone
Pull the trigger
Now your mind is blown
Come in peace, my love
Coming on and on, and on, and on
A summer breeze
A summer breeze
A summer breeze
A summer breeze
Give 'em hell
Roll tide
If your sister's home
Maybe I'll stop by
Come cleanse
Come clean
You know this one was meant for me
How revealing is the feeling?
But there's more than meets the eye
And it's easy come and easy go
You're waving me goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
I have seen the way
The sun is done
Baby, that's OK
For the thing that you need
Is mine
The lyrics of Greg Dulli's "Pantomima" describe a tumultuous and emotionally charged relationship. The first verse expresses the singer's sense of liberation after a painful experience or breakup, declaring the past is the past and that they have something new to show to their former partner. "Pantomima" is a Spanish word that means "pantomime" or "mime," suggesting that the singer is going through the motions of a relationship without really experiencing it.
The second verse highlights the singer's vulnerability and gullibility, admitting that they believed their lover's promises despite feeling "dislocated" and unsure of where the relationship was headed. The chorus describes the singer's yearning for something that will revive them and bring them back to life, waiting for a "summer breeze" or "fever" to rekindle their passion and energy.
The third verse portrays the singer's recklessness and impulsivity, telling their lover to "give 'em hell" and recklessly offering to visit their sister if she's home. The last few lines suggest that the singer is resigned to their fate, but insists that they possess the thing their lover needs, implying that their love will eventually heal them both.
Overall, "Pantomima" tells the story of a dysfunctional relationship full of emotional ups and downs, but ultimately suggests that there is still some hope for redemption and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
Desolation
I feel empty and hopeless
Come and get it
Take my desolation away
Broken hearted
I am deeply hurt and emotional
I don't regret it
I don't feel remorse for what happened
Fixed impulse
My actions were deliberate and intentional
Now you're listening to me
I have your attention now
I have something to show you
I have a demonstration or display for you
And how it came to hypnotize me
And how it entranced and captivated me
Pantomima
Deceit or trickery
So you said it
You made a statement
I believed you
I accepted what you said as true
Don't you forget it
Remember what you said
Dislocation (where you goin?)
Feeling of being separated or removed (where are you going?)
Bought on credit (I'll come with you)
Purchased on trust or expectation (I'll join you)
Comes in colors
May appear as different variations or emotions
I dream in red
I have vivid and intense dreams or desires
Waiting on a breeze
I am anticipating change or relief
I'm waiting on a breeze
I am waiting for something that is uncertain or unpredictable
I'm waiting on the fever
I am waiting for a contagious enthusiasm or passion
That will bring me back alive
That will revive my motivation and energy
Follow scent
Exploring and pursuing a mysterious trail
I'm alone
I am by myself
Pull the trigger
Taking decisive action
Now your mind is blown
Now you experience intense amazement or astonishment
Come in peace, my love
Enter with kindness and compassion, my beloved
Coming on and on, and on, and on
Continuously arriving, repeating, and continuing
A summer breeze
A refreshing and pleasant breeze associated with summertime
Give 'em hell
Confront them aggressively
Roll tide
Experiencing or creating a powerful force or movement
If your sister's home
If your sister is present or available
Maybe I'll stop by
I might visit or drop by
Come cleanse
Come purify or cleanse oneself
Come clean
Come clean and confess the truth
You know this one was meant for me
You realize that this one was intended for me
How revealing is the feeling?
How expressive and revealing is the emotion?
But there's more than meets the eye
But there is more than what is initially apparent
And it's easy come and easy go
And it is easy to acquire and easy to lose
You're waving me goodbye
You are leaving or departing from me
Goodbye
Farewell
I have seen the way
I have observed the path or course
The sun is done
The end of the day has come
Baby, that's OK
That is acceptable or permissible, my dear
For the thing that you need
Because the thing that you require
Is mine
Belongs to me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Greg Dulli
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrGregDulli
“The video is an homage to the movie All That Jazz, ‘Pantomima’ feels like a show tune to me.” -Greg Dulli.
@tonykinsel2268
good lookin out pops (and see you in cincy!)
@swedenbill
Nice video! Looking forward to the gig in cophenhagen in april!
@justinjerome7921
Thanks for that Greg! I'll have to check out the film. I absolutely love all of your music and I'm sure you are told this constantly but your music has saved my life on numerous occasions so thank you so much for doing what you do. This video is amazing. I must have listened to Random Desire about a hundred times. You truly are the Golden Boy. I can't wait to see you October 1st at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC. I really hope you don't have to cancel. I've seen Afghan Whigs twice and The Twilight Singers once but I've never seen you play a solo show. I loved Amber Headlights, I'm wondering why I read that Random Desire is your first solo album. Wasn't Amber Headlights a solo album as well? Anyway, keep up the excellent work... I know you will. Thank you for everything Mr. Dulli.. Take care and watch out for that Rona!
@nicolacugini1931
Greg is a great artist, each song proves his talent. The videos are the right companions. We are thrilled for his new album. 💪🏻
@alexrose9487
"you fight through that shoulder " fucking amazing line, awesome video, that fucking bassline, greg, you fucking rock, the final pay off, " the thing you need is mine " its a killer, bless bob fosse, alex,x
@LiberalsArePoop
The beauty of living in Cincinnati is knowing that Greg and the Whigs will always be stopping here when they tour.
@emilvar
Eh...lucky you
@clintconnally6603
Its good to see Greg making a solo album again. I love Amber Headlights and this one was long anticipated. My new favorite vinyl right next to my Twilight Singers and Afghan Whigs vinyls.
@flyoverfilms6026
This kicks so much ass and gives me so much joy I think my heart may explode.