In October 1978, McCulloch founded Echo & the Bunnymen with Will Sergeant (guitar), Les Pattinson (bass), and a drum machine (allegedly named Echo), making their live début at Eric's in November that year. In October 1979 the Bunnymen exchanged the drum machine for Pete de Freitas on drums. With their line up solidified, the Bunnymen played in the late 1970s and early 1980s, releasing their critically praised debut album, Crocodiles in 1980, and the heavier, bass driven, Heaven up Here in 1981. They released their third album Porcupine in 1983 with the lead single "The Cutter" finishing in the Top 10 of the UK Charts. Ocean Rain followed in 1984.
In 1988, McCulloch left the group to pursue a solo career under the impression the Bunnymen would be laid to rest, if only temporarily. When the remaining Bunnymen continued using the name with new singer Noel Burke, the split became permanent with McCulloch referring to the band as "Echo & the Bogusmen".
In 1990, McCulloch released the album Candleland which reflected a more mature outlook on the world, owing to the recent deaths of McCulloch's father and his friend Pete de Freitas. The album peaked at number 18 in the UK Charts. It yielded two Modern Rock Tracks hits, "Proud To Fall" (No. 1 for 4 weeks) and "Faith and Healing." His album Mysterio was released in 1992, but the public's interest in the former Bunnyman was waning and it sold less than its predecessor. Shortly after, McCulloch left the public eye to devote more time to his family.
McCulloch rekindled his relationship with Will Sergeant, leading to the formation of Electrafixion in 1994. The band released the album Burned which peaked at number 38 in the UK and included the top-30 hit "Sister Pain." The band soon found themselves performing set lists composed of half Electrafixion songs and half Echo & the Bunnymen songs.
In 1997, Echo & the Bunnymen reformed and released the album Evergreen to positive reviews and chart success. Evergreen made the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart and the single "Nothing Lasts Forever reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[12] The reformed Bunnymen have since recorded several further albums, the most recent being Meteorites[/abum] which was released in 2014.
Bedbugs and Ballyhoo
Ian McCulloch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bison and buffalo
Cannonball and rifle
Rifle and cannonball
That's the way the thunder rumbles
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Rumbles...
Saying please again yeah yeah yeah
Kangaroo and chipmunk
Chipmunk and kangaroo
Ballyhoo and bedbugs
Bedbugs and ballyhoo
That's the way the bee bumbles
That's the way the bee bumbles
That's the way the bee bumbles
That's the way the bee bumbles
Bumbles...
Down on your knees again
Saying please again no no no
No
Down on your knees again
Saying please again
Down on you knees again
Saying please again no no no
Buffalo and bison
Bison and buffalo
Cannonball and rifle
Rifle and cannonball
That's the way the thunder rumbles
That's the way the thunder rumbles
That's the way the thunder rumbles
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Rumbles rumbles rumbles
The lyrics of Ian McCulloch's song Bedbugs and Ballyhoo are cryptic and open to interpretation. One possible analysis is that the song is a meditation on the randomness and complexity of nature, and the absurdity of trying to impose order or meaning on it. The repeated phrases "Buffalo and bison / Bison and buffalo / Cannonball and rifle / Rifle and cannonball" suggest a rhythm or pattern that is constantly shifting and unpredictable, like the thunder that rumbles in the background of the song. Similarly, the juxtaposition of "Kangaroo and chipmunk / Chipmunk and kangaroo / Ballyhoo and bedbugs / Bedbugs and ballyhoo" highlights the strangeness and diversity of the natural world, and the difficulty of making sense of it.
The chorus, which consists of the lines "Down on your knees again / Saying please again yeah yeah yeah" and "Down on your knees again / Saying please again no no no", adds a sense of desperation or supplication to the song. It is as if the singer is pleading with some higher power or authority to make sense of the chaos around them, or to grant them some kind of relief or understanding. The repetition of the phrase "Saying please again" reinforces the idea that the singer is caught in a cycle of uncertainty and helplessness, always asking for something they may never receive.
Line by Line Meaning
Buffalo and bison
Discussing two similar but distinct animals
Bison and buffalo
Discussing two similar but distinct animals in reverse order
Cannonball and rifle
Mentioning two types of weaponry
Rifle and cannonball
Mentioning two types of weaponry in reverse order
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Commenting on the natural occurrence of thunder
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Commenting on the natural occurrence of thunder (repeat)
Rumbles...
Trailing off thought or continuation of previous line
Down on your knees again
Addressing someone who has previously been on their knees
Saying please again yeah yeah yeah
Implying that the person is begging for something
Kangaroo and chipmunk
Comparing two vastly different animals
Chipmunk and kangaroo
Comparing two vastly different animals in reverse order
Ballyhoo and bedbugs
Mentioning two disparate things
Bedbugs and ballyhoo
Mentioning two disparate things in reverse order
That's the way the bee bumbles
Commenting on the natural sound of bees
That's the way the bee bumbles
Commenting on the natural sound of bees (repeat)
Bumbles...
Trailing off thought or continuation of previous line
Saying please again no no no
Implying annoyance or refusal to comply with previous request
No
Short, abrupt response indicating finality
Down on your knees again
Addressing someone who has previously been on their knees
Saying please again
Implying that the person is begging for something
Down on you knees again
Addressing someone who has previously been on their knees (typo corrected)
Saying please again no no no
Implying annoyance or refusal to comply with previous request
Buffalo and bison
Discussing two similar but distinct animals
Bison and buffalo
Discussing two similar but distinct animals in reverse order
Cannonball and rifle
Mentioning two types of weaponry
Rifle and cannonball
Mentioning two types of weaponry in reverse order
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Commenting on the natural occurrence of thunder
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Commenting on the natural occurrence of thunder (repeat)
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Commenting on the natural occurrence of thunder (repeat)
That's the way the thunder rumbles
Commenting on the natural occurrence of thunder (repeat)
Rumbles rumbles rumbles
Repeatedly emphasizing the natural occurrence of thunder
Contributed by Isabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.