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.
Close Your Eyes
Ian McCulloch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd do it if I could
Do it if I could
Always knew I should and
Never understood
Never understood
I will go where I must
I will go if I must
Making up what I can
Close your eyes
(Yeah yeah yeah)...
Look inside
Look inside
Another idle pain and
Vision down the drain
Going down the drain
And all my yester know days
Will never be the same
Never be the same
I will go if I must
Taking in what I can
I will go 'cos I must
Making up what I can
Close your eyes
(I'm trying to)
Close your eyes
(I'm going to)...
Look inside...
My destiny
I know it will be
Deterred this time
Or ever can be
There's no use lying
I'm just as scared of dying as everyone
Someone in the know said
You're a long time dead
He's never wrong
Close your eyes
(I'm trying to)
Close your eyes
(I'm going to)...
Look inside...
Is there something in your mind?
Are you slipping on a stone?
If there's nothing in your mind
Won't you leave my world alone?
Leave my world
Leave my world
Alone
The lyrics of Ian McCulloch's song Close Your Eyes talk about embracing change and moving forward without fear into the unknown. The first stanza talks about taking action and doing what must be done even if one does not fully understand the reasons why. The line "Nip it in the bud" is a metaphor for taking action to deal with a problem before it can grow worse. The second stanza talks about the pain of change and how it can sometimes feel like everything is going down the drain, but nevertheless, one must keep moving forward. The chorus, "Close your eyes, (Yeah yeah yeah)... Look inside, Look inside" is a call to introspection and to find strength by looking within oneself.
The third stanza talks about accepting one's destiny, knowing that it might not be what one wants but also understanding that it cannot be changed. The line "There's no use lying, I'm just as scared of dying as everyone" is a reminder that everyone has fears and insecurities, and that it is a natural part of life. The final stanza talks about the importance of respect and boundaries in relationships. The lines "If there's nothing in your mind, Won't you leave my world alone? Leave my world, Leave my world, Alone" is a reminder that people should not impose their thoughts or beliefs on others, and that everyone should be allowed to have their own space and thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
Nip it in the bud
Address the problem at the earliest stage feasible
I'd do it if I could
I would attend to the situation if I had the ability
Do it if I could
Perform action, providing ability and opportunity
Always knew I should and
I have always understood its necessity
Never understood
However, I haven't grasped how to do it
I will go where I must
I will move where my fate takes me
Taking in what I can
Acquiring as much knowledge as possible
I will go if I must
I will proceed wherever it is required out of obligation
Making up what I can
Crafting the parts I'm unable to comprehend
Close your eyes
Be introspective and imagine possibilities
Look inside
Reflect inward and recognize innate qualities
Another idle pain and
The suffering I'm already accustomed with
Vision down the drain
Hope lost
Going down the drain
Powerless to stop the fall
And all my yester know days
All my past experience
Will never be the same
Seems like they will never be replicated
I will go if I must
Grudgingly do what is expected
I will go 'cos I must
I will have to identify the reasons to go forward
Making up what I can
Making do with what's left in my hand
My destiny
What fate has in store for me
I know it will be
I'm foretold it's happening
Deterred this time
Changing outcomes this time around
Or ever can be
Or maybe can't be modified
There's no use lying
Honesty is the best policy
I'm just as scared of dying as everyone
I'm frightened of dying the same way as anyone else
Someone in the know said
An authoritative person passed on information
You're a long time dead
Life does not last forever
He's never wrong
This person has never proved wrong
Is there something in your mind?
Is there anything bothering you?
Are you slipping on a stone?
Are you stumbling or faltering?
If there's nothing in your mind
If you don't have anything to say
Won't you leave my world alone?
Please don't bother me anymore
Leave my world
Stop interacting with me
Leave my world
Stop communicating with me
Alone
In isolation from me
Contributed by Bailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.