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.
Start Again
Ian McCulloch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When am I ever gonna learn
It's in my head
But I can't say the words
I had it in my hands
Lost my nerve
I gave it and I got it
One day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
My fingerprints
Have left their traces
On all the things
The people and the places
I ever felt
And felt a part of
I touched the life
And kissed the heart of
One day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
Start again
Nothing dies
Nothing ever dies
Woke up sad
When am I ever gonna learn
It's in my head
Time to take my turn
I had it in my hands
Lost my nerve
Gave it and I got it
In return
And one day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
I'll come around
And start again
Start again
Wonder when
Wonder when
Wonder when
The lyrics to Ian McCulloch's song Start Again explore themes of regret, missed opportunities, and the desire for a fresh start. The singer wakes up feeling sad and wonders when he will ever learn from his mistakes. He knows what he wants to say, but can't seem to find the words. He had something in his grasp, but lost his nerve and now looks back with regret. Despite this, he holds onto the belief that someday he will turn things around and start again.
The repeated refrain of "One day I'll come around, wonder when I'll turn around and start again" emphasizes a feeling of missed opportunities and the hope for redemption. The mention of fingerprints suggests a lasting impact on the people and places the singer has touched. The line "nothing dies, nothing ever dies" seems to suggest that regret and missed opportunities linger, but the possibility for change and a fresh start always exists.
Overall, the lyrics to Start Again express a complex mix of regret, hope, and the passage of time, with a focus on the desire to start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up sad
I woke up feeling unhappy
When am I ever gonna learn
I keep making the same mistakes and not improving
It's in my head
I know what I need to do but can't bring myself to do it
But I can't say the words
I have trouble expressing my thoughts and feelings
I had it in my hands
I had something important and valuable
Lost my nerve
I became hesitant and fearful
I gave it and I got it
I made an effort and received something in return
In return
As a result of my actions
One day
Sometime in the future
I'll come around
I'll change my ways or attitude
Wonder when
I'm curious about the timing
I'll turn around
I'll make a positive change and improve things
And start again
I'll begin anew
My fingerprints
My mark or influence
Have left their traces
Are evident or noticeable
On all the things
In every aspect of my life
The people and the places
The individuals and locations I've encountered
I ever felt
That have made an emotional impact on me
And felt a part of
That I've been connected or involved with
I touched the life
I've had an effect on others
And kissed the heart of
I've made a deep emotional connection with someone
Nothing dies
Things may change, but they don't truly disappear
Nothing ever dies
The impact that people and things have on us lives on
Time to take my turn
It's my opportunity to make a change
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ian McCulloch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gerardo Chávez
Woke up sad
When am I ever gonna learn
It's in my head
But I can't say the words
I had it in my hands
Lost my nerve
I gave it and I got it
In return
One day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
My fingerprints
Have left their traces
On all the things
The people and the places
I ever felt
And felt a part of
I touched the life
And kissed the heart of
One day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
Start again
Nothing dies
Nothing ever dies
Woke up sad
When am I ever gonna learn
It's in my head
Time to take my turn
I had it in my hands
Lost my nerve
Gave it and I got it
In return
And one day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
I'll come around
And start again
Start again
Wonder when
Wonder when
Wonder when
Annette Noack
His breathy, beautiful voice...no one could reproduce this song and make it any better....
Gavin Paisley
i hadn't heard this in 27 years, a ex girlfriend introduced me to it. it's even better than i remember it. i know he wrote a lot of iconic Bunnyman songs, but this is just as good, if not better than them. thanks very much for uploading
Les Holmes
I feel it too.. such a mystical song, so much feeling, Ian is such a humble mystic... one of the last truly inner-attainers......
Charles Grech
unbelievable.. beautiful song.... makes me think of my pop....I lost him......
Christian Eduardo Arias Yika
¡Un bálsamo! la voz susurrante de Ian es relajante!
Luiz Dias
Falou Tudo num tom Maior !!!!! .
Baby Irene
Just lovely.
Gerardo Chávez
Woke up sad
When am I ever gonna learn
It's in my head
But I can't say the words
I had it in my hands
Lost my nerve
I gave it and I got it
In return
One day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
My fingerprints
Have left their traces
On all the things
The people and the places
I ever felt
And felt a part of
I touched the life
And kissed the heart of
One day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
Start again
Nothing dies
Nothing ever dies
Woke up sad
When am I ever gonna learn
It's in my head
Time to take my turn
I had it in my hands
Lost my nerve
Gave it and I got it
In return
And one day
I'll come around
Wonder when
I'll turn around
And start again
I'll come around
And start again
Start again
Wonder when
Wonder when
Wonder when
Baby Irene
Wow.
Tad Somato
Fantastic