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.
The Cape
Ian McCulloch Lyrics
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Scaled the heights of dizzy love
Didn't know how vertigo
Could leave me in the balance of
My heart and the gods above
Stung and all strung up
It's only navigation
Past the cape of levitation
I'll keep hanging in
When all the chips are down
Wooden houses telegraph poles
Gave me reason and my shape
Casting shadows marking pathways
Signposts showing our escape
Signposts showing our escape
The day the time the place
It's only navigation
So I'm moving overground
Past the cape of all temptation
I'll keep hanging in
When all the chips are down
All aboard and all or nothing
All for one and one for all
The information must be hidden
Not not not for one and all
Not not not for one and all
One push and we will fall
It's only navigation
So I'm moving overground
Past the cape of all levitation
I'll keep sailing through
When all the chips are down
Down down down
Down down down
Down down down
Down down down
The lyrics to "The Cape" by Ian McCulloch discuss the confusing and consuming experience of love. McCulloch sings of scaling dizzying heights and feeling the sting of heartbreak. He acknowledges that love is like navigation, and he is moving overground, past the cape of levitation and temptation. The wooden houses, telegraph poles, and signposts he encounters on his journey provide him with reason and shape, casting shadows and marking pathways. He recognizes that the information about his love must be hidden, not for one and all to see. But through it all, he maintains his resolve to keep hanging in and sailing through when all the chips are down.
The lyrics present a metaphorical journey of emotional discovery, with love being the main theme. The imagery of navigation, the cape of levitation and temptation, escape, and signposts are all symbols of the emotional journey being portrayed. The song reveals the paradoxical nature of love, where it can make us feel incredible heights of joy, but also leave us feeling broken and confused.
Line by Line Meaning
All confused and all consuming
I was completely lost and overwhelmed.
Scaled the heights of dizzy love
I experienced the euphoria and exhilaration of intense love.
Didn't know how vertigo
I was unaware of how the feeling of dizziness and disorientation could affect me.
Could leave me in the balance of
It could leave me in a vulnerable and uncertain state in terms of my emotions.
My heart and the gods above
The balance lies between my own feelings and the forces of fate or destiny.
Stung and all strung up
I felt hurt and tense.
It's only navigation
The path I'm on is simply a journey that I must navigate through.
So I'm moving overground
I'm progressing along the surface level in a tangible way.
Past the cape of levitation
I'm moving beyond the point of floating aimlessly or being lifted up by external forces.
I'll keep hanging in
I'll persist and endure through difficult times.
When all the chips are down
When everything seems to be going wrong or against me.
Wooden houses telegraph poles
I find meaning and structure in the familiar and commonplace objects around me.
Gave me reason and my shape
They provided me with purpose and helped me define myself.
Casting shadows marking pathways
They create patterns and guide me towards different paths or choices.
Signposts showing our escape
They indicate a way out or a chance to escape from something.
The day the time the place
The specific moment and location that matters to me, which may be linked to memories or significant events.
Past the cape of all temptation
I'm moving beyond the point of being tempted or distracted by things that aren't beneficial for me.
All aboard and all or nothing
I'm fully committed, and it's either going to work out completely or not at all.
All for one and one for all
Everyone involved is working together and supporting each other, with a shared goal in mind.
The information must be hidden
There are secrets or details that should be kept concealed.
Not not not for one and all
It's not appropriate or necessary to reveal everything to everyone.
One push and we will fall
A single mistake or misstep could cause everything to unravel or fail.
Past the cape of all levitation
I'm moving beyond the point of being lifted up or carried along by something that isn't under my control.
I'll keep sailing through
I'll continue moving forward steadily and with purpose.
Down down down
A repeated chant or mantra, possibly symbolizing a descent or a sense of falling.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Ian McCulloch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind