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 White Hotel
Ian McCulloch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
White capped mountain peak
Above the lake above my station
A moving carriage
The perfect marriage
Of like apart from destination
Ringing all the bells
Tonight
I want to write the letters
Of persecution
To someone I don't know who doesn't know me
I want to be the dust
Inside a vacuum
An icecube frozen in the melting sea
Ringing all the bells
Down at the white hotel
Ringing all the bells
Down at the white hotel
Tonight
Tonight
Ringing all the bells
Down at the white hotel
Ringing all the bells
Down at the white hotel
Tonight
Tonight
Ringing all the bells
Down at the white hotel
Ringing all the bells
Down at the white hotel
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
The White Hotel by Ian McCulloch is a nostalgic, nostalgic song about a desire to escape from one's mundane existence into something greater. It speaks of an idealized, pristine image of a white capped mountain peak overlooking a lake, as well as a moving carriage, which represents the idea of progress, travel and exploration. The longing for these things is emphasized in the lines "I want to be on that/White capped mountain peak/Above the lake above my station/The perfect marriage/Of like apart from destination.". This notion of being above one's station is common in literature and film, and McCulloch plays upon it here with great effect.
The second verse of the song is tinged with a sense of melancholy, with the singer wanting to write letters of persecution to someone they don't know. The desire to be the dust inside of a vacuum and an icecube frozen in the melting sea adds to this sense of longing to be part of something larger and important. The lyrics could be interpreted in different ways, but they seem to allude to a desire to escape the limitations of one's own life and to become part of a bigger picture.
Overall, the song speaks to a powerful desire to inspire and be inspired by something greater than oneself, and to transcend one's own limitations. The ringing of all the bells "Down at the white hotel" is a metaphor for the joy and exhilaration that such an escape would bring.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be on that White capped mountain peak
I desire to be on the highest point of a snow-capped mountain, overlooking the lake below my social status.
Above the lake above my station
I wish to be above the lake and above my social class.
A moving carriage
I desire to be in a moving carriage, symbolizing the ever-changing nature of life.
The perfect marriage Of like apart from destination
I imagine a perfect union of two alike individuals, despite having different dreams and goals.
Ringing all the bells Down at the white hotel Tonight
I long for celebration, joy, and merrymaking by ringing all bells at The White Hotel tonight.
I want to write the letters Of persecution To someone I don't know who doesn't know me
I wish to write letters of oppression to someone who I have no connection with and vice versa.
I want to be the dust Inside a vacuum An icecube frozen in the melting sea
I yearn to be insignificant, a nonentity, and to be frozen like an ice cube melting away in an ocean, ultimately vanishing.
Tonight Tonight Ringing all the bells Down at the white hotel Ringing all the bells Down at the white hotel
Repeatedly emphasizing the grand celebration, joy, and ringing of bells at The White Hotel tonight.
Tonight Tonight Tonight Tonight Tonight Tonight Tonight Tonight
Further emphasizing that everything is taking place tonight, with a hint of urgency and excitement.
Contributed by Chase A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Flakeway
I still have my cassette copy of Candleland.
Scott Padamonsky
my tape is beat to hell!
pigyob
Still got my vinyl copy!
Ian McCulloch
Ian is one of my favorite artist one of my more favorite album along with echo and the bunnymen
Pablo Martinez
it was about time to see this true gem uploaded . Thanks!
anaranjadisimo
masterful songwriting
Nigel Heathcote
Just played this album to my kids, they loved it, not just me then , watch yer base bins I’m tellin yer.
anaranjadisimo
masterful songwriting
LZR CLH
The drummer in song is Boris Williams (ex-The Cure).
Eugene Jacquescoley
Candleland es soooooooooo goodddddddd!