Sign
K-Group/Peter Hammill Lyrics
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Suspicion grows,
Wrong situation...
Oh, no-one knows where you've gone to
In the pagan night
And the neon reflections
Spread cadmium white.
You came here looking for something
Hey, take a Polaroid, exit,
And well you might.
Sign the picture, get out of the frame;
Sign the picture, and throw it away.
Sign the picture, sign the picture,
Throw the picture away.
Now she turns her attention
And her camera on you:
This could be all of the moments
That you'll ever live through,
Oh, but your heart beats the rhythm
Of primeval tattoo...
I hear you make your excuses
As you usually do.
Sign the picture, get out of the frame;
Sign the picture, and throw it away;
Sign the picture, sign the picture,
Throw the picture away...
Although it's going to come back.
You've got a certain knack
Of making of such things
Auspicious signs.
The lyrics of K-Group/Peter Hammill's song "Sign" convey a sense of being lost and out of place in a wild, pagan world where nothing seems to make sense. The first lines suggest that the singer is in the wrong situation and perhaps under suspicion for something. They feel lost and alone in the neon-lit night, surrounded by strange, pagan symbols and reflections. The second verse introduces a new character, a woman with a camera who turns her attention on the singer. It's unclear what the woman wants or what the singer is trying to hide, but there's a sense of tension and urgency as the singer makes excuses and tries to leave. The chorus repeats the phrase "sign the picture, throw the picture away" like a mantra, suggesting that the singer is trying to leave behind a past that they no longer want to be a part of, even if it means erasing their own memories.
Overall, the song seems to be about the human desire to escape from the past and start anew, even if it means abandoning everything that made us who we are. The pagan symbolism and neon-lit imagery evoke a sense of primal chaos and mystery, while the repetition of the chorus creates a sense of ritual and repetition. The woman with the camera may represent a sort of "fate" or karma, watching the singer's every move and recording every moment for posterity. In the end, the singer seems resigned to the fact that their past will always come back to haunt them, but also confident that they have the strength and resilience to face it head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
Wrong drink to order.
You made a poor choice in ordering your drink.
Suspicion grows,
Distrust and uncertainty are increasing.
Wrong situation...
You find yourself in an unfavorable and unpleasant circumstance.
Oh, no-one knows where you've gone to
You have disappeared without anyone knowing your whereabouts.
In the pagan night
The surroundings have a wild and primitive nature.
And the neon reflections
The lights create reflections in bright colors.
Spread cadmium white.
The brightness of the lights diffuses and covers everything in a luminous white.
You came here looking for something
You had a purpose in coming to this place.
But this wasn't it, quite.
However, what you found was not exactly what you were looking for.
Hey, take a Polaroid, exit,
Take a snapshot with your Polaroid camera and leave this place.
And well you might.
It's a good idea to do so.
Sign the picture, get out of the frame;
Write your name on the photo and step out of the picture.
Sign the picture, and throw it away.
Sign the photo and discard it.
Sign the picture, sign the picture,
Make sure to sign the photo twice.
Throw the picture away.
Dispose of the photo.
Now she turns her attention
Now the focus is on you.
And her camera on you:
Her camera is aimed at you.
This could be all of the moments
This may be a defining moment.
That you'll ever live through,
A moment that will shape your future.
Oh, but your heart beats the rhythm
Your heart is beating with the primal beat of life.
Of primeval tattoo...
It is a rhythm that goes back to the dawn of time.
I hear you make your excuses
You are making excuses.
As you usually do.
This is a common behavior for you.
Although it's going to come back.
What you have done will have consequences.
You've got a certain knack
You possess a special talent.
Of making of such things
You have the ability to make something out of nothing.
Auspicious signs.
You turn ordinary circumstances into favorable opportunities.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fabrikk60
K-Group was essentially Van Der Graaf with an extra guitarist. Amazing that the core 3 guys here (Hammill, Evans, Potter) first played together in 1970 as proggers, then so successfully re-invented themselves here as a very contemporary sounding post-punk band. I can't think of anybody else who managed such a thing - awesome!
@andyshelton4889
fabrikk60 Peter Gabriel?😀
@roky616
Thanks for sharing this! A great version :)
@theo9952
i've seen them in Athens on that tour and it was the first time i saw PH playing live and the only time he played with a band. after the concert there was a riot-many rock concerts ended up in riots, in those days in Greece LOL, and the police came in.
@angelocaruana1822
Hammill con gabriel i migliori
@colamoonpig
Excellent Michal 5/5 Hans :o)
@davyspoon
Great Stuff.
@massimiliano72
love
@vtripaldi
nick on bass but i missed the acoustic guitar
@Koinzidenz
Fünf Sterne. Gruß