Ken's solo career began with the 1997 release, This Sounds Like Goodbye and the low-fi, experimental feel of this album was a departure from the richness of The Posies sound.
His second solo release, Touched, had the misfortune of a September 11, 2001 street date and as a result, did not receive the attention it deserved. The outright experimentalism found in his solo debut was replaced by a more polished and rounded sound that is more reminiscent of his work in The Posies.
Stringfellow's third solo effort, Soft Commands, was released to critical acclaim in 2004.
In addition to his solo work and The Posies, Stringfellow has produced albums for several artists around the world and has worked with REM and Big Star, both in the studio and on the road.
According to Stringfellow's blog at http://www.kenstringfellow.com, a new solo album is being recorded in 2007.
Any Love
Ken Stringfellow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Taking the moon in her bed like a lover
Letting him leave her
Taking no others
Watching the tides as they fill up her eyes
She says that she's not upset
She says that loneliness is worse than regret
What she meant
When she told us
Any love is good enough
The sun comes to her on the windowsill
She meets him there. He says
'Come ride on my flaming hands
By tomorrow we'll be painting the horizons
With the gold streaks of a good goodbye
What would the Moon suspect?
He only sees the clouds that slither by his head'
We have to wonder
What she meant
When she told us
Any love is good enough
'Could heaven keep the light on so I can keep my eye on you?
You and only you
And follow you as far as I can go'
There's a break in the trees the Moon is shining through
She rolls down the window and says 'Is it you? Is it you?'
Gravity turned him
Comets had burned him, too
She splashes the river to move his reflection
She says 'Could heaven keep the light on
So God can keep his eye on you?
You and only you
And follow you as far as you can go'
We had to wonder
What she meant
When she told us
Any love is good enough
The song "Any Love" by Ken Stringfellow has a very melancholic and dreamy feel. The song laments the desperate search for love and companionship. Cassandra, described as the singer of the song, is someone who watches the sunrise and moon in bed. She is portrayed as a hopeless romantic who is willing to take any kind of love, even if it is not the right kind of love. The line "Any love is good enough" portrays her desperation.
Cassandra is a character who is deeply reflective and has experienced heartbreak. She chooses loneliness over regret and this line shows her strength and inner resilience. The sun comes to her on the window sill, and together they plan to ride on his flaming hands to paint the horizon gold. The moon, however, suspects nothing as the clouds hinder his view. Cassandra is acutely aware of the moon’s blind spots and sees his limitations. She knows that the moon does not know how to love as she does.
Later in the song, Cassandra imagines speaking to her departed loved one. She begs him to stay with her and asks heaven to keep the light on so she can follow him as far as she can go. She envisions the moon shining down on her, but she knows that it is only a reflection of the past, and she must move on.
Overall, the song captures the complex emotions of love and loss. Cassandra is shown as someone who will settle for any kind of love because loneliness is more dreadful than regret. She is willing to take the risk of heartbreak in the pursuit of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Cassandra for the sunrise century
Cassandra, who is an archetype of a prophetess, symbolizes forecasting events of a new era of change or revolution.
Taking the moon in her bed like a lover
Being in her private chambers with the moon signifies the intimacy and sensuality of her connection with the universe.
Letting him leave her
She allows and accepts the ephemeral and transient nature of the cosmos, and that every entity has their own cycle of change and growth.
Taking no others
She is devoted and loyal to the cosmos alone and forms no attachment to transient things in the universe.
Watching the tides as they fill up her eyes
She is observant of the cycles of the tide in the same way that she is aware of the natural rhythms and patterns of the universe.
She says that she's not upset
She is at peace with the changes and impermanence of the universe and understands that everything has its own natural course.
She says that loneliness is worse than regret
While she is content with change and impermanence, she acknowledges the importance of human connection and that loneliness is the greater burden.
We have to wonder
As listeners, we are prompted to speculate on the deeper meaning of the lyrics.
What she meant
The ambiguity of the lyrics prompts listeners to question the intention behind the words.
When she told us
The lyrics are presented as a statement-shared by the persona of the song.
Any love is good enough
The statement is that any form of love and connection is worth pursuing regardless of the outcome because human experience thrives on connection.
The sun comes to her on the windowsill
The sun represents a new beginning to the persona, and its arrival at her window is a sign of hope and possibility.
She meets him there
She has a reciprocal and harmonious relationship with the universe, and in embracing the sun, it's like having a reunion with an old friend.
'Come ride on my flaming hands
The transition from the suns' arrival to asking her to ride on the hands of fire can be interpreted as a call to a spectacular destiny or purpose.
By tomorrow we'll be painting the horizons
The dawn of a new day provides a fresh canvas for new creation and opportunities.
With the gold streaks of a good goodbye
As Helios reigns, he paints the sky with 'a good goodbye,' an optimistic and positive departure from the challenges of the past.
What would the Moon suspect?
The moon was an exclusive lover of the persona, but the sun arrives, turning the table on the moon who becomes distinct.
He only sees the clouds that slither by his head'
The moon, unlike the persona, is unresponsive to the universe and only sees the moon's physical aspects.
'Could heaven keep the light on, so I can keep my eye on you?
She prays for guidance and protection for her loved ones in the journey towards their futures.
You and only you
She singles out her loved ones as uniquely important to her in a universe of many.
And follow you as far as I can go
She will support her loved ones and everything they strive for without reservation.
There's a break in the trees the Moon is shining through
A disruption in the persona's orbit reveals the moon's return, but this time, it becomes more upsetting than loving.
She rolls down the window and says 'Is it you? Is it you?'
The window symbolizes a barrier between the persona and the universe, and in questioning the moon, she feels a disconnection with reality.
Gravity turned him Comets had burned him, too
The personification of gravity and comets suggest the moon's transit's significant impact on the persona.
She splashes the river to move his reflection
Through the gesture of splashing water, the persona tries to fix the unfixable situation by moving the moon's image to make it align with her feelings.
She says 'Could heaven keep the light on, So God can keep his eye on you?
A further appeal to higher powers to provide guidance.
You and only you
The specificity of the prayer reiterates the importance of the 'you' in her life.
And follow you as far as you can go'
The promise of support and loyalty is reiterated.
We had to wonder
The lyrics inspire us to think deeper about the complexities of life.
What she meant
Signifies the mystery and ambiguity behind the truth of the song's inspiration.
When she told us
Expresses the persona of the singer, and the connection between the listener's and the song's persona.
Any love is good enough
The assurance of the song's intention, which is to communicate the value of love in human life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind