As a band formed in 1989 in Scotland, Long Fin Killie may be best known as … Read Full Bio ↴As a band formed in 1989 in Scotland, Long Fin Killie may be best known as the band that singer Luke Sutherland sang for before subsequently embarking on his solo project under the name of Bows. Other members in the band included Colin Greig, David Turner, and Philip Cameron. Over the course of three albums and numerous singles, the Scottish act cemented their musical style and constantly employed a mix of delicate string arrangements, horns, and of course, Luke Sutherland's often delicate singing style that often ventured into more aggressive waters during certain tracks. Singing about topics that ranged from issues of race and sexuality to societal standards of beauty, the group remained anything but your typical rock act until they disbanded in 1998.

Coward
Long Fin Killie Lyrics

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I don't like it
This pressing flesh of star sign
German eyes on postage
Where's he gone today?

And I liked it
The way this blood was herself
The sunny skies encircling

Read them new today

And you feel like bite
Like something surfs alive
You feel her bite
Wither now

You feel like I'm alive
Like there's nothing in the black
You feel that guy (guise)
Muscle and dye (Frozen with sound) (x2)

But I liked it,

The way this blood would hurt her
The sunny sky in circles

Overall Meaning

"Coward" is a song by Long Fin Killie that presents a series of fragmented and surreal images that are difficult to comprehend at first glance. The opening lines, "I don't like it, this pressing flesh of star sign," may suggest a sense of dissatisfaction and discomfort with one's identity or the societal labels that are imposed upon individuals. The following line, "German eyes on postage, where's he gone today?" contains ambiguous imagery that is open to interpretation but may imply a sense of displacement or loss.

Later in the song, the lyrics become even more opaque with lines such as "And you feel like bite, like something surfs alive, you feel her bite, wither now." It's possible that these words evoke a sense of raw physicality or animalistic desire, but the overall meaning is unclear.

The song is characterized by its use of unconventional rhythms and instrumentation, featuring a saxophone that adds a jazzy, improvisational element to the otherwise experimental and avant-garde composition. The lyrics, while often cryptic, are thought-provoking and invite multiple interpretations.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't like it
I am not fond of this situation

This pressing flesh of star sign
This overwhelming connection based on astrology

German eyes on postage
An enigmatic gaze on a letter or message

Where's he gone today?
Where has someone disappeared to?

And I liked it
I enjoyed what was happening previously

The way this blood was herself
The way the person was true to their nature

The sunny skies encircling
The bright and lively atmosphere surrounding them

Read them new today
Perceive things differently or in a new light

And you feel like bite
The notion of a sharp, painful sensation

Like something surfs alive
As if something is pulsating with vitality

You feel her bite
Experiencing the sharpness of someone's words or actions