The group initially signed with Elektra Records in 1993. However, just before they released their first single, two tragedies struck the band. Lead singer Hunt was seriously injured in a car accident resulting in his being in a coma for three days. Shortly after, the UK arm of the record label closed its doors leaving the Longpigs' future in doubt. Elektra set a price of £500,000 to release them from their contract.
The Longpigs contract was purchased by U2's new record label, Mother Records. The band had a series of fortunate gigs, including opening for Echobelly, Supergrass and finally Radiohead in early 1995. Their first singles, Happy Again, She Said and Jesus Christ did little in the charts. The band played the 1995 Reading Festival and subsequently, new track All Hype was featured on the compilation CD Volume 14: Reading '95 Special.
Their next single, the poppy Far, managed to hit the UK Top 40. In March 1996, this was followed by the ballad On & On which received considerable radio play and hit the UK Top 20. The song had a guitar riff remarkably similar to Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here. In April 1996 the band released their debut album The Sun Is Often Out, which was declared one of 1996's 50 best albums by both Q Magazine and Melody Maker. On the heels of their newfound success, the band then repackaged and re-released She Said which hit the UK top 30 in June 1996.
The band waited more than two years to release their next material, an eternity in the Britpop world. Their second album, Mobile Home, was released in 1999, with singles including Blue Skies and The Frank Sonata. Despite briefly reaching the UK top 20, the album failed to achieve any notable success. Dee Boyle left the band, and shortly after Mother Records folded in 2000, the rest of the band split up. Guitarist Richard Hawley went on to tour with Pulp.
In late 2004, Hunt lent his voice to the self-titled album by pop/electronic supergroup Mayonnaise on the Lunaticworks/BMG label. Richard Hawley has a flourishing solo career and has also worked with Jarvis Cocker in the electro group Relaxed Muscle. Hunt has since been seen recording with a new band, Gramercy with the help of Dylan Rippon (producer of albums by Emma Townsend) and Nigel Hoyle, once of Britpop-rockers Gay Dad.
Elvis
Longpigs Lyrics
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Stairwell would I fall to please her
Just to tear this out of my belly forever
Cause I'm still hooked to the light forever
I can do it if you're there
And it's only when you're there
Bless them with the arrogant brandos
If it's not wet then you shouldn't be doing it
She's no bitch she's far too rich
And I can do it when you're there
And it's only when you're there
All these amazing frustrations
Such a perfect celebration
Hardly needs to be said a sensations
Are as perfect as sturbation
Hardly needs to be nailed as frustration
Such a perfect celebration
Hardly needs to be soiled
You wash yourself
You wash yourself
And I wash myself
You wash yourself
End up in a young hair
Curled round with a finger
I can't excuse this
It's all fucked
But if you're there
I can screw it when she's here
I can rule the world six times over
With my head burned out
And my body on hold
I can do it if you're there
And it's only when she's there
All these amazing frustrations
Such a perfect celebration
Hardly needs to be said
All these amazing sensations
Such a virgin celebration
Never needs to be soiled
You wash yourself
You wash yourself
And I wash myself
You wash yourself
The whole world joins the French foreign legion
Get a new suit for the man who discovered Elvis
Was so fat when he died and ascend to heaven
I live here in my watered down Disney baby
With ten million attic clad genius
Abort me 'cause I have to compete
And maybe one man will eventually spit on mars
Save us
If you're there
Only if she's there
I can do it if you're there
I can do it when she's there
You can screw when she's there
You can screw when she's there
All these amazing frustrations
Such a perfect celebration
Hardly needs to be said
[Ooh these amazing frustrations]
[Such a perfect celebration]
[Hardly need to be said]
Ooh these amazing frustrations
You're a virgin celebration
Hardly needs to be dead
[All these amazing frustration]
[Such a perfect celebration]
[Only needs to be said]
All these amazing sensations
Such a perfect celebration
Hardly needs to be said
[All these amazing frustration]
[Such a perfect celebration]
[Only needs to be said]
The lyrics to Longpigs's song "Elvis" are enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song seems to be about a relationship that has both positive and negative aspects. The singer feels hooked to the light and willing to do anything to please their partner, including tearing something out of their belly forever. The lyrics suggest a sense of frustration and perfectionism, with the idea of celebration combined with sensations that "hardly need to be said." The chorus repeats that "I can do it when you're there, and it's only when you're there."
The verses are more abstract, with references to "the French foreign legion" and "the man who discovered Elvis." There are also mentions of arrogance, heartbreak, and self-washing. The song seems to be exploring themes of desire, desperation, and the complexity of human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Crawled out of the park to eat her took a
I left the park to go after her
Stairwell would I fall to please her
I would do anything to make her happy
Just to tear this out of my belly forever
I want to get rid of this feeling inside of me
Cause I'm still hooked to the light forever
I am still attached to the feeling of love
I can do it if you're there
I feel more confident when you are around
And it's only when you're there
My confidence comes from your presence
Bless them with the arrogant brandos
Praise them, the confident ones
Leave your heart stitched in a hundred pieces
Your heart will be broken in many ways
If it's not wet then you shouldn't be doing it
If it's not passionate, it's not worth it
She's no bitch she's far too rich
She is not mean, she has too much control
All these amazing frustrations
These strong emotions are difficult to handle
Such a perfect celebration
But at the same time, they feel amazing
Hardly needs to be said a sensations
These experiences do not need to be explained
Are as perfect as sturbation
They are just as satisfying as sexual pleasure
Hardly needs to be nailed as frustration
These feelings do not need to be analyzed and made sense of
Such a perfect celebration
They are just perfect as they are
Hardly needs to be soiled
They do not need to be tarnished or ruined
You wash yourself
You take care of yourself
End up in a young hair
End up with a young lover
Curled round with a finger
Playing with their hair
I can't excuse this
I can't explain this feeling
It's all fucked
It's all messed up
I can screw it when she's here
I can handle it better when she's present
I can rule the world six times over
I feel unstoppable
With my head burned out
Despite the exhaustion
And my body on hold
Despite feeling stuck
The whole world joins the French foreign legion
The whole world is united
Get a new suit for the man who discovered Elvis
Celebrate the person who made a great discovery
Was so fat when he died and ascend to heaven
Even when things seemed bad, great things can still happen
I live here in my watered down Disney baby
I am living a diluted and unrealistic life
With ten million attic clad genius
With many other gifted people
Abort me 'cause I have to compete
Give up on me because I am struggling to keep up
And maybe one man will eventually spit on mars
Perhaps one day we will achieve amazing things
Save us
Help us
Only if she's there
Only with her presence
You can screw when she's there
Things are better when she's around
You're a virgin celebration
These intense emotions are pure and untouched
Hardly needs to be dead
These experiences do not need to be destroyed
All these amazing sensations
These intense feelings are amazing
Only needs to be said
They simply need to be acknowledged
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CRISPIN MACMICHAEL SANDYS HUNT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind