Longwave followed up on the success of The Strangest Things by entering the studio in 2004 with famed producer John Leckie, whose work with Radiohead and Pink Floyd endeared him to the critical taste of the band, and There’s a Fire was released in 2005.
With a return to the studio planned for late 2007, Longwave found itself on the list of indispensable listening for the first part of this millennium. Expect them to stay there. Longwave's latest album, Secrets are Sinister, was released in November 2008 on Original Signal Recordings.
Underworld
Longwave Lyrics
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Forging a plan, in a vertical direction
But, they make no movement I could trace
Under the shadow of a most peculiar place
Are they alone, though they seem to be in hundreds
And then there was one, shouting out 'its truly wonderous'
But I saw the darkness in his face
I moved in close to the center of the gathering
And as I approached, there were than I'd imagined
But, the statue in the middle was defaced
In showing defiance of a most peculiar place
So I raised my hand, reaching up for a connection
Forging a plan in a vertical direction
But, I made no movement you could trace
Under the shadow of a most peculiar place
The song "Underworld" by Longwave explores the theme of isolation and disconnection in modern society. The lyrics describe a gathering of people who are seemingly reaching out for connection, but ultimately failing to make any real progress. The use of the phrase "vertical direction" suggests a desire for upward movement - possibly in a spiritual or aspirational sense - but this is ultimately unfulfilled. The reference to a "most peculiar place" creates an eerie atmosphere, suggesting that the gathering has an underlying sense of darkness or danger.
The singer of the song is initially drawn to the gathering, but becomes disillusioned by the false promise of connection. The image of the defaced statue in the center of the group symbolizes the failure of their collective efforts. The singer ultimately realizes that they too are trapped in the shadow of this peculiar place and unable to escape.
The lyrics of "Underworld" are somewhat abstract, leaving room for interpretation. The song may be commenting on the hollowness of modern societal structures, or on the difficulty of finding genuine human connection in a digital age. The haunting and atmospheric sound of the track enhances the feeling of unease conveyed by the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
So many hands, reaching up for our connection
Numerous people trying to reach out for a connection with the subject
Forging a plan, in a vertical direction
People trying to come up with a plan, possibly related to the vertical structure of their surroundings
But, they make no movement I could trace
Despite their efforts, none of their movements were evident or noticeable
Under the shadow of a most peculiar place
The mysterious and unsettling atmosphere of their surroundings cast a shadow over everything happening
Are they alone, though they seem to be in hundreds
Questioning whether the large number of people present truly indicates a sense of community or if they are still isolated
And then there was one, shouting out 'its truly wonderous'
One person stands out and expresses awe at their situation
But I saw the darkness in his face
Noticing that this person's expression does not match their positive words, possibly revealing a deeper unease or discomfort
Reflecting the shadow of a most peculiar place
The unsettling atmosphere continues to affect everyone present, even those expressing wonderment
I moved in close to the center of the gathering
The subject takes a more active role and positions themselves in the middle of the group
And as I approached, there were than I'd imagined
Realizing that there are even more people present than initially thought
But, the statue in the middle was defaced
Noticing that even the central statue, a possible representation of order or structure, has been damaged or altered
In showing defiance of a most peculiar place
The act of defacing the statue may represent a rebellion or rejection of their surroundings
So I raised my hand, reaching up for a connection
The subject attempts to make a connection with the group, possibly to understand why they are in this situation
Forging a plan in a vertical direction
Similar to earlier, attempting to come up with a plan related to the verticality of their surroundings
But, I made no movement you could trace
Despite their attempts, none of the subject's actions have a noticeable effect on the situation
Under the shadow of a most peculiar place
The unsettling atmosphere continues to loom over everything happening
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SHANNON FERGUSON, STEVE SCHILTZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind