in 2011 Magazine returned with their first new recorded material from the band in 30 years, though Adamson had left the reunion by this point.
Magazine's music continues to be an influence in modern music today. While having roots in the punk and new-wave movements, Magazine combined elements of avant-garde and pop. Radiohead in particular draws on the lyrical style of the group, and have performed "Shot By Both Sides" in concert. What's more, Radiohead's 1995 single "Just", with its ascending guitar hook, bears a passing resemblance to "Shot By Both Sides". Former Smiths singer Morrissey, a fan and acquaintance of Devoto's, covered "A Song From Under The Floorboards" as a B-side to his 2006 single "The Youngest Was the Most Loved". "Floorboards" was covered by My Friend The Chocolate Cake on their 1994 album Brood. Half Man Half Biscuit have performed live covers of a number of Magazine songs. "The Light Pours Out Of Me", from the album Real Life, has been covered by both Peter Murphy and Ministry. Swedish punk band No Fun At All did a cover of "Shot By Both Sides" on their record "And Now For Something Completely Different". Devoto co-wrote two songs with Mansun, "Everyone Must Win" and "Railings", contributing vocals to the latter, and the band later covered "Shot By Both Sides" for John Peel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magazine_%28band%29
http://www.discogs.com/artist/26054-Magazine
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https://www.youtube.com/user/officialmagazine
Come Alive
Magazine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pieces of apes were placed in a time of ice and iron
Keep fit, Survive
Primitive Jeeps crushed fossils and ancient bone
Chandelier-sized flowers aromatized pollen and chromosome
Puzzles grew on trees where mutilated fruit hung
Like the hats of inscrutable guests
Keep fit, Survive
You won't recognize yourself till you come alive
Pepsi-Cola, Pepsi-Cola brings your ancestors back from the grave
At Leonardo da Vinci Intercontinental Airport
A Swiss pathologist missed his connecting flight
An asteroid kicked up the dust the dinosaur stubbornly bit
Man`s brain was taken
The cortex stuck at an awkward angle on it
His first words were
What have I done to deserve the sun!
What have I done to deserve the rain!
The lyrics to Magazine's song "Come Alive" take us on a lyrical journey through the history of the earth and human evolution. The opening lines "Bits of spirits were set on a carpet of carbon, Pieces of apes were placed in a time of ice and iron" introduce the theme of evolution and the idea of life coming into being on this planet. The next verse continues with the idea of survival and struggle for existence, "Keep fit, survive" urging us to live life to the fullest, take care of our bodies and survive in a challenging world.
The following verses create vivid images of different points in history; the destructive power of humanity ("Primitive jeeps crushed fossils and ancient bone"), the beauty of nature ("Chandelier-sized flowers aromatized pollen and chromosome"), the mysterious and complex nature of life ("Puzzles grew on trees where mutilated fruit hung like the hats of inscrutable guests") all of which culminate in the refrain "Keep fit, survive".
The last verse is a reflection on the beauty of life and the privilege of being alive, "What have I done to deserve the sun! What have I done to deserve the rain!" and encourages us to appreciate the simple and essential things in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Bits of spirits were set on a carpet of carbon
The combination of non-physical aspects of humans were placed onto earth's organic matter.
Pieces of apes were placed in a time of ice and iron
The precursors of humans lived during a difficult era of cold and limited resources.
Keep fit, Survive
The key to survival is to stay healthy and adaptable.
Primitive Jeeps crushed fossils and ancient bone
Early human transportation resulted in destruction of ancient remains.
Chandelier-sized flowers aromatized pollen and chromosome
The extravagant flowers dispersed genetic material with the help of scent.
Puzzles grew on trees where mutilated fruit hung
The environment in which humans evolved allowed for unexpected growth.
Like the hats of inscrutable guests
The fruits were peculiar like the headgear of mysterious visitors.
Who'd sipped their soft drinks and sung
The assumption is that the guests would enjoy luxuries similar to those of modern humans.
You won't recognize yourself till you come alive
Self-realization only occurs after achieving a certain level of life experience and maturity.
Pepsi-Cola, Pepsi-Cola brings your ancestors back from the grave
Consuming a popular beverage inadvertently reconnects modern-day humans with their ancestral roots.
At Leonardo da Vinci Intercontinental Airport
The setting for this unconventional event takes place in a modern transportation hub.
A Swiss pathologist missed his connecting flight
A professional in the field of studying the workings of the human body is caught in the midst of this unnatural occurrence.
An asteroid kicked up the dust the dinosaur stubbornly bit
The asteroid impact that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs still left evidence of their final moments.
Man's brain was taken
The evolution of the human brain was a crucial aspect in our ability to thrive and adapt.
The cortex stuck at an awkward angle on it
The physical manifestation of our brain's anatomy is unique and complex.
His first words were
The first utterance of a newly-evolved human represents their first moment of self-realization.
What have I done to deserve the sun!
Humans are capable of appreciating the beauty of life and nature.
What have I done to deserve the rain!
Humans learn to appreciate life's hardships along with its beauty.
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, BMG Rights Management, Mute Song Limited
Written by: BARRY ADAMSON, BEN MANDELSON, DAVID TOMLINSON, HOWARD DEVOTO, JOHN E DOYLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind