Mansun came to prominence in the mid-nineties British indie/ guitar-rock resurgence, despite pursuing their own path away from any of the emerging scenes. Their first album Attack of the Grey Lantern could easily have been lost amidst the wave of new music in the British (Britpop) scene at that time if it had not been for the majestic Wide Open Space. The single charted at number 15 in the UK. The album then went on to reach no. 1 in the UK charts. Many of the tracks from the album and the associated EP's formed part of a grand concept piece. The band created a twisted town inhabited by bizarre characters such as "Dark Mavis", "Stripper Vicar", "Flourella" and "Egg-Shaped Fred".
Between their 1st and 2nd album they released the Closed for Business EP which departed from the themes that had run through all Mansun's previous releases, while musically very similar to the tracks from Attack of the Grey Lantern.
The band's second album Six was a radical departure from the first album. The tracks segued into each other creating two musical sections which were separated by an "intermission". Musically, the songs were far more produced in sound. The album artwork was also very complex containing many references to the cult (and often surreal) 60's TV show "The Prisoner". This perfectly suited the music which had the feeling of a nonsensical prog extravaganza. The artwork together with the way that the complex structure of the songs/time signatures blended into each other gave the impression of a very ambitious progressive rock concept album, though lyrically there is little to suggest that there is a central theme to the album. While generally critically appreciated, Six was not a huge commercial success, though the album did reach no. 6 in the UK album charts.
For their third album, Little Kix, Mansun again changed direction. This time the songs were slickly produced (over-produced in some senses) with strong pop sensibility. The album was obviously an attempt by the band to produce an album with more maturity, but was perhaps too polished. Little Kix reached no. 12 in the UK charts.
Mansun disbanded in May 2003. This was a culmination of band tensions which had seen one of the original members leave (Stove King). Disappointed by the poor reception of their 3rd album, the band folded with little fanfare of their passing.
Due to pressure from their fans, EMI released the posthumous "4th album", Kleptomania, which was a three CD set containing rough recordings of tracks slated to be on the unfinished 4th album, b-sides and rarities.
Love Is
Mansun Lyrics
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Love is everything I seek, just realised
That the obvious is hard to find, I never saw it
Something's right there in your face, you look and
Love is mine, I'm too selfish
But I got no time, it's essential that
Love is mine (love is powerful), love is powerful
Solitude gets dull with time
But I got no time (it's essential that love is mine), it's essential
That love is mine (love is powerful), love is powerful
Solitude gets dull with time
Love is everything I crave, ashamed to say it
Love is everything I've missed, I'll drop my guard
But love is so essential, I'll never have it
Love will be the death of me, you look and
Love is mine, I'm too selfish
But I got no time, it's essential that
Love is mine (love is powerful), love is powerful
Solitude gets dull with time
Love is mine, I'm too selfish
But I got no time (it's essential that love is mine), it's essential
That love is mine (love is powerful), love is powerful
Solitude gets dull with time
Love is precious and it's scarce, I'll never find it
Love will save us all but will cause all my problems
Love is so frustrating but I've got to have it
Love it has no rationale but still I chase it
You look and...
Love is mine, I'm too selfish
'Cause I've got no time, it's essential that
Love is mine, love is powerful
Solitude gets dull with time
Love is mine, I'm too selfish
But I got no time (it's essential that love is mine), it's essential
That love is mine (love is powerful), love is powerful
Love is powerful (love is powerful), in life, yeah
These lyrics express a deep longing for love in a way that shows both the desire for it and the shame that often accompanies that desire. The singer admits that love is everything they want, everything they seek, and everything they crave, but at the same time they feel too selfish to fully give themselves over to it. They acknowledge that love is essential, powerful, and precious, but also frustrating and irrational. The repetition of the line "love is mine" suggests a possessiveness and a desire for control over this elusive emotion. The final line, "love is powerful in life", sums up the sentiment of the song as a whole - that love, despite its difficulties and complications, is ultimately what gives life meaning and purpose.
One interesting aspect of this song is its use of unusual time signatures. The verses are in 5/4 time, which creates a sense of unease and tension, while the choruses switch to 4/4 time, which provides a more stable and reassuring foundation. This reflects the conflicting emotions of the lyrics and adds to the overall impact of the song. Another interesting fact is that the song was written by Mansun's frontman Paul Draper after a failed relationship, which may explain the intensity and vulnerability of the lyrics. The song was released in 1998 as the lead single from Mansun's second album "Six", which was a commercial and critical success in the UK. "Love Is" reached number 6 in the UK singles chart and was well-received by fans and critics alike.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is everything I want, I never knew it
I have been searching for something my whole life and I have finally figured out that love is what I need.
Love is everything I seek, just realised
I have finally come to realize that love is what I have been searching for and what I truly desire.
That the obvious is hard to find, I never saw it
Even though love is something that should be obvious, it took me a long time to see it and understand its importance.
Something's right there in your face, you look and
Love is something that has been right in front of me the whole time, but I overlooked it until now.
Love is mine, I'm too selfish
Even though love is something that should be shared, I am selfish and only want it for myself.
But I got no time, it's essential that
I am too busy to share my love with anyone else, but I know that it is important for me to have it in my life.
Love is mine (love is powerful), love is powerful
I recognize that love is a powerful force and having it in my life is essential for my happiness.
Solitude gets dull with time
Being alone for too long can become boring and unfulfilling.
Love is everything I crave, ashamed to say it
Love is something that I desire deeply, but I am embarrassed to admit it.
Love is everything I've missed, I'll drop my guard
I have missed out on love in the past because I was guarded, but I am now willing to lower my defenses to let love in.
But love is so essential, I'll never have it
Even though love is something that I know is essential for my happiness, I fear that I may never find it.
Love will be the death of me, you look and
Love is something that can be all-consuming and may eventually cause my downfall or death, but I still crave it.
Love is precious and it's scarce, I'll never find it
Love is something that is rare and valuable, and I worry that I may never be able to find it.
Love will save us all but will cause all my problems
Even though love is something that can bring people together and save the world, it can also cause me personal problems and difficulties.
Love is so frustrating but I've got to have it
Even though love can be frustrating and difficult, I know that I need it in my life and cannot live without it.
Love it has no rationale but still I chase it
Even though love cannot be explained by reason, I still pursue it with all of my heart and soul.
Love is powerful (love is powerful), in life, yeah
Love is a powerful force that can have a profound impact on our lives, and it is something that we should all strive to experience and share.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GERRY GOFFIN, CAROLE KING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christian Lvciferchrist
Adoro esta banda!!!!