Eitzel's first solo album was the (now elusive) cassette-only 'Mean Mark Eitzel Gets Fat' (1982), which pre-dates his AMC work. He released a solo live album, songs of love live in 1991, featuring raw and emotional acoustic versions of his best AMC songs. His first solo album proper was 1996's 60 Watt Silver Lining, a highly personal, jazz-inflected work.
He went on to release albums of varying styles and quality, including another difficult-to-find effort in Lover's Leap USA, produced as a tour-only CD and notable for including two songs which Eitzel's own sleeve notes instruct the listener to skip past. This was followed by 1997's West, a collaboration with REM's Peter Buck, and the stark and harrowing Caught in a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby in 1998. 2001 saw him take a new electronic direction with The Invisible Man, followed in 2002 by two covers projects: Music for courage & confidence and The Ugly American, which included re-interpretations of American Music Club songs by Eitzel and a traditional Greek band!
american music club reformed in 2003, and released an album, Love Songs for Patriots, as well as touring the United States and Europe. Eitzel released new solo material in 2005, candy ass, which saw a return to the electronic experimentation of the invisible man. A new AMC record, The Golden Age was released in February 2008.
The Mark Eitzel discussion list Firefly can be found at http://mail.neurotica.com/mailman/listinfo/firefly
Helium
Mark Eitzel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A secret handshake gets you ice cream and a key
To a brand new car that only drives into walls
Sugarcoat their eyes, all they want is your silence
Breathe in helium, throw away the key
Dissolve in the air, never free
A moon that follows any road out of there
Gunslingers and John Denver
They only make me sad
Anyway I always thought
The wild west was a drag like your silence
Like your silence, like your silence
Breathe in helium, lost to the day
A sense of the future fades away
There's a cotton thread all wound into a ball
Don't try and talk, caught in mid-fall
Your eyes are firecrackers, hopeless for tomorrow
Your clothes were made for dolls
You're clothed in sorrow like your silence
Breathe in helium, you're lighter than air
A sense of the future that disappears
The song "Helium" by Mark Eitzel is a somber and introspective piece about the fleeting nature of life and the desire for escape. The singer reflects on how brief and unpredictable life can be, stating that "life is short in the laughing gallery." He then mentions a secret handshake that can get you ice cream and a key, but the key is to a brand new car that only drives into walls. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the false promises of materialism and the futility of seeking happiness through material possessions. The singer then talks about how people sugarcoat their eyes and only want your silence, suggesting that they don't really care about you or what you have to say.
The chorus of the song urges the listener to "breathe in helium" and "throw away the key," suggesting that the way to escape the struggles and disappointments of life is to simply dissolve into the air and disappear. The lyrics then reference the Mile High City where "all that's good is the air" and a moon that can follow any road out of there. This may be a reference to Denver, Colorado, which is often referred to as the Mile High City due to its elevation. The singer then mentions Gunslingers and John Denver, who only make him sad, and how he always thought the Wild West was a drag, echoing the themes of disappointment and disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
Life is short in the laughing gallery
The time we have to enjoy life is limited and we must make the most of it.
A secret handshake gets you ice cream and a key
In life, certain privileged groups have special access to opportunities and resources.
To a brand new car that only drives into walls
Some things that seem great on the surface may actually be dangerous or harmful.
Sugarcoat their eyes, all they want is your silence
People may try to distract or deceive you, but it's important to speak up and express yourself.
Breathe in helium, throw away the key
Sometimes the best way to escape problems or stress is to detach from reality and let yourself float away.
Dissolve in the air, never free
While letting yourself go can be liberating, it also means giving up control and being at the mercy of your surroundings.
In the Mile High City all that's good is the air
In some places, the environment can be the only thing worthwhile when everything else is lacking.
A moon that follows any road out of there
The allure of escaping a difficult situation or place can be strong, but it won't necessarily solve all your problems.
Gunslingers and John Denver
These famous figures represent the popular image of the Wild West as violent and rough, and the singer finds that unpleasant.
They only make me sad
The singer sees the glorification of violence and the past as a source of sadness and frustration.
Anyway I always thought
The singer shares his own personal opinion on the matter.
The wild west was a drag like your silence
The singer views the past and the silence of those who refuse to address social issues as holding back progress.
Breathe in helium, lost to the day
Letting oneself go to escape can leave one feeling disconnected and alienated from the world.
A sense of the future fades away
Letting go can provide temporary relief, but it also means losing sight of hope and possibilities for the future.
There's a cotton thread all wound into a ball
Life is full of interconnected threads and events, which can be difficult to unravel and understand.
Don't try and talk, caught in mid-fall
Sometimes it's better to let things play out and wait for the right moment to act or speak up.
Your eyes are firecrackers, hopeless for tomorrow
There are those who are struggling and in need of support, but may not have the hope or resources to improve their situation.
Your clothes were made for dolls
External factors like fashion trends can be trivial compared to larger social issues and concerns.
You're clothed in sorrow like your silence
Those who remain silent or apathetic about social issues can become weighed down by a sense of sadness and despair.
Breathe in helium, you're lighter than air
Letting go can make you feel unburdened and free from stress and worries.
A sense of the future that disappears
However, this detached state also means being unable to plan or see a way forward to the future.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER BUCK, MARK EITZEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind