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
Live or Die
Mark Eitzel Lyrics
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You live a sham of rain and rust
Truth is a shine in your eye
No one cares
No one cares if I live or die
Only expect time to run out
A question mark - demand no more
No one cares
No one cares if I live or die
Not even murder is so cold
What makes me always turn away?
I gotta find a different alibi
No one cares
No one cares if I live or die
There's no such thing as the truth
Only wall that chains and locks
And questions that have no reply
The lyrics of "Live or Die" by Mark Eitzel are a poignant depiction of the feelings of hopelessness and desperation that can result from feeling like nobody cares about one's existence. The first few lines of the song convey the sad reality that when all you have is the truth, you may end up living a closed-off, isolated life, surrounded by nothing but rain and rust. Even when the truth shines in your eye, nothing else matters, because no one cares if you live or die. The lines "Only expect time to run out, a question mark - demand no more" convey the feeling that when you're living in such a place, you're just waiting for time to pass, without expecting anyone to care about your fate.
The next few lines of the song take an even darker turn, as Eitzel discusses how even the most heinous of crimes - murder - doesn't seem as cold or isolating as the feeling of being ignored and overlooked by others. The singer's inability to connect with anyone or find a different alibi further underscores their detachment from others and the world around them. The final lines, "There's no such thing as the truth, only wall that chains and locks, and questions that have no reply" reveal the underlying nihilism of the song - the idea that there is no objective truth, only barriers that keep us from ever truly connecting with others.
Overall, "Live or Die" is a powerful and heartbreaking exploration of the human condition, highlighting the despair and isolation that can come from feeling like nobody cares about our existence. Through its stark imagery and bleak tone, the song conveys a sense of hopelessness that is all too relatable to many people.
Line by Line Meaning
When the truth is all you have
Your reality is nothing but lies, and the only thing you have left is the idea of honesty.
You live a sham of rain and rust
Your facade is weathered and corroded, and nothing but a sham exists beneath it.
Truth is a shine in your eye
The glimmer in your stare is the only hint of truth that remains, no matter how faint.
No one cares
No one pays attention or shows concern, leaving you in solitude during your struggle.
No one cares if I live or die
In your battles and demons, no one is interested or invested in your fate, leaving you to your own devices.
Only expect time to run out
You can only wait while time races ahead, with no power to alter its course.
A question mark - demand no more
At the end of the day, all that remains is the uncertainty of life and the futility of demanding answers.
It's enough just to catch your eye
In this bleak existence, even the slightest interaction or attention feels like success.
Not even murder is so cold
The emptiness and isolation of your existence is colder than the act of murder itself.
What makes me always turn away?
Why do you always find yourself retreating and avoiding facing the harshness of your reality?
I gotta find a different alibi
You must fabricate a new excuse to justify why you cannot confront the truth of your situation.
There's no such thing as the truth
Truth is an elusive concept that can never be fully attained or grasped, and reality can be especially cruel.
Only wall that chains and locks
You are trapped behind barriers that prevent escape from your painful existence.
And questions that have no reply
The crucial inquiries you ask lead to no resolution or comfort, only further burdening you with existential dread.
Writer(s): Peter Buck Copyright: Night Garden Music
Contributed by Ellie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.