Influences: Kate Bush, The Divine Comedy, Radiohead, Rufus Wainwright, Pink Martini, Radiohead, The Magnetic Fields, ABBA, Pet Shop Boys, The Beatles, Bjork, This Mortal Coil, Tindersticks, Philip Glass, Beethoven, Gavin Bryars, Faure, Chopin etc.
He is a strong supporter of the album as an important artform worth preserving in the era of shuffling. His first official release, 'Ascendant', was a song-cycle of sorts, with linking sections between songs anticipating and echoing themes heard elsewhere on the album. It can be heard in its entirety on both Bandcamp and Spotify.
His follow-up 'Alterations' will be released in late 2011 and will consist of five relatively straightforward songs and their more complex neo-classical counterparts, each of the latter five being built around musical riffs and themes taken from one of the first five.
The Death Of Copyright ep is the first revealing of material from Alterations, with the title track and it's partner song from Alterations 'The Forecaster' making up half the EP. The remaining tracks are a reworking of ABBA's understated masterpiece, The Day Before You Came, and an extended version of another new album track, Headlonging. It will be released digitally on July 11th 2011.
http://www.marknorthfield.com
Sleeping Beauty
Mark Northfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
writing out contracts we rarely fulfill
it's always the small print that steals the show
but what should I know
saving moments to savour
melodies and paper
security feigned
you don't have to be mad to think that you ain't
beauty
came round one tuesday
for flapjacks and frisbee
I was too tired
he looked sad
promised to come back
but I fell asleep for an hundred years
I dreamt of tesco being in government
the smile on a penguin as the water rose
we think it's strawberry said the hippos
but what would they know
oh what a lovely oil crash
oh shit - we trusted our genius
then it got all apocalyptic
but suddenly one prick had me bolt upright
I couldn't think striiight
nor speak RP
and beauty
was nowhere to be seen
what kind of fairytale was this
someone was clearly taking
centuries
they flew past the window
trumpeting progress
we had to applaud
but look at the small print
those acts of god
you know
he never pays up
In the first verse of Mark Northfield's "Sleeping Beauty," the singer comments on the passage of time and the human tendency to make empty promises. He suggests that we sign "contracts we rarely fulfill" and that small details are often what end up determining the outcome of situations. The singer ponders his own knowledge and understanding, questioning what he truly knows. He also talks about the importance of saving memories and experiencing moments of beauty in life, even if they are fleeting - and suggests that it may help to be a little bit mad in order to do so.
The second verse of the song tells a story of a visit from "beauty," who came to spend time with the singer but ended up leaving when he fell asleep for a hundred years. During this extended nap, the singer dreams of strange and surreal things, including Tesco being in government, penguins smiling as water rises around them, and hippos identifying a food as strawberry despite any actual proof. Suddenly, the singer wakes up due to an alarming event (likely the "prick" mentioned), but realizes that Beauty is nowhere to be found. The singer is confused by this unusual and unsettling situation, wondering what kind of fairytale he is living and who might be responsible for what's happening.
Line by Line Meaning
centuries fly past the window
Time flies by unnoticed
writing out contracts we rarely fulfill
We make promises we don't keep
it's always the small print that steals the show
Important details are often hidden or overlooked
but what should I know
I am unaware of what's happening
saving moments to savour
Cherishing memories
melodies and paper
Songs and lyrics
security feigned
False sense of safety
you don't have to be mad to think that you ain't
Thinking you're not crazy doesn't mean you're not
but maybe it helps
Being a little crazy may be useful
beauty
Happiness or desirable thing
came round one tuesday
Appeared one random day
for flapjacks and frisbee
For simple pleasures
I was too tired
Didn't have energy or interest
he looked sad
The desirable thing seemed unhappy
promised to come back
Offered hope of future happiness
but I fell asleep for an hundred years
Lost time in a long, deep sleep
I dreamt of tesco being in government
Absurd, imaginary scenario
the smile on a penguin as the water rose
Irony in a tragic situation
we think it's strawberry said the hippos
Misunderstanding or lack of knowledge
but what would they know
Hippos are not experts on flavors
oh what a lovely oil crash
Sarcasm towards a bad event
oh shit - we trusted our genius
Realization of overconfidence
then it got all apocalyptic
Situation became catastrophic
but suddenly one prick had me bolt upright
A sudden awareness or shock
I couldn't think striiight
Mental numbness
nor speak RP
Difficulty communicating
and beauty
Happiness or desirable thing
was nowhere to be seen
The desirable thing was gone
what kind of fairytale was this
Questioning the state of events
someone was clearly taking centuries
Time was passing by unnoticed
they flew past the window
Time moved quickly
trumpeting progress
Claiming successes
we had to applaud
Being forced to acknowledge successes
but look at the small print
Details are important
those acts of god
Unpreventable disasters
you know
Acknowledging a truth
he never pays up
Bad things keep happening and nobody compensates
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.