While "Good" earned the band critical notoriety and substantial underground cred, they did not -- with this release or any subsequent -- break into the mainstream. After the release of Good, the band replaced Dupree with Billy Conway, a former bandmate of Sandman. Morphine's 1992 release of Cure for Pain, promoted by heavy touring, received some mainstream positive attention, selling over 300,000 copies worldwide and spawning a chart hit in many countries with the single Buena
Subsequent releases include Yes and Like Swimming.
On July 3, 1999, Mark Sandman collapsed on stage in Palestrina, Italy, a suburb of Rome. He was pronounced dead of a heart attack at the scene. He was 46. Morphine released The Night -- arguably their best effort -- posthumously in 2000.
After Sandman's death, the remaining band members reformed and continued to record as Twinemen and later as The Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band
In 2004, the Mark Sandman box set Sandbox was released by Hi-n-Dry, Mark Sandman's own label. It contains two CDs and a DVD of previously unreleased material spanning Sandman’s musical career. The DVD features clips from early Sandman shows, interviews from the Morphine tours, and various videos from other Sandman solo and group projects, such as Treat Her Right.
"Some day there'll be a cure for pain,
And that's the day I throw my drugs away" - Mark Sandman
Links:
The Other Side - A Morphine Fanzine
Morphine at Myspace
Mary Won't You Call My Name
Morphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knock on wood and pray with all I've got
Cross my bow with a cannonball
I see the writing on the wall hey
There's no map and there's no clue
Of where to go and what to do
Yea who to dog who to ride and who to hold
Forever by your side
Mary won't you call my name
Mary won't you call my name
Mary won't you call my
Mary won't you call my
Mary won't you call my name
I fell into the hands of a rich man's daughter
She led me like a lamb no bother
To go and live inside a barn on her Daddy's 90 acre farm
Hide your daughters in the snow and watch out for the undertow
Hold both hands against the door and dig your feet into the floor
Tell ya there's no map and there's no clue
Of where to go and what to do
Who to dog and who to ride and who to hold
Forever by your side
Forever by your side
Mary won't you call my name
Mary won't you call my name
Mary won't you call my
Mary won't you call my
Mary won't you call my name
The lyrics of Morphine’s “Mary Won’t You Call My Name” evoke a sense of desperation and uncertainty. The artist employs religious imagery in the first few lines, expressing not only a deeper meaning but also adding an impact to the song. The singer feels unsure and lost, emphasized by “There’s no map and there’s no clue of where to go and what to do.” The second verse seems to depict the singer’s experience with a wealthy woman who took advantage of him, leading him to live in a barn. The lines “Hold both hands against the door and dig your feet into the floor” highlights a fear or tension that the singer experiences. The chorus “Forever by your side, Mary won’t you call my name” expresses the desire to be with someone and to feel wanted.
The song doesn’t have a clear or straightforward narrative. Instead, it presents a series of emotional states and vignettes: fear, uncertainty, desperation, desire, and more. Through the use of rich imagery and metaphors, the narrative becomes a confusing one. By not directly stating what the song is about, Morphine opens up the door for interpretation. Listeners can connect with the piece on a personal level and draw their conclusions.
Line by Line Meaning
Cross my fingers and I hope to God
I'm wishing for something and really hoping it comes true
I knock on wood and pray with all I've got
I'm trying to ensure that my wish comes true by using both a superstition and prayer
Cross my bow with a cannonball
I'm going full speed ahead and not hesitating
I see the writing on the wall hey
I'm aware of what's happening and can see the challenges ahead
There's no map and there's no clue
I'm feeling lost and unsure of what to do next
Of where to go and what to do
I don't know where my life is headed or what my purpose is
Yea who to dog who to ride and who to hold
I'm not sure who to trust, depend on, or love
Forever by your side
I want to be with you for a very long time
Mary won't you call my name
I'm hoping you'll notice me and reach out to me
I fell into the hands of a rich man's daughter
I got myself involved with someone who has a lot of power and influence
She led me like a lamb no bother
I was easily controlled and manipulated by her
To go and live inside a barn on her Daddy's 90 acre farm
I was offered a place to stay, but it was not comfortable or ideal
Hide your daughters in the snow and watch out for the undertow
Be careful and protect those you love from potential harm
Hold both hands against the door and dig your feet into the floor
Hold on tight and don't let anything or anyone break through
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind