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
Souvenir
Morphine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Surrounded by thesounds of saxophones
And I remember being this close, but never alone
You gave me alittle something to take home
I dropped it on the floor I dropped it on the floor
Dropped iton the floor I dropped it
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Because names hold the key Names hold key
Souvenir of nothing
Brought home a souvenir of nothing
It fits into a pocket
A souvenir a souvenir of nowhere
Somewhere I've never beenbefore
I dropped it on the floor I dropped it on the floor
Dropped iton the floor I dropped it
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Because names hold the key Names hold key
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Because names hold the key Names hold key
A souvenir of nothing
A souvenir of nothing
I remember meeting you, we were super low
Surrounded by thesounds of saxophones
In these lyrics, Mark Sandman reflects on a past encounter with someone special. He recalls the moment they met, in a low place where the only noise was the sound of saxophones. Despite being in a crowded place, the two of them seemed to have a connection that made them feel less alone. The person gave Sandman a ‘little something’ as a souvenir, which he accidentally drops on the floor. However, he is not too bothered about losing the actual item because the name of the person who gave it to him is what truly matters.
Sandman suggests that names hold more power than things, as they are the key to the memories and experiences we hold dear. This souvenir, while literally nothing, represents a significant moment for him. The song’s title, Souvenir, carries a hint of irony since the item had no intrinsic value, but the memory attached to it makes it precious. The phrase “a souvenir of nowhere, somewhere I’ve never been before” paints a picture of a mental keepsake, rather than something tangible.
Line by Line Meaning
I remember meeting you, we were super low
I have a clear memory of the time when we met, we were both feeling down
Surrounded by the sounds of saxophones
The melancholic melody of the saxophones was the only accompaniment to our encounter
And I remember being this close, but never alone
Even though we were near, I never felt lonely with you around
You gave me a little something to take home
You gave me a small material thing that could remind me of you
I dropped it on the floor I dropped it on the floor
Unfortunately, I clumsily let go of it twice and it fell on the ground
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Despite not having the physical souvenir anymore, just recalling your name is valuable enough to keep close to my heart
Because names hold the key Names hold key
Names are powerful markers of identity, they have the ability to unlock memories and emotions
Brought home a souvenir of nothing
Ultimately, what I have as a keepsake is nothing tangible
It fits into a pocket
What I have may be insignificant, but it is still small and portable
A souvenir a souvenir of nowhere
Even though it may not represent a specific place, it still holds sentimental value
Somewhere I've never been before
It may not be linked to any location I've physically been to, but it is connected to a unique experience
A souvenir of nothing
The souvenir may be intangible, but it is still invaluable in holding onto cherished memories
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mark J Sandman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nikol A
I remember meeting you, we were super low
Surrounded by the sounds of saxophones
And I remember being this close, but never alone
You gave me alittle something to take home
I dropped it on the floor I dropped it on the floor
Dropped iton the floor I dropped it
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Because names hold the key
Names hold key
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Because names hold the key
Names hold key
Souvenir of nothing
Brought home a souvenir of nothing
It fits into a pocket
A souvenir a souvenir of nowhere
Somewhere I've never beenbefore
I dropped it on the floor I dropped it on the floor
Dropped iton the floor I dropped it
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Because names hold the key
Names hold key
If I can only remember the name that's enough for me
Because names hold the key
Names hold key
A souvenir of nothing
A souvenir of nothing
I remember meeting you, we were super low
Surrounded by the sounds of saxophones
Captain Al
I was relieved to find a discussion happening here :')
This tune is so huge it's vast, so rich, so rank and sexy at the same time, pure style, and it also gets to be a trip hop song taken in a different direction, which is something I've always wanted to do. A true luxury of a song, able to enhance any situation.
It's produced (and ofc written) like a mofo too, low end masterpiece, every time you play it you notice a new layer. And yet in it's essence it's a lesson in simplicity. Hard hitting quality.
Only just discovered this band, it was like unlocking some forgotten vault full of fresh wonders. Made it even worse to find out Sandman had died, but then again he did it doing what he loved, and how many can truly say that.
Elidoransgar
Every now and then you hear something so original you can barely process it at first. My first few listens of Morphine, like my first few listens of Portishead, gave me all this dissonance and darkness. And then something changes inside you, and suddenly it all sounds fantastic. They bent my brain in a new direction, and I love it. And that sax break ends (3:47) with the baddest motif in the history of saxophones. Da-duh, da-duh, da-duh, da-duh-huh. All leading up to that final note.
Paul Th'11
You know what I really like in this band? They change people. You can't just casually listen to them, their music crawls in your skin and stays forever if you let it. And that's a good thing - I can honestly say, that this music changed me for good and taught me good things
Alexios Komnenos
@Paul Th'11 made me take up Jazz Piano! Was classically trained.
Elisabeth Nagyová
I discovered Morphine about a year ago..... I blasted album Good whole last summer and I madly fell in love with them. I listened to their whole discography, but I didnt really pay much attention to this album till last few weeks. I liked this guy from my hometown, and we both share good taste in music, so I sent him The Night one day, when we were about to meet up. I played this album that day as well, and with all these warm feelings I felt for this guy, this song spoke to me in way it havent before. When we met, we listened to this album together multiple times that evening, and eventually we shared that both of us have feelings for each other, and than we passionetly made out while this album was on. It was the most beautiful night I ever spent with a man, and this track will forever teleport me back to his room, just him and I surrounded by the sound of saxafones. Thank you Morphine! <3
Sloppy Jonuts
Same
What’s this song talking about ? What do they mean by souvenir?
Elisabeth Nagyová
@Sloppy Jonuts I would say that souvenir is a metaphore for when someone lingers on your mind. Generally speaking, souvenir is a thing that is supposed to remind you special place u visited. So for me this is a song about someone you met, someone who took you to somewhere youve never been before. :)
Joaquín Teti
si no es la mejor canción de morphine está muy cerca. la letra es increible, el solo del saxo la rompe toda, el groove de la batería no se queda atrás; pero a mí lo que más loco me vuelve es la bajada siniestra que hace el piano cuando mark canta "i dropped it on the floor" justo antes de entrar al estribillo... te juro que me rompe la cabeza
6x9_Danny
Each time I hear Morphine, I remind myself how thankful I am I saw them live. Not only that, I spoke to Mark after the gig and he signed my cassette of Like Swimming. I guess I am boasting a bit. But you'll forgive cos you know how much Morphine mean to you too.
Kyle Forst
i never did get to see them play. Really one of my favorite bands. Such a dark, wistful, different sound.
angelrwbf
Thanks for posting! One of my favorite songs off one of my all-time favorite albums. I listened to this album so often on my first trip to San Diego it's become a permanent association for me. As well as an essential part of all subsequent visits there. This album & the beach in Encinitas compliment each other well.