Mull is an island off the west coast of Scotland — the name comes from an actual genealogical society on the island, who have since changed their name to the Mull Historical and Archaeological Society.
Mull uses a lot of unusual techniques and instruments. For example, Colin is credited to have played 'Seagulls' and 'Fire Extinguisher' for the song Gravity, and played 'Beer Kegs' on the song Death of a Scientist, which was written about the late Dr David Kelly. Also, Colin frequently samples the sounds of the world around him into his songs. For example, an public announcement from the Glasgow Subway in Public Service Announcer and the end of Final Arrears features part of the shipping forecast.
A staple of Colin's tours and album art—which is itself usually very diverse, featuring everything from arty shots to plain landscapes and usually has MS Paint drawings by Colin himself—is 'The Giant Dog With The Wig', an oversize model of a dog with a large comedy blue wig on. The dog has become such a symbol of Colin’s music that in the video for How 'Bout I Love You More, Colin's 'spaceship' is the dog itself.
Breaking with tradition, February 2008 saw the release of Colin's fourth LP, 'The Water', under his own name, and produced by Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen. In July 2009 he released 'Island', also under his own name. Island was a more acoustic album written in St Augustine, America, but recorded back on Mull in his old classroom, now An Tobar arts centre. His latest record, 2012's 'City Awakenings', saw him reprise the Mull Historical Society moniker.
Colin has toured with The Strokes, Elbow, REM. And has performed in diverse locations such as the Millennium Wheel and The Scottish Parliament.
Asylum
Mull Historical Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd remember times but I'm carefree
So please sit on the sunny side of me
I send all the signs but they fail me
I'd fill in the forms but I get hazy
So please sit on the sunny side of me
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Here I come again
I'd lend you my crown but I'd get stable
I bend, I must bend to the crazies
So please sit on the sunny side of me
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Here I come again
And I want to feel real, not confused
Night and day
Night and day
Somebody else must be with me
Somebody else must be with me
Must be with me
I'm losing control of control again
I'm falling in love with love again
So please sit on the sunny side of me
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Asylum, asylum
Here I come again
The song "Asylum" by Mull Historical Society is a song about feeling out of control and seeking comfort in someone else. The lyrics "I'd lend you my mind but I'm crazy / I'd remember times but I'm carefree / So please sit on the sunny side of me" express the idea that while the singer is experiencing mental chaos, they still want someone to be close to them. The lines "I send all the signs but they fail me / I'd fill in the forms but I get hazy" show that they are struggling to communicate and might need help from someone else. The chorus ("Asylum, asylum / Here I come again") could be interpreted as the singer feeling like they are seeking refuge or safety from their own mind.
The next verse continues with the idea of the singer being unable to fully hold themselves together, but rather than asking for someone to sit with them, they offer their "crown" to another. The line "I bend, I must bend to the crazies" could be seen as a resignation to their own mental state. The repetition of the chorus at the end of the song underscores the message that the singer is returning to this feeling of needing asylum.
Overall, "Asylum" captures the experience of feeling overwhelmed by one's own mind and seeking comfort in others. The lyrics convey a sense of helplessness, but also a willingness to open up to others. The song could be interpreted in a few different ways depending on the listener's own experiences with mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd lend you my mind but I'm crazy
I am unable to entrust you with my thoughts because my own mind is unpredictable and unstable.
I'd remember times but I'm carefree
My memory is not dependable because I tend to live in the moment without a care for the past or future.
So please sit on the sunny side of me
I implore you to stay by my positive side where I tend to be more manageable and at peace.
I send all the signs but they fail me
I communicate my intentions through signals, but they often get lost in translation or misinterpreted.
I'd fill in the forms but I get hazy
I struggle to complete paperwork or formalities because my mental state sometimes clouds my judgment and focus.
Asylum, asylum
I seek refuge and protection from my own erratic nature and the chaos that surrounds me.
Here I come again
I keep returning to this cycle of instability and uncertainty.
I'd lend you my crown but I'd get stable
I have a tendency to find stability in relinquishing control or responsibility, but doing so also means that I lose a sense of authority over myself.
I bend, I must bend to the crazies
I have to accommodate and adjust to my own mental instability, which feels like surrendering to an outside force.
And I want to feel real, not confused
I seek clarity and a sense of authenticity amidst the chaos and confusion that permeates my mind.
Night and day
My internal struggle and search for balance is ongoing, even in the absence of external stimuli or triggers.
Somebody else must be with me
I require someone else to share the burden of my internal conflict and chaos, to be my anchor and support amid the storm.
I'm losing control of control again
My efforts to manage my own thoughts and emotions are slipping away, making me feel helpless and powerless.
I'm falling in love with love again
I often mistake the temporary relief or euphoria of emotional attachment for a more meaningful solution to my struggles.
Contributed by Brooklyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.