After the sessions, Murray was next to leave the band, succeeded by former Henry Cow bassist John Greaves. The second album, Of Queues and Cures (1978) included a number of guest musicians in addition to the core quartet. Stewart was the next to depart in early 1979, replaced by Gowen; the band finally folded in early 1980.
After Gowen's untimely death in May 1981 (due to leukemia), Stewart, Miller, Pyle and Greaves reconvened to perform a benefit concert, much of it unrecorded material by Gowen; this evolved into the 1982 tribute album D.S. Al Coda; all compositions were Gowen's, most previously unreleased.
Their 1978 record Of Queues and Cures is currently held as the third best record ever (of 53,000 candidate records) on the Gnosis web site. The original albums and additional archival tracks have been released on CD.
Binoculars
National Health Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Real life John Wayne
Nerves twitch, legs kick
Death, pain
It's a shame to say
You're such a bore today
Though the picture is quite okay
Your expression has gone away
If you just sit on your arse
The whole world won't gasp
The little dog laughed to see such a farce
It was quite insane
Nerves twitch, legs kick
Real life, death, pain
You might as well say nothing for real
Than bore us with the things that you feel
If that's tough on you
You know that it's up to you
It's not like it's too much to do
What a pity to waste your time
Meanwhile John Wayne and Rip Torn
Are making us all yawn
Words and thoughts travel at different speeds
And make no sense to me
Nerves twitch, legs itch
Blam, zing, death, bleed
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You might as well say nothing for real
Than bore us with the things that you feel
If that's tough on you
You know that it's up to you
Not like it's too much to do
What a pity to waste your time
Meanwhile John Wayne and Rip Torn
Are making us all yawn
Words and thoughts travel at different speeds
And make no sense to me
Nerves twitch, legs kick
Blam, zing, death, bleed
The lyrics of "Binoculars" by National Health seem to criticize the idea that one's personal feelings and expressions are significant enough to demand others' attention. The song starts with a rather disconnected scatter of words like "blam, zing, mule kicks" and "nerves twitch, legs kick", which potentially portray the restless and fidgety behavior of an individual who believes they have something important to say but is struggling to come up with a coherent statement. However, despite having an okay picture, that person's expression seems to have gone away, making them seem like a bore. The lyrics suggest that it is a shame to waste time on such individuals who believe that their opinions are beyond reproach and are entitled to hold everyone's attention. The song implies that such people are better off saying nothing instead of boring others with their self-indulgent ideas.
The song also criticizes the fascination with celebrities like John Wayne and Rip Torn. The lyrics suggest that people often get trapped in a cycle of idolizing celebrities, even though they have nothing significant or interesting to say. Just like in the case of the individual mentioned earlier, the song implies that engaging with celebrities' mundane talks and trivial opinions is a waste of time. The song emphasizes that it is crucial to separate words and thoughts that travel at different speeds and determine what is worth paying attention to carefully.
Line by Line Meaning
Blam, zing, mule kicks
Explosive, powerful physical movements or actions that create a sharp, sudden impact
Real life John Wayne
Someone who embodies the toughness and resilience of a classic hero figure
Nerves twitch, legs kick
The physical and emotional turmoil that can manifest in the body, causing involuntary movements or restlessness due to stress or anxiety
Death, pain
The harsh realities of the world, which can be difficult to face or cope with
It's a shame to say
Expressing regret or disappointment over a situation or circumstance
You're such a bore today
Being uninteresting or dull in one's personality or behavior
Though the picture is quite okay
Acknowledging the quality or validity of something, despite finding it unengaging or uninspiring
Your expression has gone away
Not being fully present or engaged in the moment, lacking authentic emotion or energy
If you just sit on your arse
Simply being inactive or passive, without exerting effort or taking initiative
The whole world won't gasp
Not everything we do warrants or merits attention or admiration from others
The little dog laughed to see such a farce
Something that seems comical, ridiculous, or nonsensical in comparison to reality
It was quite insane
Emphasizing the absurdity or irrationality of a situation or behavior
You might as well say nothing for real
It's better to remain silent or neutral, rather than spouting empty or pointless opinions or sentiments
Than bore us with the things that you feel
Avoiding dull or uninteresting conversations, preferring instead to focus on more stimulating or meaningful ideas
If that's tough on you
Accepting that certain preferences or social norms may be challenging or uncomfortable, but that it's necessary to adapt or evolve
You know that it's up to you
Taking personal responsibility for one's own behavior or choices
It's not like it's too much to do
Acknowledging that making small, positive changes is not too difficult or overwhelming to achieve
What a pity to waste your time
Regretting or lamenting a missed opportunity, particularly when time is a finite resource
Meanwhile John Wayne and Rip Torn
Referencing cultural archetypes or celebrity figures who are past their prime and no longer relevant or interesting
Are making us all yawn
Being unimpressive or unexciting, causing indifference or boredom
Words and thoughts travel at different speeds
Explaining the disconnect between spoken language and internal cognition, which can cause miscommunication or confusion
And make no sense to me
Expressing frustration or bewilderment over a lack of understanding or comprehension
Nerves twitch, legs itch
Experiencing physical discomfort or agitation, possibly due to anxiety or restlessness
Blam, zing, death, bleed
Repeating the earlier images of violence and chaos, emphasizing the harshness and unpredictability of life
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.