The band began with Pea Hix's (formerly of Tit Wrench and Lucas & Friend) fascination with the Optigan, a keyboard manufactured in the early and mid-'70s by Mattel. An "optical organ," the Optigan stores its sounds -- which range from organs and strings to drum loops and sound effects -- on a collection of celluloid optical discs.
Ether
Optiganally Yours Lyrics
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And I'm all... yeah...
And we're all...
Most asleep
Hopelessly benign in an ether-filler building
I'm half asleep in your arms
And then I wake and do a spin down again
Rise, and then spin down again
I fall and look at you
And you're all...
The lyrics to Optiganally Yours's "Ether" are simple but intriguing. The repetition of "you're all...and I'm all..." paired with the phrase "hopelessly benign" creates a feeling of detachment and dissociation from reality. The mention of an "ether-filler building" could imply a hospital or some other type of medical facility, where the singer or the person they're with is under the influence of anesthesia or some other sedative.
The second half of the verse is particularly interesting because it describes a cycle of falling asleep, waking up briefly, and then falling asleep again. The repetition of "spin down" reinforces the feeling of disorientation and detachment. The final line, "I fall and look at you / And you're all..." seems to imply that the singer is looking for some sort of grounding or stability in the person they're with, but they can't seem to find it.
Overall, the lyrics to "Ether" suggest a dreamlike state of mind that is both peaceful and unsettling at the same time. The repetition and cyclical nature of the verses reinforces this feeling of being stuck in a dream or a haze.
Line by Line Meaning
You're all...
Everyone around us is present and accounted for.
And I'm all... yeah...
I am also present and attentive, acknowledging the situation.
And we're all...
All of us together are in this situation.
Most asleep
However, we are mostly not fully awake or alert.
Hopelessly benign in an ether-filler building
We are in a building filled with an atmosphere that makes us apathetic and without resistance.
I'm half asleep in your arms
I am physically close to you, but not fully awake or conscious.
And then I wake and do a spin down again
I briefly become conscious, but quickly fall back into a state of sleepiness.
Wake, and then I rise, then do a spin down again
I experience brief awareness, then rouse, but eventually return to a state of unconsciousness.
Rise, and then spin down again
I become more alert, but soon after become drowsy again.
I fall and look at you
I lose consciousness, and then regain it briefly to see you.
And you're all...
You are still present and unchanged throughout my intermittently conscious state.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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