Early band interviews showed them to be a fun-loving bunch in contrast to their dark, lyrically pessimistic pop music. Guitarist Graeme Naysmith and drummer Chris Cooper described themselves as enthusiastic football fans and were perpetually excited about touring. Lead vocalist Ian Masters was often known to gratuitously lie in interviews, helping the group to successfully build up a certain party reputation.
In late 1990, the band added Meriel Barham, the original vocalist from Lush, as second guitarist and vocalist.
Ian Masters departed the band in 1993. By most accounts, he became more and more disenchanted with pop music and wanted to go in a more experimental direction with minimal drums and ambient sounds. He also seemed to have lost all joy for touring and live performance.
Pale Saints added former Heart Throbs bassist Colleen Browne in 1993. Meriel Barham departed in September of 1995 and the band eventually came to an end in early 1996, partly as a result of weak label support and relative lack of interest.
Ian Masters formed Spoonfed Hybrid, a duo who released a self titled album on the Guernica Label. Challenging and more experimental than Pale Saints releases.
Following the Spoonfed Hybrid Ian Masters and Warren Defever made an album together in Livonia, Michigan called 'ESP Summer'.
Shortly after Ian Masters moved to Japan, where he still lives. Material under the name 'Two Sun Tears' (a collaboration with Cailan Burns of Pretty Boy Crossover) has been released and Masters has been collaborating with musicians in Japan (Luminous Orange), Brazil (Gerador Zero) and America (Dive Index).
You Tear the World in Two
Pale Saints Lyrics
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And choose a half
But(?) look inside you
You are what you are
I've seen it through
And you will too
I can tell that you
Feel these things too
???
And teach yourself to walk
Into the hole
Exploding in your heart
I've seen it through
And you will too
I can tell that you
Feel these things too
I've seen it through
And you will too
I can tell that you
Feel these things too
You tear the world in two
I'll destroy you
The lyrics of Pale Saints's song "You Tear the World in Two" tell the story of a person who is torn between two halves of the world, struggling to make a choice. The first line, "Tear the world in two, and choose a half," suggests a situation where the person is facing a difficult decision and needs to make a choice.
However, the second line, "But look inside you, you are what you are," implies that the person should be true to themselves and make the choice that is right for them, regardless of external pressures. This advice is reiterated throughout the song with lines like "And teach yourself to walk, into the hole, exploding in your heart."
The repetition of the line "I've seen it through and you will too" could suggest that the singer has gone through a similar experience, and has come out the other side. This provides the person with some hope that they will also come out okay. However, the final line of the song, "You tear the world in two, I'll destroy you," suggests that there may be consequences to the person's decision.
Overall, the lyrics of the song are a powerful reminder that we are all faced with difficult choices in life, and that we must be true to ourselves when making these decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Tear the world in two
To divide the world into two parts
And choose a half
To select one half for oneself
But(?) look inside you
However, first introspect yourself
You are what you are
Accept yourself for who you are
I've seen it through
I have experienced this before
And you will too
You will also experience this
I can tell that you
I am certain that you
Feel these things too
Are also feeling these emotions
And teach yourself to walk
Learn to tread carefully
Into the hole
Towards something dark or frightening
Exploding in your heart
Something causing intense emotions within oneself
You tear the world in two
You tend to divide the world into two parts
I'll destroy you
I will ruin you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Christopher Sheeran, Jake Nathan Gosling, Richard Kylea Cowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind