My Experience
Peter Hammill & The K Group Lyrics
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Not a curtain-call.
Late for breakfast - black coffee, brandy-laced...
That look on your face.
I'll remember last night; I'll look out for the signs;
You were caught in the light
Ref.
Time after time
A certain silence will fall...
But I just can't stop it, why don't you tell me what's wrong?
My heart goes like a rocket, the feeling's so strong.
I just can't stop it, why don't
You tell me what's wrong?
Don't think about it too long.
I could argue this another way, but on another day I might have to shout.
You keep your mouth shut, but it's too late for that now:
The word got out.
In translation it's lost, in desperation it's mimed;
Is this Paradise lost, or Paradise time after time?
Ref.
The Peter Hammill song, "My Experience," is a poignant portrait of failed communication and attempts to navigate the complexities of human relationships. In the beginning, the singer describes a casual conversation with someone, likely a lover, that takes a sudden turn for the worst – it is apparent that something is amiss, based on "that look on your face." Despite the warning signs, however, the singer seems unable to pinpoint the source of the problem, and instead spirals into a deep sense of frustration and anxiety.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes increasingly desperate to fix what's gone wrong, urging the other person to "tell [him] what's wrong" and frantically searching for clues in their behavior. There is a sense of urgency and desperation in the repetition of "I just can't stop it" – something has been set in motion that the singer cannot control. At the same time, there is a palpable frustration with the other person's refusal to communicate, apparent in the line "You keep your mouth shut, but it's too late for that now / The word got out." There is a sense of defeat and resignation in the final lines, as Hammill asks whether this is just "Paradise lost" – whether there is any hope for repair.
Overall, "My Experience" is a powerful and intimate look at the difficulties of human connection, and the ways in which communication can break down irreparably. It speaks to the universal experience of miscommunication and the search for understanding, making it a poignant and moving piece.
Line by Line Meaning
It was nothing, it came from nowhere at all, it was a casual remark,
Something insignificant was said casually, without intention or consequence.
Not a curtain-call.
It was not a dramatic or conclusive event.
Late for breakfast - black coffee, brandy-laced...
A description of a morning routine.
That look on your face.
The artist noticed a particular expression on someone's face.
I'll remember last night; I'll look out for the signs;
The artist will pay attention to possible signs that may have been overlooked before.
You were caught in the light
Someone was seen in a revealing or vulnerable moment.
Ref.
The song's refrain, introducing a recurring theme.
Time after time
Repeated instances of the same experience.
It's been my experience that when the row gets serious
The artist has learned from past experience that when things get tough or confrontational, a certain hush falls over the conversation.
A certain silence will fall...
A tense and uncomfortable quiet will settle over the situation.
But I just can't stop it, why don't you tell me what's wrong?
Despite knowing what usually happens, the singer can't help but push for an explanation or confession of what is bothering someone.
My heart goes like a rocket, the feeling's so strong.
Strong emotions are being felt, causing the artist's heart rate to increase.
I just can't stop it, why don't
The singer can't resist the urge to keep pushing for answers.
You tell me what's wrong?
The singer wants the other person to explain what is troubling them.
Don't think about it too long.
The singer is urging the other person to share their thoughts quickly, before they have too much time to dwell on them.
I could argue this another way, but on another day I might have to shout.
The artist acknowledges that there are other ways to handle the situation, but in the future they may lose their composure and become confrontational.
You keep your mouth shut, but it's too late for that now:
The other person may have tried to hide something or stay silent, but it is now too late - the truth is out.
The word got out.
The information was revealed or spread.
In translation it's lost, in desperation it's mimed;
Sometimes, communication fails to convey the full meaning of a message or feeling - either because it is translated, or because it is poorly expressed.
Is this Paradise lost, or Paradise time after time?
A rhetorical question - is this situation a one-time loss of paradise, or is paradise repeatedly lost?
Ref.
The song's refrain, once again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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