By 1983, Bauhaus broke up and Murphy went on to new projects not involving Bauhaus members Kevin Haskins, David J, or Daniel Ash. After some brief dabbling with acting and dance - including a slightly odd televised performance to Bauhaus's "Hollow Hills" - he soon formed Dalis Car with Mick Karn, the bass player from Japan.
Murphy's solo career over time became more varied than Bauhaus, ranging from pseudo-pop to haunting ballads that showcased his deep and complex vocals. After the commercial non-start of Dali's Car, Murphy's first solo album was similarly overlooked. Should the World Fail to Fall Apart did spawn several singles, including a cover of Pere Ubu's "Final Solution" that made a minor splash on the club scene.
The followup, Love Hysteria, did much better. It also marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration with songwriter Paul Statham, who co-wrote songs with Murphy until 1995. The resulting singles "All Night Long" and "Indigo Eyes" helped garner a wider following, and the black-and-white video for "All Night Long" entered rotation on MTV.
The pinnacle of Murphy's solo popularity came with the release of Deep. For this album Murphy reinvented himself as somewhat of a rock-god, now sporting hair dyed platinum blonde and performing a much more aggressive alt-rock sound. The single "Cuts You Up" from Deep held on to the top spot on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for longer than any other single before - displacing "So Alive" by his former Bauhaus-bandmates Love and Rockets.
In 2000, Murphy performed his international Just for Love tour, which resulted in the album aLive Just for Love. It is a live recording of the fully uninterrupted set from the El Rey show in Los Angeles on November 30, 2000. During the tour, Murphy chose to perform with only two back-up musicians, Canadian electric violinist Hugh Marsh and Peter DiStefano from Porno for Pyros on guitar, although former Bauhaus bassist David J sometimes joined the trio for an encore. At this point he also contributed to works by noted film composer Harry Gregson-Williams.
Also in 2000, Murphy gave a nod to the North American goth scene, where his solo works and his works with Bauhaus are still very popular, by making a surprise guest appearance at the sixth annual Convergence festival in Seattle, to perform a low-key, acoustic solo set.
In 2004, Murphy signed to yet another new label, Viastar, which was home to several other 1980s pop artists who had moved into more eclectic areas. Despite numerous problems with the label, the album Unshattered was released, showcasing Murphy returning to a more pop sound.
Murphy undertook extensive tours of the U.S.A and Europe to promote 'Unshattered' in 2005, with a live band featuring guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite of The Mission UK and Tricky on guitar, Jeff Schwartoff of Human Waste Project and Professional Murder Music on bass and Justin Bennett of Skinny Puppy on drums. Murphy and the band reconvened in November 2007 for shows in Portugal and Spain, with Nick Lucero replacing Bennett on drums. In May 2008 Murphy recorded a cover of the song "Warm Leatherette" with Trent Reznor and Jeordie White from Nine Inch Nails. This was played live at an intimate studio performance, and the video recording was released on both the official Nine Inch Nails website and YouTube. A full-length album called Ninth was released in 2011, featuring the single "I Spit Roses".
Things To Remember
Peter Murphy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The power of poetry comes from the ability to defy logic
Defy logic often
Use a metaphor and tell us that your lover is the sky.
Tell us that your lover is the sky.
When you do that
We won't believe you
Because saying so makes no sense
But we'll see a meaning.
We'll see a meaning
The other thing is the ability to be remembered.
Love anything.
Love anything
Wasted
I cut myself down
Cut myself down
Wasted
Now breaking free
Breaking free
It's no longer me
Understand where you came from
Floating
I'm facing me down
Prostrate to the ground
Understand
Prostrate to the ground
Mystery
Rain down on my life
Down on my life
Maybe there is nothing to say
Breathing
The future is gone
The strain of the past
Sometimes nothing often means;
The beauty of the human experience
Healing
Rain down on my life
Down on my life
Wasted
Now breaking free
Breaking free
It's no longer me
Love anything
Use a metaphor and tell us that your lover is the sky
Love anything.
Love anything
Love anything
Use a metaphor and tell us that your lover is the sky
Sometimes
Sometimes nothing often means
The beauty of the human experience,
These things are to be remembered
To be remembered
The song is a reflection on the power of language and the ability of words to transcend rational thought and convey emotions and ideas in a way that defies logic. The lyrics advise the listener to use metaphors and other figures of speech to describe their experiences and emotions, rather than relying on straightforward, literal descriptions. The example of calling one's lover "the sky" is given as an example of such a metaphor, and while it may not make logical sense, it can convey deep meaning and emotion.
The song also touches on the themes of self-discovery, growth, and transformation. The lines "Understand where you came from" and "It's no longer me" suggest that the singer is going through a process of shedding their old self and coming to a new understanding of themselves and their place in the world. This process is not always easy or painless, as evidenced by the lines "Wasted/I cut myself down" and "The strain of the past."
Overall, the song encourages listeners to embrace the power of language and metaphor to express themselves more fully and authentically, and to be open to the process of self-discovery and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Thing to remember when writing figures of speech and sound
The importance of utilizing poetic language in writing
The power of poetry comes from the ability to defy logic
The ability of poetry to evoke emotions and meaning beyond rational thought
Defy logic often
Challenge traditional thinking and norms in creative writing
Use a metaphor and tell us that your lover is the sky.
Utilize figurative language to express love and beauty
When you do that
When you use metaphors in writing
We won't believe you,
The metaphor may seem nonsensical or unbelievable
Because saying so makes no sense
Literal interpretation of a metaphor may not make sense
But we'll see a meaning.
Meaning can be derived from even seemingly illogical figures of speech
The other thing is the ability to be remembered.
Poetry has the power to stick in our memory and leave a lasting impact
Love anything.
Encouragement to love unconditionally
Wasted I cut myself down
Self-destructive behavior is harmful and unproductive
Now breaking free, it's no longer me
The ability to overcome self-destructive behavior and reclaim one's identity
Understand where you came from
Importance of self-reflection and understanding one's past
Floating, I'm facing me down, prostrate to the ground
Surrendering to one's own self-awareness and vulnerability
Mystery rain down on my life
Embracing uncertainty and the unknown in life
Maybe there is nothing to say
Silence or lack of communication can sometimes be more powerful than words
Breathing, the future is gone, the strain of the past
The weight and impact of past experiences on one's future
Sometimes nothing often means; the beauty of the human experience
The realization that even in moments of emptiness or silence, there is beauty in the human experience
Healing, rain down on my life
The power of healing and growth in overcoming challenges
To be remembered
The significance of leaving a lasting impact and legacy through one's creative output
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIE NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind