'Then Wobble started again and he's playing a new bass line- dum-dum-dum-du… Read Full Bio ↴'Then Wobble started again and he's playing a new bass line- dum-dum-dum-dum, dum-dum-dum (from "Albatross"). I looked at Richard like 'just start playing.' He knew it was OK to do anything 'cause we had this talk. I said 'if you do something and you think it's out of time and I'm nodding, just keep doing it.' That's how we worked things out. He was nervous but he was up for it.

So Wobble's doing his thing and Richard started at the right time. We got it off in one take. It happened as you hear it. As soon as Richard started playing, I just started making the noises I made and John just started singing 'slow motion.' That was it. I didn't know John had those words, I made up that tune as I went along, Wobble made up what he did as he went along. We knew it sounded a bit weird but it was alright with everyone. By the end of it, you could tell we had enough of it, with the funny noises and John yelling in terminal boredom 'only the lonely.' We had a serious playback and we all looked at each other and I said 'we've got this, haven't we? Sounds like the Doors, doesn't it? Let's keep it.' So we kept it on its own reel to give it space.'

Interview with Keith Levene, May 2001.

Albatross
PiL Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Slow motion
Slow motion
Getting rid of the albatross
Sowing seeds of discontent
I know you very well
You are unbearable
I've seen you up far too close
Getting rid of the albatross

Frying rear blinds
If I wanted
Should I really
If I run away
Run away
Riding along on the crest of the wave
Getting rid of the albatross
Another will not forget
I know you very well
Run away
Run away
Should I
I run away
Getting rid of the albatross
I know you very well
You are unbearable
I see you far too close
If I wanted to
If
Run away
Run away

I ran away
I ran away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to PiL's song "Albatross" are enigmatic, with abstract phrases and images that leave much to the imagination. However, there are a few clues that we can use to make an interpretation.

The repeated line "Getting rid of the albatross" suggests that the song is about freeing oneself from a burden or obstacle. In literature, an albatross is often used as a symbol of something that brings bad luck or hinders progress. The line "Sowing seeds of discontent" reinforces this idea – the singer is trying to create a sense of dissatisfaction with the status quo in order to inspire change.

The lines "I know you very well / You are unbearable" could be directed at a particular person, or they could be addressing an internal struggle. The idea of being too close to this unbearable thing or person suggests that the singer is trying to distance themselves from it/him/her. The mention of "frying rear blinds" is perhaps the most confusing image in the song – it's difficult to say what this means, but it could be interpreted as a way of obscuring one's view of the past in order to move forward.

Overall, "Albatross" is a song about shedding the weight of a burden and striving for change, even if it means leaving behind familiar things or people.

Line by Line Meaning

Slow motion
The pace of things is unhurried

Slow motion
Things are happening slowly

Getting rid of the albatross
Trying to remove a heavy burden

Sowing seeds of discontent
Planting the seeds of unhappiness

I know you very well
Familiar with your ways

You are unbearable
You are difficult to be around

I've seen you up far too close
I have been too close to you

Frying rear blinds
Cooking something on the rear blinds

If I wanted
If it was my desire

Should I really
Is it a good idea for me to do this?

If I run away
In case I decide to flee