Porcupine Tree started out as a "fake" band, the only real member being multi-instrumentalist Steven Wilson. Wilson's first two releases, Tarquin's Seaweed Farm (1989) and The Nostalgia Factory (1990), were both released on cassette tapes. In addition to the band's trademark psychedelic sound, these two tapes also contained heavy ambient and pop influences. Wilson's favorite tracks were then compiled into the CD On the Sunday of Life... (1991), while the more ambient-leaning tracks were also collected in Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape (1994). The first of these two featured many new versions of songs.
Wilson then went on to release Voyage 34 (1992) and Up the Downstair (1993), which refined the sound of the previous albums and removed the pop influences. Both of these were later re-released, the first as Voyage 34: The Complete Trip (2000), which included an extra two remixes (a total of four), while Up the Downstair was remastered at 2005 with real drums added in place of the drum-machine beats.
The Sky Moves Sideways (1995), often considered the band's best album by long-time fans, largely uses the spacey nature of previous albums. By the time of Signify (1996) Wilson had a full band at his disposal: Chris Maitland (drums), Colin Edwin (bass), and Richard Barbieri, formerly of Japan, on keyboards.
The band's next two albums, Stupid Dream (1999) and Lightbulb Sun (2000), saw them take on a more alternative rock-oriented sound, while still drawing influence from as far back as Up the Downstair. During this period, the band garnered increasing recognition, both in their home country and abroad. Finally, they were signed to Lava Records (a major American record label) in time for the release of In Absentia, with Gavin Harrison replacing Chris Maitland on drums. This album shows high metal influences, due in part to Wilson's work with Opeth on their album Blackwater Park. The band continued this sound for their 2005 release, Deadwing, which has the heaviest and most noticeable metal influences.
In April 2007, the band released Fear of a Blank Planet, an album clearly influenced by the post-rock genre, but also sees them expanding the metal side of their music, yet still remaining true to older facets of the band's sound.
In April, 2007, the band embarked on a six-month world tour in support of Fear of a Blank Planet, one that included Europe, the U.S., Japan, and Australia. The new album was featured, and the show featured the films and projections by the band's long-time visualist Lasse Hoile.
Fear of a Blank Planet is already the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful album of the band's career, charting high in most countries (even giving the band their first top-forty album in their home country). Porcupine Tree spent most of 2007 on tour promoting the album, and a new EP Nil Recurring containing material left over from the album-writing sessions was released on the band's own label Transmission in September.
The band started recording their tenth studio album The Incident in February 2009. This was confirmed by the band, posting this message on their official website: "Writing for the next PT studio record is well underway, with the band recently spending two weeks scheduled in the English countryside working on new tracks. Recording of these pieces and a new 35 minute SW song cycle were due to start in February..." A tour was announced on the band's website and MySpace, along with dates, following release of the new album. Around March and April, Wilson commented the 35-minute song kept evolving and now it has become a 55-minute song, occupying the entire disc.
On 20 May 2010, Porcupine Tree released their second live concert film on DVD and Blu-ray, titled Anesthetize. It was recorded live on 15 and 16 October 2008 in the Netherlands at the 013 Tilburg venue.
On 17 June 2010, the band announced on their website that a new live album titled Atlanta, recorded during the tour of Fear of a Blank Planet at the Roxy theatre, Atlanta, on 29 October 2007, would be released in a near future. This album was released via online distribution only, without any class of physical format; all the sale proceeds were donated to Mick Karn for his treatment against cancer.
In June 2012, Wilson re-emphasised his continued focus on his solo career.
On November 1st, 2021, the band announced their eleventh studio album Closure / Continuation, to be released in June 2022 on Music For Nations, along with their first single in over 12 years, Harridan. The release is the first without bassist Colin Edwin since he joined the band in 1993.
Shesmovedon
Porcupine Tree Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never retrace
Your newest craze
Straight out of the Face by the bed unread
I'm left behind
Like all the others
Some fall for you
She changes every time you look
By summer it was all gone, now she's moved on
She called you every other day
So savior it it's all gone, now she's moved on
So for a while
Everything seemed new
Did we connect?
Or was it all just biding time for you?
Porcupine Tree's song "Shesmovedon" is a reflection on the fleeting nature of romantic relationships. The song's narrator is left behind by a lover who never stays in one place for too long. The opening verse describes how the lover moves "in waves, [and] never retraces" her steps. She is always on to the "newest craze" and never reads the book by her bed, suggesting that she is always on the move, never stopping to settle down. The singer is frustrated by her behavior, feeling like he is just one of many who have fallen for her charms. It doesn't matter who loves her because ultimately, she will leave them all behind.
The chorus of "Shesmovedon" drives home the ephemeral nature of the singer's relationship with his lover. She "changes every time you look" and by the time summer comes around, she is gone. She is always calling, but eventually, she moves on. The final verse is a reflection on the relationship itself. The singer is uncertain if they ever truly connected, or if it was all just a waiting game for the lover to move on to the next thing.
Overall, "Shesmovedon" is a somber song about the transience of love and relationships. It shows how people can come in and out of our lives without leaving a lasting impact. The song's melancholy melody and lyrics perfectly capture the sense of longing and loss that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
You move in waves
You have your own rhythm and way of doing things
You never retrace
You never repeat the same thing twice
Your newest craze
Your latest obsession or interest
Straight out of the Face by the bed unread
Unread magazines or books by your bed speak to your curiosity and wandering nature
I'm left behind
I'm left out or forgotten
Like all the others
Like everyone else before me
Some fall for you
Some people get caught up in your charm and personality
It doesn't make much difference if they do
It doesn't really matter if people fall for you or not, you'll move on anyway
She changes every time you look
She is a chameleon and adapts to new surroundings or situations
By summer it was all gone, now she's moved on
Whatever connection we had was short-lived and now she has moved on
She called you every other day
She showed a lot of interest in you and made frequent contact
So savior it it's all gone, now she's moved on
Enjoy the memories of her before they fade away completely
So for a while
For a brief period of time
Everything seemed new
Everything felt fresh and exciting
Did we connect?
Did we truly understand each other?
Or was it all just biding time for you?
Or were you just killing time until something else came along?
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: STEVEN JOHN WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Man
For all of those who feel this craziness and understand the depth of the lyrics, here they are my friends:
You move in waves
You never retrace
Your newest craze
Straight out of the face by the bed unread
I'm left behind
Like all the others
Some fall for you
It doesn't make much difference if they do
She changes every time you look
By summer it was all gone - now she's moved on
She called you every other day
So savour it it's all gone - now she's moved on
So for a while
Everything seemed new
Did we connect?
Or was it all just biding time for you?
She changes every time you look
(All gone away)
By summer it was all gone - now she's moved on
(She's moving on)
She called you every other day
(All gone away)
So savour it it's all gone - now she's moved on
(She's moving on)
She's moved on
She's moved on
She's moved on
She changes every time you look
By summer it was all gone - now she's moved on
She called you every other day
(All gone away)
So savour it it's all gone - now she's moved on
(She's moving on)
All gone away
She's moving on
All gone away
She's moving on
All gone away
She's moving on
All gone away
She's moving on
By the way, would you please like or pin this comment so that everyone can enjoy the lyrics? ๐ค๐พ
Zubaida Karim Juthy
Lyrics:
You move in waves
You never retrace
Your newest craze
Straight out of the Face by the bed unread
I'm left behind
Like all the others
Some fall for you
It doesn't make much difference if they do
She changes every time you look
By summer it was all gone, now she's moved on
She called you every other day
So savior it it's all gone, now she's moved on
So for a while
Everything seemed new
Did we connect?
Or was it all just biding time for you?
Jวซrmungandr
3:25 This guitar solo is pure gold
Subverted World
Am I the only one that can put this on repeat and listen for a couple hours? This is an absolute masterpiece!
Tobin
Such a masterpiece, I still can't believe I went so long without hearing the bulk of their music. These guys are pure amazing artists
Emanuel Lourenรงo
J Tobin i couldnt agree more! this is pure art
Lorraine Trout Mask
Me too, Tobin! I've had a small collection of their songs for years (including this one) and I never bothered to explore further until now! Same with Steven Wilson, I've had some of his songs for a few years too but never delved in further to him either! Until now! I guess there comes a time for everything!
Jack Man
For all of those who feel this craziness and understand the depth of the lyrics, here they are my friends:
You move in waves
You never retrace
Your newest craze
Straight out of the face by the bed unread
I'm left behind
Like all the others
Some fall for you
It doesn't make much difference if they do
She changes every time you look
By summer it was all gone - now she's moved on
She called you every other day
So savour it it's all gone - now she's moved on
So for a while
Everything seemed new
Did we connect?
Or was it all just biding time for you?
She changes every time you look
(All gone away)
By summer it was all gone - now she's moved on
(She's moving on)
She called you every other day
(All gone away)
So savour it it's all gone - now she's moved on
(She's moving on)
She's moved on
She's moved on
She's moved on
She changes every time you look
By summer it was all gone - now she's moved on
She called you every other day
(All gone away)
So savour it it's all gone - now she's moved on
(She's moving on)
All gone away
She's moving on
All gone away
She's moving on
All gone away
She's moving on
All gone away
She's moving on
By the way, would you please like or pin this comment so that everyone can enjoy the lyrics? ๐ค๐พ
Dave R
I believe "The Face" was a British fashion/music magazine
David Arias
@Dave R makes so much more sense now!
Jack Man
Alive, Maybe? Thank you so much! It makes waaay more sense now ๐
Glad to say, by now, I have moved on :)
Rudzilla
Dziฤki mordo