Robert Manos is a New York based singer and musician who has collaborated o… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Manos is a New York based singer and musician who has collaborated on Techno, Drum and Bass and Deep House releases with Jesper Dahlbäck, Seba, Terry Lee Brown Junior, Paradox, Hugg and Pepp, John Dahlbäck, Charles Webster and Alexi Delano. Robert Manos spent his early years in Germany, Kenya and Tanzania before moving to New York as a teenager. His musical background is shaped by many influences including 70's Soul, R&B, New Wave, Dancehall Reggae and Classical Music. He began recording bits and pieces on a 4 track recorder using primarily drum machines,synths and electric bass and gradually began to add his voice to these recordings. Working as a bass player and background vocalist with various bands and projects, Robert began to develop his own style which can only be described as a mixture of everything he was exposed to, and as a way of trying to define the realities of living many lives in different worlds, the distance this can cause between people but also the sense of being connected to everything but at times lost to yourself. In 2002, Robert began collaborating on projects with Jesper Dahlbäck and Sebastian Ahrenberg in Stockholm (Sweden), starting with the deep house track "My World". The first full album from Robert Manos called "Angel Road" was co-produced by Jesper Dahlbäck and Sebastian Ahrenberg as well and was recorded at Globe Studios in Stockholm. Additional recording was done at Ingaro Studios in Budapest (Hungary) and a certain small apartment facing east high above 7th ave, New York (USA).

Silver
Robert Manos Lyrics

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David Bowie
Miscellaneous
Silver Treetop School For Boys
Here's the town in which i live petunia green
Here's the shop and here's the man who sold me laces for my shoes
There is mr.marcus. boys they say he's mad
'here's the battle that they won' silver treetop school for boys

Early days were good as gold
An apple here an apple there
And everywhere a 'yes sir', 'no sir'
They made me roll the cricket pitch once a day
I've never been so happy than at silver treetop school for boys

The mowing machine was leaving small piles of grass
That when the? had risen to the pipe of mr.marcus
The smell of teaching fell upon the cricket field
Smiling, laughing, rolling about at silver treetop school for boys.

Hey there
They call in the staff room
They call in the canteen
"hey come and look at what i found"
"i found some boys and masters sitting
On the cricket ground at silver treetop school for boys"

The english master, sir, he wores a purple mask
And the head, was usually sad, was swinging from a tree
Mr.brown the physics man is off his head

And everyone just loves the grass at silver treetop school for boys
Lalalalalalala lalala lalalalalalalalala lalalalalalalalala lalalalalalalalala

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Robert Manos's song, "Silver," tell the story of a man reminiscing about his days at the Silver Treetop School for Boys. He begins by describing the town where he grew up, but quickly transitions to the school, expressing nostalgia for the early days when life was good as gold. He remembers rolling the cricket pitch and feeling happier than ever before.

However, things begin to shift, and the previously idyllic atmosphere of the school deteriorates. The lawn-mowing machine leaves small piles of grass that seem to bother Mr. Marcus, who is rumored to be mad. Suddenly, there are adults discovering boys and masters sitting on the cricket ground. The English master wears a purple mask, and the physics man is off his head. Despite these troubling details, the singer concludes by stating that everyone loves the grass at Silver Treetop School for Boys.

The song's imagery and tone capture a sense of whimsy and mystery, creating a vivid story that invites interpretation. The school appears to serve as a metaphor for an idyllic childhood that gradually reveals darker truths. The reference to the head swinging from a tree conjures disturbing imagery, and the implication that Mr. Brown has lost his mind raises questions about authority figures and their stability. Ultimately, the song suggests that even the brightest moments of our memories can be tainted by the shadows lurking beneath the surface.

Line by Line Meaning

Here's the town in which i live petunia green
Introduction to the setting of the song

Here's the shop and here's the man who sold me laces for my shoes
Simple recollection of past events

There is mr.marcus. boys they say he's mad
Introducing a character and rumors about them

'here's the battle that they won' silver treetop school for boys
Referencing the location of the song's events, as well as setting up a triumphant tone.

Early days were good as gold
Starting the story with a description of the past

An apple here an apple there
Description of a common occurrence within the school

And everywhere a 'yes sir', 'no sir'
Describing the environment of the school as one of discipline

They made me roll the cricket pitch once a day
Personal anecdote of a task assigned to the artist

I've never been so happy than at silver treetop school for boys
Expressing fondness for the location and school

The mowing machine was leaving small piles of grass
Descriptive moment in the story

That when the? had risen to the pipe of mr.marcus
Details about the school's apparent eccentricity

The smell of teaching fell upon the cricket field
Description of sensory experiences at the school

Smiling, laughing, rolling about at silver treetop school for boys.
Emotion-filled recollection of the past

Hey there
Transition to a new moment in the story

They call in the staff room
Description of things happening within the school

They call in the canteen
Further description of things happening within the school

"hey come and look at what i found"
Quoting speech

"i found some boys and masters sitting
Continuation of a quote, further description of events

On the cricket ground at silver treetop school for boys"
Clarification of the location of the events

The english master, sir, he wores a purple mask
Description of an oddity/person in the school

And the head, was usually sad, was swinging from a tree
Description of a disturbing event or character

Mr.brown the physics man is off his head
Another odd or unique character in the school

And everyone just loves the grass at silver treetop school for boys
Continuing to describe the strange elements of the school

Lalalalalalala lalala lalalalalalalalala lalalalalalalalala lalalalalalalalala
Repeating instrumental section of the song

Writer(s): Sebastian Ahrenberg Copyright: Secret Operations Publishing, La Mer Music

Contributed by Zachary P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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