He regularly does solo work, and returns again and again to bands he has formed like The Soft Boys and The Egyptians. Hitchcock is an avid and able collaborator with people like director Jonathan Demme, actor Alan Rickman, country/folk duo (and longtime Hitchcock fans) Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Venus 3, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Young Fresh Fellows' frontman Scott McCaughey, Andy Partridge of XTC, Nick Lowe, former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Jon Brion, and Grant-Lee Phillips, as well as Ministry's Bill Rieflin.
Hitchcock's musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by his appreciation of Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso, The Byrds, Country Joe & The Fish, and Syd Barrett.
Hitchcock's lyrics are an essential component of his work, and tend to include surrealism, comedic songs, characterisations of English eccentrics, plant roots, insects, trains, dreams, and melancholy depictions of everyday life. His themes include what many psychologists view as the roots of modern neurosis - namely, death, sex, and eating. (As if in recognition of these themes, he released an EP in 2007 called "Sex, Food, Death and Tarantulas".)
Eight Miles High
Robyn Hitchcock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You find that it's stranger than known
Signs in the street that say where you're going
Are somewhere just being their own
Nowhere is there warmth to be found
Among those afraid of losing their ground
Rain-grey town known for its sounds
In July, 1965, The Byrds first visited Great Britain. I was twelve.
You weren't even born yet. That situation continued.
Round the square and out in the storms
Some laughing, some just shapeless forms
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
Some living, some standing alone
Robyn Hitchcock's Eight Miles High is an interpretation of The Byrds' song of the same name. The song begins by stating the altitude and the state of coming back down. Hitchcock seems to suggest that what they witness upon landing is unfathomable and almost surreal. The signs in the street indicating direction and location weren't helpful in this case; rather, they seem to be arbitrary and merely there for the sake of it.
Moving into the next stanza, the lyrics continue to be surreal as there is nowhere in sight where warmth could be found. The people around were afraid of losing their ground, paralyzed even with the onset of changes. The town is grey, and it is well-known for its sounds. The gloom and the dreariness have been embraced, and the people around seem to be uninhibited, with small faces abounding.
In the final stanza, the lyrics talk about the scene around the square and out in the storms. Some people around looked hapless, shapeless, almost comical, while others seemed to be just standing, stranded. Sidewalk scenes, black limousines that few got into while some lived, and some just stood alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Eight miles high and when we touch down
After being sky high in the clouds, the reality hits once we arrive on the ground.
You find that it's stranger than known
The reality of the ground is often stranger than what we imagined.
Signs in the street that say where you're going
Signs indicate the general direction of where we are heading in life.
Are somewhere just being their own
Others may not be going in the same direction as us, they are simply following their own path.
Nowhere is there warmth to be found
There is no warmth or compassion among those who are fearful of losing their position or status.
Among those afraid of losing their ground
The individuals who are the most fearful of losing their status are often the ones that lack warmth and compassion.
Rain-grey town known for its sounds
The town is well known for its sounds, but the environment is bleak, with rainy and grey conditions.
Embrace it as small faces abound
We should appreciate the small things in life and embrace the happiness of children who are surrounded by this environment.
In July, 1965, The Byrds first visited Great Britain. I was twelve.
The song relays the story of The Byrds first trip to England in 1965, when Robyn was only twelve-years-old.
You weren't even born yet. That situation continued.
The listener may not have even been born when this event happened, but the story still resonates today.
Round the square and out in the storms
There is chaos and turmoil happening in this environment, with people struggling to navigate their way through life.
Some laughing, some just shapeless forms
Some people are able to find humor or joy despite the difficult environment, while others have lost their shape and identity due to the surrounding conditions.
Sidewalk scenes and black limousines
There is a contrast between the glamourous cars and the mundane scenes on the street.
Some living, some standing alone
Some are able to make connections and live fulfilling lives, while others are alone and disconnected from society.
Contributed by Jasmine I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.