Propellor Time, was released in 2010, though it had been largely recorded in 2006. Guest musicians on the album include John Paul Jones, Nick Lowe, and Johnny Marr, who co-wrote "Ordinary Millionaire".
Primitive
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Primitive out of view
My primitive early phone
Ray of sand, dial tone
Call you back underground
My primitive long way home
Sea-green barge, burial mound
ancient Rome
Inching from canvasses
Primitive, your face has led
Unto us an emperor
Yak’s Von Teeth, silent hour
Stone and web, google me
Primitive
You in masks or hairs discreet
Lose the beak
Primitive
Bury me, autograph, Julie says
Use my bath, cordon off
Write a sound, early magic
Fable town
You lean out from the frame
Lean to me, call my name
My primitive on the shore
You’re the first I ever saw
My primitive cold in days
Occupied to face the haze
You I love in silent rays
Primitive
Primitive
The lyrics of Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3's song Primitive seem to be quite surreal and open to interpretation. The song appears to be addressing someone who is frozen and out of view, perhaps someone who is no longer present in the singer's life. The singer then talks about their early phone, a primitive device that now seems outdated. They mention a dial tone and calling someone back underground, which could be a reference to trying to reconnect with someone who is lost or buried in the past.
The lyrics also mention fairy lights and smoking lights, which could symbolize the fleeting and temporary nature of life. The singer talks about inching from canvasses and their face being primitive, which could suggest a return to a simpler time or a desire to connect with their roots. They mention an emperor and Yak's Von Teeth, which are both quite enigmatic references that add to the overall mysterious and surreal nature of the song.
The lyrics then move on to talk about burying someone and autographs, as well as a bath that needs to be cordoned off. There are references to early magic and fable town, suggesting a world of folklore and fantasy. The song ends with the singer declaring their love for someone in silent rays, once again emphasizing the elusive and ephemeral nature of life and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Call to me frozen you
You greet me with hesitation, unsure of how to approach me
Primitive out of view
You come from a simpler time, removed from modern society
My primitive early phone
My outdated device for communication, a symbol of the past
Ray of sand, dial tone
The phone's connection to the world through invisible signals, like light through sand
Call you back underground
Returning your call from a place of obscurity and isolation
My primitive long way home
My arduous journey towards understanding you and your primitive nature
Sea-green barge, burial mound
The ancient image of a ship, carrying the dead to their resting place
Ancient Rome, fairy lights, smoking lights
A mix of ancient and modern imagery, hinting at the timelessness of our connection
Inching from canvasses
Slowly emerging from obscurity and revealing yourself to me
Primitive, your face has led
Your simple and unadorned appearance has captured my attention
Unto us an emperor
Your primitive majesty and power, despite appearing simple and modest
Yak’s Von Teeth, silent hour
Esoteric and obscure references, like ancient artifacts or the stillness of the night
Stone and web, google me
Symbols of the ancient and modern worlds, bridged by our connection
Primitive
The simplicity and purity of our bond
You in masks or hairs discreet
You hiding your true self behind disguises or subtle clues
Lose the beak
Removing the mask or disguise to reveal your true self
Bury me, autograph, Julie says
Mysterious and enigmatic messages, hinting at secrets or hidden meanings
Use my bath, cordon off
Instructions or requests with unclear purposes or outcomes
Write a sound, early magic
Creating something new and unexpected, like the first sparks of creation
Fable town
A place of myths and legends, where anything is possible
You lean out from the frame
You break through the boundaries of the picture or image, becoming more real and present
Lean to me, call my name
You reaching out to me, breaking down any barriers between us
My primitive on the shore
You, a symbol of the ancient and untouched, in the midst of modern surroundings
You’re the first I ever saw
You standing out from the rest, capturing my attention and fascination
My primitive cold in days
Your unyielding and uncompromising nature, despite the passing of time
Occupied to face the haze
Struggling to understand the complexities and ambiguities of the world
You I love in silent rays
My unspoken and intense affection for you, expressed only through subtle gestures or glances
Primitive
A final statement of the simplicity and purity of our connection
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.