Roddy Frame (born January 29, 1964 in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Sco… Read Full Bio ↴Roddy Frame (born January 29, 1964 in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland) is the founder of the 1980s Scottish indie band, Aztec Camera. They released their first album, High Land, Hard Rain, when Frame was aged nineteen. It spawned the hit single Oblivious, and Aztec Camera were recognised as one of the key acts on Glasgow's Postcard record label, along with Orange Juice and Josef K.

Frame later signed to Rough Trade. Aztec Camera's biggest hit was 1987's Somewhere In My Heart, which reached number 3 in the UK singles chart and is still a staple of FM radio. Frame duetted with one of his musical heroes, Mick Jones of The Clash, on his 1990 single Good Morning Britain, which showcased an overtly political streak that sometimes featured in his work. He also recorded with the Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto. Aztec Camera disbanded in 1996 after the release of their final album Frestonia.

Frame is now pursuing a solo career. His first solo album The North Star came out in 1998 and featured the single Reason For Living. There was a change of gear for 2002's Surf, an album of acoustic songs that attracted widespread critical acclaim and was generally seen as a return to Frame's best songwriting form. The track Small World was used as the theme music to the BBC TV comedy series, Early Doors. Frame also made his first-ever appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2003. Western Skies was released in May 2006. Two live releases followed, Live at Ronnie Scott's and Live in Osaka. His most recent release was Seven Dials, released on Edwyn Collins' AED in 2014.

Small World
Roddy Frame Lyrics

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Laser guns are set to stun, sabers interlinked
And try to know the one who shuns the world for inner space
And nothing comes between the sadness and the scream
Exploding rooms of pain; dematerialize again
And gogo bars filled with showgirl stars and Friday set aflame
With crashing cars, sunburst guitars, amphetamines and fame
And crawling from the smash, aliens all slain
A beam of light and a flash, lifts you up to where

You know that you can choose to
Never have to feel that way again
Rushing through the stars, captivated by the worlds beyond
So far, unknown

Floating in a car, past the gates of Must Destroy dot com
You are alone, it's a small world, and you've grown.

Overall Meaning

The opening lines "Laser guns are set to stun, sabers interlinked" creates an image of sci-fi inspired action. However, the following lines describe a character who chooses to isolate themselves from the world, opting for "inner space". They are in a state of emotional pain with no external interference. The lines "And nothing comes between the sadness and the scream, Exploding rooms of pain; dematerialize again" describes the character's experience of inner turmoil, with there being no escape from the sadness they feel, except for moments when they completely detach from reality.

The following lines shift to a more fast-paced scene with "gogo bars filled with showgirl stars" and "crashing cars, sunburst guitars, amphetamines and fame". This almost euphoric setting contrasts greatly with the earlier scene of sadness and isolation. However, it quickly comes to an end with the line "aliens all slain", leaving behind only a sense of emptiness. The song seems to be describing the ultimate result of choosing to detach yourself from the world - moments of pleasure can only momentarily distract you from the underlying sadness. This is reflected in the chorus where the character chooses to "never have to feel that way again" by escaping from Earth and exploring the unknowns of the universe, at last accepting their loneliness.

Line by Line Meaning

Laser guns are set to stun, sabers interlinked
The situation is tense and possibly violent, as displayed by the use of weapons such as laser guns and interlinked sabers.

And try to know the one who shuns the world for inner space
The song's protagonist is attempting to understand someone who isolates themselves from society and seeks solace within themselves.

And nothing comes between the sadness and the scream
The emotional turmoil of pain is raw and unfiltered, and nothing interrupts the release of that pent-up energy via a scream.

Exploding rooms of pain; dematerialize again
The intense pain being felt is overwhelming, as though the individual is watching their psyche disintegrate before their eyes.

And gogo bars filled with showgirl stars and Friday set aflame
The world is filled with distractions, such as go-go bars with beautiful performers, but this doesn't change the fact that the day of the week (e.g. Friday) can still feel like a burning disappointment.

With crashing cars, sunburst guitars, amphetamines and fame
The world can be dangerous and destructive, but it also provides the opportunity for intense highs, such as playing a guitar bathed in sunlight or experiencing the rush of amphetamines and fame.

And crawling from the smash, aliens all slain
After coming out of a potentially catastrophic event, it feels as though the stars themselves have aligned for the individual, and anything can be overcome.

A beam of light and a flash, lifts you up to where
In moments of revelation or ecstasy, it can feel as though the individual has been physically lifted out of reality to a higher plane of existence.

You know that you can choose to
The individual has come to the realization that they have the power to control their own destiny.

Never have to feel that way again
With this newfound understanding, the individual can move forward with the confidence that they don't have to experience the negative feelings previously described ever again.

Rushing through the stars, captivated by the worlds beyond
The individual is excited and hopeful as they explore the vast universe and its many uncharted territories.

So far, unknown
Despite the wonder and beauty of the universe, there is still so much that the individual has yet to discover and experience.

Floating in a car, past the gates of Must Destroy dot com
The individual is boldly forging ahead into the unknown, taking risks and exploring new possibilities as they navigate the digital world.

You are alone, it's a small world, and you've grown.
Despite the loneliness that comes with exploring the vast expanses of the universe, the individual has matured and become more self-reliant as they travel through this small world of ours.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODDY FRAME

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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