Between 1999 and 2002, Perri released a series of 12"s (by Cog, Dot Wiggin, and Polmo Polpo) on his own Audi Sensa label. These early Polmo Polpo tracks were compiled and re-issued on CD in 2002 by Alien8 Recordings, after which Perri began work on a proper full-length, issued by Constellation in 2003.
In recent years, Perri has been singing original songs either solo (employing kick drum and guitar) or with a rotating cast of improvisers in a project under his own name. A self-released CDr of such recordings was re-issued by Constellation in 2006, featuring re-interpretations of tracks from his Polmo Polpo oeuvre, marked by vocals and live group playing - and notably, no 'electronics'. A full-length recording of brilliant new tunes was released on Constellation in the autumn of 2007, where one can hear musical influences as diverse as post-tropicalia Caetano Veloso, Vanguard-era Skip James (and his weary falsetto), and the 60s-era axis of hybrid songwriters like Tim Buckley, Tim Hardin, Harry Nilsson and Fred Neil. All of this filtered through the beautifully cracked musicianship of some of Toronto's finest young avant and improv players, and guided by Perri's wonderful melodic sense and brilliant lyrics.
Perri has toured extensively as Polmo Polpo, was part of the Constellation European Roadshow in 2004, was invited to Winnipeg's 'Send+Receive' festival that same year, and played Montreal's 'MUTEK' electronic music festival in 2005. Sandro has also performed at 'All Tomorrow's Parties' (UK), 'Domino' (Belgium), 'Printemps Du Bourges' (France) and 'Klangtransfer Ost-Fest' (Germany). Sandro has played and released music as part of Glissandro 70, Double Suicide and Dot Wiggin. Other past and present collaborators include Great Lake Swimmers, Eric Chenaux, Adam Marshall, Andre Ethier, Sawako, Detective Kalita/The Michael Parks, Andy Swan, Barzin, The Singing Saws and Tinkertoy.
Behind the board, Perri has engineered, produced or mastered recordings by Alex Lukashevsky, Deep Dark United, CJ Boyd, Off The International Radar, Castlemusic and more. He has also remixed material for the likes of Stephen Malkmus, Under Byen, Ultra Red, Greek Buck, Nilan Perera and Luis Jacob. He does most of his production work out of his Toronto home studio, The Honey Pot.
In 2016 he released the collaborative electronic album Off World 1, with a follow-up album simply entitled 2 released in 2017. In 2018 he released In Another Life, an experiment in "infinite songwriting" which consisted of two long tracks.
In Another Life
Sandro Perri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And know how not to know just what that means
Except to think of all that might be seen
In another life
No position, ladder or pit
No response correct or unfit
Except where evenly sacrifice split
In another life
Level field, what goal is the game?
Any answer, the question remains
To flourish and without expansion or gain?
In another life
In another life
No love go undiscovered in hate
Or disadvantage in tragic state
No delusion about what is great
In another life
In another life
Humiliation, nor private distress
Breed and obedience nor deviant
No sway in praise over in incense
In another life
In another life
Power seen in true and clear light
Loss unburdened, in natural flight
Nothing to have, no reason to fight
In another life
In another life
In another life
Black, brown, red, blue, yellow, green and white
Seen and understood in each its own right
And how freely goes a child at night
In another life
In another life
In another life
No word sent to distract or devise
Smokescreen, lightning, filler or guise
As in distance and closeness alike
In another life
In another life
There's no intelligent test in class
No touch too soft or too crass
But physically possible one's head up one's ass
In another life
In another life
What use grafting sport to art?
Like pulling horse from cart
Just confusion about whole and part
In another life
In another life
None imprisoned by the word free
No fool falling for what they believe
Endless chances between you and me
In another life
In another life
In another life
For the rape of mind, body and earth
And the animals of engineered worth
The seed of greed dissolved in thirst
In another life
In another life
In another life
No rhyme of any cost or expense
Beats a rhythm born of defense
True disharmony right here on the fence
In another life
In another life
In another life
Beyond the choice of create or destroy
Inherit, steal, gift or employ
Fair is far too small a word we'd enjoy
In another life
In another life
In another life
So hold a promise no bigger than two hands
Hope scaled and re-read in human
And not reduced to a list of demands
In another life
In another life
In another life
The lyrics of "In Another Life" by Sandro Perri touch upon various themes and ideas. The song seems to explore a utopian vision where the flaws and complexities of life as we know it are absent, and instead, a world of peace and understanding exists. In the first verse, the desire to enter an impossible dream reflects a longing for a different reality—one where the unknown is embraced and everything is seen through a different lens.
The second verse delves into the idea of equality and fairness. There are no hierarchies, no right or wrong answers, and sacrifice is evenly distributed. It suggests a level playing field where everyone has equal opportunities and where success and growth are not driven by personal gain. In this alternate life, the focus is on flourishing without the need for expansion or accumulation.
The third verse explores the absence of conflicts and contradictions. In this utopia, love and hate are not separate, disadvantage and tragedy do not coexist, and there are no false illusions about what is truly great. It suggests a world where inherent contradictions are reconciled and a greater harmony is achieved.
The fourth verse touches upon the absence of suffering and manipulation. Humiliation, distress, obedience, and deviance do not exist in this other life. The presence of power is transparent and not subject to hidden agendas, and there is no need to fight or possess anything. It envisions a state of pure freedom and authenticity.
The following verses continue to imagine a world without division or deception. Each color and individual identity is respected and understood on its own merits. Children are allowed to roam freely, without fear or restrictions. There are no distractions, manipulation, or confusion—distance and closeness are experienced genuinely.
The lyrics then emphasize the absence of limitations, restrictions, and false beliefs. Intelligence is not measured by tests, touch is not judged as too soft or too crass, and absurd ideas are not embraced. It criticizes the confusion between art and sport, suggesting that they should not be forced into each other's realms. Instead, they must be appreciated in their individual contexts.
The song also touches upon the liberation from conventional notions of freedom and belief systems. No one is imprisoned by the concept of "freedom," and fools do not fall for false ideologies. The potential for new beginnings and connections is endless.
The lyrics then address the destruction and exploitation of the world. The rape of mind, body, and earth, as well as the commodification of animals, is seen as a perversion that dissolves in the vision of another life. This utopia envisions a world where greed is replaced by thirst for understanding and respect for all beings.
The song concludes by expressing that even poetry and art cannot capture the true essence of this other life. It emphasizes the futility of choosing between creation and destruction, suggesting that a more nuanced approach is required. Equality is not enough; a concept as limiting as "fairness" falls short. The lyrics advocate for holding promises and hope within humble and humane limits, rather than reducing them to mere demands.
Overall, "In Another Life" presents a longing for a utopian existence free from the complexities and injustices of the world we currently inhabit. It imagines a society where understanding, harmony, and respect for all beings prevail.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me into this impossible dream
Allow me to experience and be a part of this seemingly unattainable fantasy
And know how not to know just what that means
And understand the concept of not fully comprehending the true significance of that dream
Except to think of all that might be seen
Except to imagine all the possibilities and experiences that could be witnessed
In another life
In a different existence or reality
No position, ladder or pit
No hierarchy, advancement, or downfall
No response correct or unfit
No right or wrong answer or reaction
Except where evenly sacrifice split
Except for instances where sacrifice is shared equally
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
Level field, what goal is the game?
A fair playing field, what is the objective of the game?
Any answer, the question remains
Regardless of any response, the question still persists
To flourish and without expansion or gain?
To thrive and grow without seeking personal advancement or profit
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
No love go undiscovered in hate
No love remains hidden or overshadowed by hatred
Or disadvantage in tragic state
Or any disadvantage in a state of tragedy
No delusion about what is great
No false belief regarding what is truly great
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
Humiliation, nor private distress
No humiliation or personal anguish
Breed and obedience nor deviant
Reproduction and obedience are not seen as deviant
No sway in praise over incense
No influence or manipulation through flattery
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
Power seen in true and clear light
Power is perceived in its genuine and transparent form
Loss unburdened, in natural flight
Loss is not weighed down but released naturally
Nothing to have, no reason to fight
No possessions to acquire, no motivation to engage in conflict
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
Black, brown, red, blue, yellow, green and white
All colors, races, and backgrounds
Seen and understood in each its own right
Recognized and comprehended in their individual essence
And how freely goes a child at night
And the uninhibited freedom of a child during nighttime
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
No word sent to distract or devise
No words used to divert attention or scheme
Smokescreen, lightning, filler or guise
Tricks, sudden brilliance, unnecessary content, or deceptive appearances
As in distance and closeness alike
Similar in both distance and intimacy
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
There's no intelligent test in class
There are no tests of intelligence within a classroom
No touch too soft or too crass
No touch is deemed too gentle or too vulgar
But physically possible one's head up one's ass
However, it is physically possible to have one's head stuck in ignorance or arrogance
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
What use grafting sport to art?
What purpose does combining sports and art serve?
Like pulling horse from cart
Similar to separating a horse from its cart
Just confusion about whole and part
Only resulting in confusion regarding the relationship between the whole and its parts
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
None imprisoned by the word free
No one constrained by the term 'freedom'
No fool falling for what they believe
No one foolishly accepting their beliefs without question
Endless chances between you and me
Countless opportunities exist between us
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
For the rape of mind, body and earth
In response to the violation of intellect, physical self, and the planet
And the animals of engineered worth
And the manipulation of animals for profit or advantage
The seed of greed dissolved in thirst
The underlying desire for excessive wealth dissipates as a result of insatiable longing
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
No rhyme of any cost or expense
No verse created at any price or sacrifice
Beats a rhythm born of defense
Surpasses a rhythm created out of protection or self-defense
True disharmony right here on the fence
Authentic disharmony exists right on the edge of uncertainty or indecision
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
Beyond the choice of create or destroy
Transcending the decision between creating or destroying
Inherit, steal, gift or employ
Whether through inheritance, theft, donation, or utilization
Fair is far too small a word we'd enjoy
The concept of fairness is insufficient to fully appreciate
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
So hold a promise no bigger than two hands
Therefore, cherish a promise that is not grandiose but can be upheld with just two hands
Hope scaled and re-read in human
Hope measured and reconsidered within human capability
And not reduced to a list of demands
And not diminished to a mere set of requests or requirements
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
In another life
In a different existence or reality
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Sandro Perri
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind