The band was formed in Copenhagen, 1977. The original lineup consisted of: Steen Jørgensen (vocal), Peter Schneidermann (guitar), better known as Peter Peter, Knud Odde (bass guitar) and Tomas Ortved (drums). The band released their first record Minutes to go February 1979 and it is considered the first Danish punk album. They went on to release Under En Sort Sol in 1980, a more experimental album, influenced in part by Joy Division, Pere Ubu and Television.
T. S. Høeg (sax) (Cockpit Music) entered the group for a short while in late 1980. In 1981 the group released their first single under the name Sort Sol. The single "Marble Station" (b/w Misguided) is only released in England on the record label 4AD. In March 1981 the group played their first concert outside of Denmark. 1983 saw the release of the album Dagger & Guitar, featuring punk idol Lydia Lunch. In 1985 Lars Top-Galia(guitar) joined the group, and the line-up remained like this until 1996, when Peter Peter left due to arguments within the band, partly owing to artistic differences. In 1988 they made the album Everyhing that rises must converge which has been described as the their artistic breakthrough. The album consists of 10 slowpaced tracks that rely heavily on the talented deep voice of Steen Jørgensen. In 1991 they made their first CD which was Flow my firetear. This was the first of their records reaching a broad audience. They reached their peak popularity three years later with Glamourpuss which sold 100.000 records in Denmark.
Internationally famous artists who have performed and/or recorded with the group include William S. Burroughs, Lydia Lunch, Link Wray and The Jordanaires - as well as nationally renowned musicians like bass player Wili Jönsson of Gasolin´ fame , guitarist Moe Lind (Boghandle, Deepfried Toguma), guitarist and producer Johnny Stage and keyboard player Troels Bech (The Poets, originally Poets Of The Signature - in the US and Canada known as The Sealand Poets) have collaborated with the group, both in the studio and live.
Desdemona
Sort Sol Lyrics
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Could not believe my ears were they right
Sounds heading. Nowhere bound
I couldn't make my feet turn around
They say the earth shakes under your window
When you twist every word around town
Standing by your little red telephone
Endless rain on the line
Who are you today
Cat from Brazil or eighty miles away
Bubbles from your mouth surely bland
Like answers I can't understand
Des - de - mo - na - Desdemona Scarlett
Wawes her head over me
Desdemona Scarlett
Shows me the bottle
Says: "It'll give you more"
I pick up the bottle
It brings me to the floor
I pick up the bottle
No time to be born
The lyrics of Sort Sol's song, Desdemona, tell a story of a man, presumably a former lover of Desdemona Scarlett, who finds himself unable to resist the temptation to visit her home on a cool summer night. As he approaches her home, he hears sounds but cannot discern where they are coming from, and he is compelled to continue towards her house despite his instincts telling him to turn around. The lyrics depict Desdemona as a mercurial character who is difficult to understand and who twists words to suit her own purposes. She is said to have an earth-shaking presence that is felt by others when she is home, and her moody behavior is conveyed by the line "Des-dem-o-na, have you decided who are you today? Cat from Brazil or eighty miles away?"
The lyrics also speak of Desdemona's penchant for controlling those around her, as evidenced by the line "Bubbles from your mouth surely bland like answers I can't understand." The song portrays the singer's inability to resist Desdemona's pull, even as she offers him a bottle that ends up bringing him to the floor. The song ends on a bleak note, with the line "No time to be born," which could be interpreted as the songwriter's commentary on the characters' inability to move forward in their lives and break the cycle of their destructive relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Went down your street on a cool summer night
I walked along your street on a pleasant night in summer.
Could not believe my ears were they right
I was in disbelief because what I heard seemed too good to be true.
Sounds heading. Nowhere bound
The noises I heard were aimless and without direction.
I couldn't make my feet turn around
Despite my instincts telling me to leave, I couldn't bring myself to turn back.
They say the earth shakes under your window
People claim that the impact of your words can be felt throughout the neighborhood.
When you twist every word around town
You have a talent for distorting information and spreading rumors.
Standing by your little red telephone
You wait by the phone, expectantly.
Endless rain on the line
There seems to be a heavy conversation taking place over the phone, similar to a constant downpour.
Des - de - mo - na - Have you decided
Desdemona, have you chosen who you want to be today?
Who are you today
What persona have you adopted for the day?
Cat from Brazil or eighty miles away
Are you presenting yourself as a Brazilian cat or someone who is far away?
Bubbles from your mouth surely bland
The things you say seem insincere and lack substance, like bubbles that soon dissipate.
Like answers I can't understand
I can't comprehend the things you say and the motives behind them.
Des - de - mo - na - Desdemona Scarlett
Desdemona, also known as Scarlett.
Wawes her head over me
You looked down on me, as if I was beneath you.
Desdemona Scarlett
You are called Desdemona Scarlett.
Shows me the bottle
You present me with a bottle.
Says: "It'll give you more"
You tell me that the bottle will provide me with more of something.
I pick up the bottle
I reach for the bottle.
It brings me to the floor
The contents of the bottle quickly cause me to become physically weak and unable to stand.
No time to be born
Life seems to have no fresh start for me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BARRY A FASMAN, STEVE SPERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind