Playing With Fire (1989) expanded on the psychedelic and drone themes of the earlier albums; its second single, "Revolution" reached #1 on the UK indie charts. But soon after, a combination of personnel changes, drug problems and intra-band tension (especially between Kember and Pierce) began to break the band apart. Recurring, released in 1991, was their last proper album, though its recording reflected the split between Pierce and Kember as each recorded their own side of the album in different studios, with a cover of Mudhoney's 'When Tomorrow Hits' to separate them (Mudhoney would later return the favour with a cover of Spacemen 3's 'Revolution'). It was their most popular record, but by its release Kember and Pierce had already formed new bands, Spectrum,were self described "noise experimentation" and Spiritualized, respectively. The final conflict that contributed to the split was Pierce's decision to release a cover of The Troggs' 'Any Way That You Want Me', as the first Spiritualized single, which Kember had been wanting to cover for years.
From the outset Spacemen 3 had a very defined set of aesthetic principles. They based almost their entire sound on their own concept of minimalism—droning guitars, feedback, as few chords as possible, pounding drums—with their motto “Taking drugs to make music to take drugs to”. Their minimalism bled into their stage show as well. Sitting down to play their guitars and covered in the spinning colours of a cheap psychedelic light show, their stage “act” was very anti-performance. Another striking aspect of Spacemen 3 was their willingness to cover and share their influences. Song titles, lyrics and interviews were peppered with references to bands and artists they believed shared their “minimal is maximal” aesthetic. The Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, The Stooges, MC5, early Captain Beefheart, out-there jazz legend Sun Ra, Silver Apples, garage punk of the 1960s such as the 13th Floor Elevators, Red Krayola, and the Electric Prunes; the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and other surf bands; ’80s rockabilly groups The Cramps, the Gun Club, Tav Falco; blues and gospel acts like Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, the Staple Singers and John Lee Hooker; and the production techniques of Joe Meek, Brian Wilson and Delia Derbyshire were just some of the names mentioned by the band.
Since the break-up there have been a stream of semi-legitimate albums, early demos and live recordings, many of which have been issued by the Kember-affiliated Space Age Recordings. Highlights include Dreamweapon: An Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music, a 45 minute drone piece performed in front of a live audience, Forged Prescriptions, a collection of Perfect Prescription demos and alternate versions (Kember claims in the liner notes that the alternate versions reproduce the layers of guitars they recorded but later removed because they felt they'd never be able to reproduce them live), and the band's singles compilation, which is perhaps the best introduction to the breadth of their work.
In 1998, a tribute album was released on Rocket Girl, which included tracks by Mogwai and Low. Kember’s Spectrum has toured under the banner “Songs the Spacemen Taught Us”, while Pierce routinely includes their songs in his Spiritualized set. In 2004, US journalist Erik Morse published his account of the band’s life and work, Dreamweapon: Spacemen 3 and the Birth of Spiritualized.
Members of the band went on to form Spiritualized, the Darkside and Spectrum (AKA Sonic Boom). Spiritualized carry on, to critical acclaim, though they have largely discarded the dark psychedelic edge. Sonic has also been on the road, playing gigs in London and occasional tours in the US as E.A.R. (Experimental Audio Research), which features synthesizers heavily. The Darkside split, while Rosco (AKA Sterling Roswell) went on to form the Sterling Roswell Blues Band and now is currently in The Gimps.
Ode to Street Hassle
Spacemen 3 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've read the writing on the wall
But today I walked with Jesus and together
Together we walk tall
And as we sat there talking
Jesus turned to say to me
"You'd better learn and love this life ‘cos there's things
And as I sat there thinkin'
Once again he turned to me
He said "I've given you temptation but these things
These things have got to be"
So I just sat and listened
To what Jesus said to me
‘Cos sometimes you gotta listen, if there's things,
If there's things you just can't see
And while we were out walking
Once again he turned to me
And as I looked into his eyes his thoughts
His thoughts just came to me.
Well some people never listen
You know some people just won't see
But I can see and hear these things
These things have got to be.
The lyrics to Spacemen 3's song "Ode to Street Hassle" are a conversation between the singer and Jesus, as they walk together through life. The song highlights the singer's awareness of the challenges and temptations presented in life and the importance of listening and learning from Jesus. The verses express the singer's experience of traveling to far out places and reading the writing on the wall, suggesting a knowledge gained from experience. However, none can match the insights provided by Jesus himself, as he tells the singer that there are things in life "that are hard to see."
The chorus reinforces the message that listening and learning from Jesus is essential, especially in situations where there are things that "you just can't see." This refrain is repeated to emphasize the need for humility, openness, and a willingness to learn from others. The final verse expresses the singer's frustration with those who refuse to listen and learn from life, suggesting that the ability to truly see is a rare gift that requires a certain level of insight and awareness.
Overall, the lyrics to "Ode to Street Hassle" are a meditation on the importance of humility, listening, and learning from others, especially in moments of struggle and temptation. The message is clear: life is hard, and there are moments when we all need guidance and wisdom from someone who can offer a broader perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I've been to some far out places
I have traveled to some strange and unusual destinations
I've read the writing on the wall
I have noticed and pondered on the signs and signals around me
But today I walked with Jesus and together
I have experienced a spiritual connection with Jesus and walked alongside him
Together we walk tall
Together with Jesus, I feel uplifted and confident
And as we sat there talking
While in conversation with Jesus
Jesus turned to say to me
Jesus directed his attention towards me and spoke
"You'd better learn and love this life ‘cos there's things
"It would be wise for you to appreciate and cherish life because there are certain things
There's things that are hard to see"
There are things that are difficult to understand or perceive."
And as I sat there thinkin'
As I continued to ponder
Once again he turned to me
Jesus once again faced me
He said "I've given you temptation but these things
He conveyed "I have presented you with the option of temptation, but these objects or experiences
These things have got to be"
They are necessary and unavoidable."
So I just sat and listened
Therefore, I sat and took heed
To what Jesus said to me
To the words that Jesus spoke to me
'Cos sometimes you gotta listen, if there's things
"Because at times, you need to pay attention if there are certain things
If there's things you just can't see
That may be concealed from your sight or comprehension."
And while we were out walking
During our stroll
Once again he turned to me
Again, Jesus faced me
And as I looked into his eyes his thoughts
As I gazed into Jesus' eyes, his ideas or feelings
His thoughts just came to me.
Became clear and understandable to me."
Well some people never listen
Some individuals fail to comprehend
You know some people just won't see
Some people willfully refuse to observe
But I can see and hear these things
Yet, I am capable of both seeing and hearing these things
These things have got to be.
These things are a must and cannot be ignored."
Contributed by Adam P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Massimo Tinnirello
How deeply in my blood I love this song
Cliff Boler
Right?
Jay Foust
Street Hassle is one of the best recordings ever released, and this is awesome
ComradeRemus
What a lovely track
Charles-Antoine Brossard
Street Hassle of Lou Reed is such a great album and song <3
silvano pertone
vibrazioni psichedeliche irrealmente belle.
The Ripper
2020 Aug anyone still listening to this masterpiece....?
Markus p Boeddeker
sinde 89
steph anie!
2022 January here
Omaristalis
2021! First time listening since nineteen-ninety-something :)