Before his suicide in March 2010, Linkous created many albums of beauty and discord and much of Sparklehorse's music has an introspective, melancholy feel, which Linkous credited to a chemical imbalance. His lyrics are full of odd imagery: Joe Tangari describes Linkous' songs as "defiantly surrealist... with all manner of references to smiling babies, organ music, birds, and celestial bodies... In fact, some of the lyrics are so surreal that it's hard to imagine they're even metaphors for anything."
Musically, Sparklehorse were not far removed from alt country, though there are as many differences as similarities between that genre and Sparklehorse: Linkous was fond of incorporating obsolete musical instruments or technologies (such as woozy mellotrons, scratchy, distorted wire recordings of his own voice, or cheap, tinny drum machines), in ways reminiscent of some of Tom Waits' music. As an extension of this style, Sparklehorse was a pioneering voice in dream country. Sparklehorse offered a few full-throttle hard rock numbers, as well, such as "Some Day I Will Treat You Good" or "Happy Man".
Sparklehorse's first album was the confoundingly-titled Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (1995). The record was a modest success, mainly on college radio. The supporting tour, however, found Linkous overdosing on valium and antidepressants. As a result, Linkous passed out in his London hotel room and remained unconscious with his legs pinned beneath him for almost fourteen hours.
This caused a buildup of potassium which was released when he was moved, causing his heart to stop for two to three minutes. He was hospitalized for weeks afterwards (nearly losing both legs), enduring numerous painful surgeries.
Good Morning Spider (1999) was recorded following this incident, and with mournful songs such as "Painbirds", many critics have mistakenly conjectured that Linkous's near death experience inspired the somber, yet hopeful tone of the album. However, Linkous has stated that much of the material on GMS was written prior to 'the incident'. One song which did result from it is "St. Mary", which is dedicated to the nurses at the hospital of the same name where Linkous recuperated.
2001 saw the release of It's A Wonderful Life and features appearances by Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, Nina Persson and Dave Fridmann, the pre-eminent producer of indie music at the time. Whereas much of "Vivadixie..." and "Spider" were recorded solely by Linkous in his "Static King" studio on his farm in rural Virginia, "Wonderful Life" was more of a formal effort, largely recorded by Fridmann after Linkous was asked by his label to retain an outside producer for the project.
Aside from his own music, Linkous has also become a sought-after record producer, and has helmed works such as Nina Persson's solo record, "A Camp", and Daniel Johnston's "Fear Yourself". Linkous has been one of the most ardent supporters of Johnston, an outsider artist who has had a long battle with mental illness. In 2004, Linkous curated and produced "Discovered Covered: The Late Great Daniel Johnston", a tribute album to the still-living Johnston featuring acts such as Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Vic Chesnutt, Tom Waits and Bright Eyes. It also includes a collaboration between Sparklehorse and The Flaming Lips on the track "Go".
In 2003, Sparklehorse opened some concerts for R.E.M.
Linkous relocated his "Static King" studio to a remote mountaintop in North Carolina. Several years ago, he purchased a vintage recording console built by the near-mythical Daniel Flickinger. His fourth album has been delayed due to his own health problems as well as the necessity of overhauling the temperamental recording desk. Recently, Linkous has been carrying out promotional work for a new album Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain - collaborating with Danger Mouse and other notables including Christian Fennesz and Steven Drozd, and a release date of 25th September 2006 accompanied by US and UK tours was officially announced. Some of the newly released songs appeared at the time of It's A Wonderful Life as b-sides or demos, but there is a different feel to the album, thanks to stripped down production that has only been hinted at in previous albums. The ten minute long finale, with same title as the album, suggests a contemplative movie soundtrack rather than a song. Linkous has since realised his own ultimate song, remaining only now in music.
On March 6, 2010, Linkous committed suicide with a shotgun blast to his heart in the backyard of a friend's house in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 47 years old. A retail version of his delayed collaboration with Danger Mouse, "The Dark Night of the Soul", was released in July 2010.
http://www.sparklehorse.com
Babies on the Sun
Sparklehorse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rose graves of cats
The pounding of your steps
Woke caves of bats
Babies on the sun
Babies on the sun
Was a symphony
And a ship full of horses
Was going down at sea
Babies on the sun
Babies on the sun
Babies on the sun
Babies on the sun
On the sun
The first stanza of the song "Babies On The Sun" by Sparklehorse vividly portrays the power and intensity of a person's presence. The sound of their voice is so profound that it seems to awaken the dead, and their steps are so heavy that they cause the very earth to shake. However, the imagery is also slightly unsettling, as the graves of cats rising and the caves of bats stirring create a somewhat eerie atmosphere. The repeating chorus of "Babies on the sun" adds to the surreal nature of the lyrics, as it is unclear what is being referred to by this phrase.
The second stanza continues the theme of the first, describing a person's first breath as a "symphony" and referencing a ship full of horses going down at sea. The symbolism in these lines is open to interpretation, but it could be seen as a metaphor for the beauty and tragedy that can accompany life. The chorus is repeated again, but this time with a sense of finality and acceptance, as if the lyrics are acknowledging that life is full of mysteries that cannot be fully explained.
Overall, "Babies On The Sun" is a haunting meditation on the power of life and death. Through vivid imagery and repetition, the lyrics create a sense of unease and wonder, leaving the listener with a sense of awe in the face of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
The sound of your voice
Your voice is so distinct that it echoes through the graveyards of cats.
Rose graves of cats
Your voice caused the buried cats' bones to rattle and stir.
The pounding of your steps
Your walking is so powerful that it awakens sleeping bats in their caverns.
Woke caves of bats
Your footsteps made bats in their underground homes stir and fly out in confusion.
Babies on the sun
There are mythical creatures, babies, experiencing birth and life on the sun.
Babies on the sun
The mystical babies on the sun could represent the wonder and mystery of life.
Your first burning breath
Your first breath was powerful and intense, like a burning inferno.
Was a symphony
Your breath sounded like a grand, dramatic piece of music.
And a ship full of horses
A large vessel filled with majestic horses floated on the waves.
Was going down at sea
The ship was sinking in the ocean.
Babies on the sun
The idea of the babies on the sun may symbolize new beginnings and fresh starts.
Babies on the sun
The babies on the sun could represent hope and optimism for the future.
Babies on the sun
It's possible that the babies on the sun are a metaphor for the vastness of the universe and the possibilities that exist beyond our immediate reality.
Babies on the sun
The repetition of this phrase underscores its significance and highlights the beauty and intrigue of this mystical concept.
On the sun
This final line is a conclusion to the repeating refrain, emphasizing the focus of the song on the sun and all the symbolism that it represents.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARK LINKOUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rose;-;resin
so creative and simple. so elaborate and elegant. rip mark ❤
Balenciaga Boxer
Thanks for uploading this piece by Gariné Torossian.
Andrew Smith
But this is Sparklehorse, no?
Jan Kowalski
@Andrew Smith I think he/she meant the video alone, Gariné Torossian is listed in the description;)
Verty
Weird person to thank.
Songs4asolarsytem
I never saw this video before . I made a cover of this on a tascam 4 track best I could and used windows movie maker back in 2007 . I wish I could have worked with Mark .