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
Saturday
Sparklehorse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are a hospital
I'd walk to hell and back
To see your smile
On Saturday
You are a star
You are a sea of air
Of horses' teeth
On Saturday
I'd like to tell you
How I feel
I'll probably keep it
'Til Saturday
The lyrics of Sparklehorse's song "Saturday" are very abstract, allowing for multiple interpretations. The verses are structured around two distinct sets of images. The first set is comprised of things that are institutional or instrumental, such as a car and a hospital. The second set is more poetic and abstract: a star and a sea of air. The lines leading up to the chorus suggest the depth of the singer's emotions and their willingness to go to great lengths for the object of their affection, but paradoxically they express a hesitance to share those feelings.
The use of the phrase "on Saturday" is significant to the song's meaning. It creates a sense of anticipation that is hinted at throughout the verses. On one level, the singer is looking forward to a specific day of the week, probably because that's when they will see the person they're singing about. At the same time, however, there's a sense that "Saturday" is more than just a day of the week. It's a time when anything could happen; a time when all the mental barriers and obstacles that hold us back might be lifted, if only for a moment.
Overall, "Saturday" is a song about the conflicting emotions that come with being in love. There is a sense of longing and yearning in the verses that is balanced out by the hopeful anticipation of the chorus. It is a song that captures the joy and uncertainty of being in a relationship, and the complexity of emotions that can come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
You are a car
You're a vehicle that takes me places, you drive me.
You are a hospital
You’re a place of safety and care, you nurture me.
I'd walk to hell and back
I'm willing to go through the worst of the worst, just to see a smile on your face.
To see your smile
I love your smile because it makes me happy.
On Saturday
Specifically on a Saturday, a day where we can be free and happy.
You are a star
You’re a shining beacon of light; you bring happiness.
You are a sea of air
You’re all around me, and your presence is felt.
I play great keyboards
I make beautiful music on my piano.
Of horses' teeth
I use horse's teeth to create my keyboards or to add a new level of interest.
I'd like to tell you
I want to express my feelings to you.
How I feel
I have emotions for you.
I'll probably keep it
I might hold back and not tell you at all.
'Til Saturday
Perhaps I’ll wait till the day we’re both relaxed (Saturday)
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK LINKOUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@leemiera84
You are a car
You are a hospital
I'd walk to hell and back
To see you smile
On Saturday
You are a star
You are a sea of air
I play great keyboards
Of horses' teeth
On Saturday
On Saturday
I'd like to tell you
How I feel
I'll probably keep it
'til Saturday
Oh Saturday, Saturday
Oh Saturday, Saturday
Oh Saturday, Saturday
Oh Saturday, Saturday
Oh Saturday, Saturday
@DanielSmith-up7te
My 15yo daughter Holly was once my little baby, born on a Saturday, I sang this to her till she was old enough to tell me enough, my baby, our song. So lucky to see Sparklehorse in Liverpool 2006.
@simondavis4997
I’ll always treasure the memory of Mark handing me a bunch of flowers at the end of a gig.. and it was on a Saturday..
@MephistoWaits
He took his life on a Saturday. It makes this song all the more beautiful and poignant. RIP Mark, we will always have your music.
@joeymcgee2963
Do you know what this song is about, or should I say who? It was about the nurse who spent so much of her time with him when he overdosed....coincidentally that nurse saved his life on a Saturday as well. Hince the title of the song. Then as you said, he took his life on a Saturday as well...
@pabloisusi6097
@@joeymcgee2963 the best day of the week. I was thinking about saturday morning...playing with my kids...best moment of the week. I was thinking about this song...God Bless You Mark
@samuelclemens8361
@@joeymcgee2963
Out of curiosity, how do you know that?
I think your story is fascinating so I wanted to find out more about it. I literally just spent an hour looking for anything at all online that might confirm what you are talking about regarding what this song is about and I haven't been able to find a single thing. I mean, I hope that you are right, but I just need some kind of confirmation before I go on repeating that story about thus song and the nurse. Could you please elaborate on where I could find an official account of it?
@zetetick395
Saturday is also named after Saturnalia - A festival day in honour of the Roman God Saturn (who later had a planet named after Him) a day (somewhat like Christmas) of giving presents / eating with each other - and importantly where all fixed social hierarchies were erased before God (Saturn) and everyone became equals, on 'Saturday'
- Also the word the Saturnine, which means to feel gloomy & as heavy as raw lead.
- There's a great deal of this kinda referential word-play in all of Mark's lyrics.
@xlrious1
this album helped me a lot with me depression issues and when i heard good morning spider i was just side swiped. and through that i got into daniel johnston and that made me want to record my music that i wrote...and then i came back to mark and sparklehorse to regain influence and musical direction. i got a band together and started playing...i was taken off depression meds and gained a girlfriend....mark, man.
@loach-
that's beautiful
@apeirofobia
God, Mark would have been so happy to know this