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
Shade and Honey
Sparklehorse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a thousand years
It's like a civil war
Of pain and of cheer
But if you was a horse
I could help you with your chains
I could ride you through the fields
By your fiery mane
And float upon the lakes
Where the sun will be
Made of honey
I grab diamonds, write you a poem
Cause no one here can save you
She's returning to the Earth
But one day she'll be silver
Stars are dying in my chest
Till I see you again
She was born with the wings of a hawk
Where she combs her hair with blood
May your shade be sweet
And float upon the lakes
Where the sun will be
Made of honey
May your shade be sweet
And float upon the lakes
Where the sun will be
Made of honey
May your shade be sweet
May your shade be sweet
And float upon the lakes
May your shade be sweet
The lyrics to Sparklehorse's "Shade and Honey" presents a juxtaposition of emotions that is both beautiful and painful. The opening lines "I could look in your face for a thousand years, it's like a civil war of pain and of cheer" indicate the complexity and depth of human emotion. The singer is torn between feelings of pain and happiness that are often conflicting. The line "But if you was a horse, I could help you with your chains, I could ride you through the fields by your fiery mane" speaks of the desire to be able to offer solace and comfort to someone in pain. The imagery of riding a horse through the fields symbolizes a sense of freedom and escape, which the singer wishes to provide.
The lines "She's returning to the Earth, but one day she'll be silver" speak of the inevitability of death but also of the hope of something beyond it. The use of the imagery of "silver" suggests that there is something precious and valuable even in the afterlife. The lines "Stars are dying in my chest till I see you again" express the pain and longing of separation from someone dear. The final lines "May your shade be sweet and float upon the lakes where the sun will be made of honey" evoke a sense of comfort and beauty, suggesting that even in death, there is something sweet and serene.
Line by Line Meaning
I could look in your face
I have the ability to look into your eyes and see your soul
For a thousand years
For an eternity and beyond
It's like a civil war
Your countenance is a conflicted mix of emotions – both pain and joy
Of pain and of cheer
A battle between feelings of hurt and happiness
But if you were a horse
I am not referring to a human, but instead to an animal that could be easier to help
I could help you with your chains
If you were held captive, as a horse could be, I would assist in releasing you from bondage
I could ride you through the fields
I would free you from your suffering and ride with you through beautiful countryside
By your fiery mane
I will hold onto your hair as we journey together
May your shade be sweet
I wish for your presence to be peaceful and calming
And float upon the lakes
May your essence calmly and serenely sit upon bodies of water
Where the sun will be
In a place that is radiant and luminous
Made of honey
A place that is sweet, like honey
I grab diamonds, write you a poem
Even though you may feel that you are alone and that no one can help you, I will still search for beautiful and valuable things to show you how much I care
Cause no one here can save you
Even though many may try, no one can truly free you from your pain and suffering
She's returning to the Earth
Someone I care for deeply is passing away and will soon return to the ground
But one day she'll be silver
Even though she is gone, her memory will shine like silver in my heart and mind
Stars are dying in my chest
I am filled with intense emotion and pain at my loss
Till I see you again
Until the day we can reunite once again
She was born with the wings of a hawk
The person I care for was strong and independent like a hawk
Where she combs her hair with blood
Even though her life was not easy, she still found beauty in the struggle
May your shade be sweet
Once again, I wish for your presence to bring peace and comfort
And float upon the lakes
May your essence calm and soothe even as it sits atop the water
Where the sun will be
In a beautiful and radiant place
Made of honey
Where the sweetness of life lingers on even in death
May your shade be sweet
Once again, a heartfelt wish for your peaceful presence
May your shade be sweet
And again, my hope for a calm and comforting remembrance
And float upon the lakes
May your essence be able to find serenity, even in the midst of loss
May your shade be sweet
Once more, my humble prayer that your essence may find peace
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK LINKOUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Türk
I could look in your face
For a thousand years
It's like a civil war
Of pain and of cheer
But if you was a horse
I could help you with your chains
I could ride you through the fields
By your fiery mane
May your shade be sweet
And float upon the lakes
Where the sun will be
Made of honey
I'll cry diamonds while you burn
'Cause no one here can save you
She's returning to the earth
But one day she'll be silver
Stars are dying in my chest
Until I see you again
She was born with the wings of a hawk
Now she combs her hair with blood
May your shade be sweet
And float upon the lakes
Where the sun will be
Made of honey
angel summers
Just heard this song for the first time. I fell in love and just found it here on youtube! Its a beautiful captivating song! May your shade be sweet! And Float upon the lakes where the sun will be made of honey! ☀️
Peter Türk
I could look in your face
For a thousand years
It's like a civil war
Of pain and of cheer
But if you was a horse
I could help you with your chains
I could ride you through the fields
By your fiery mane
May your shade be sweet
And float upon the lakes
Where the sun will be
Made of honey
I'll cry diamonds while you burn
'Cause no one here can save you
She's returning to the earth
But one day she'll be silver
Stars are dying in my chest
Until I see you again
She was born with the wings of a hawk
Now she combs her hair with blood
May your shade be sweet
And float upon the lakes
Where the sun will be
Made of honey
𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐥𝐞 7𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬
Essa canção se torna ainda mais dramática e melancólica, depois de saber que seu compositor faleceu. Miss you, Mark.
Darrell Gaddis
This song is a blanket of comfort. So good
Will Lindsay
I have been listening to sparklehorse for 15 years. It's some of the most beautiful and emotional music i have come across in that time.
MegamanX6123
It's been a long time since I last heard this melody, but still as sweet as honey
Roci
i was listening this at highschool lol, i'm 27 now and must admit it still sounds nice
Pedro Maranhão
same, but happens to sounds even better nowadays
Bobby Atkins
first time I heard this song I fell in love with it gives good. vibes.
MaybeWeAintUs
Such a hauntingly beautiful song. Didn't realize the artist has passed on.......sad.