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
Wish You Were Here
Sparklehorse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blue skies from pain
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail
A smile from a veil
Do you think you can tell
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts
Hot ashes for trees
Cold comfort for change
And did you exchange a walk-on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage
How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground
What have we found
The same old fears
Wish you were here
The lyrics in Sparklehorse's rendition of Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here are quite poignant, and can be interpreted as a commentary on the struggles of modern society. The opening lines question whether one can distinguish between heaven and hell or between joy and pain. The following lines suggest that even more basic distinctions have become muddled or lost, like telling the difference between a natural green field and a cold metal rail, or between a genuine smile and a deceptive veil. This poses the idea that things are not as clear-cut as they once were, that the lines between good and bad have been blurred by societal norms, and that we are left with a sense of confusion and emotional detachment.
The second verse seems to address the idea of trading one's self for the false promises of society. The use of the term "heroes" could refer to ideals or values that one holds dear and could have once fought for. It then states that one has had to give up those "heroes" in exchange for "ghosts", or empty representations that only appear to be fulfilling. The last few lines of this verse further reinforce this idea of false exchange and the cost of change, suggesting that the exchange may have left the individual trapped with little choice, like a "lead role in a cage".
Overall, the song is a wistful and mournful tribute to the struggles of modern humanity, particularly the sacrifices made in the pursuit of society's ideals. It is a reminder that amidst all the hustle and bustle of life, it is the simple joys of being with loved ones that matter the most.
Line by Line Meaning
So, so you think you can tell heaven from hell
Are you confident in distinguishing between good and bad?
Blue skies from pain
Can you tell the difference between happiness and sadness?
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail
Can you discern between something natural and something man-made?
A smile from a veil
Can you see through someone's pretense?
Do you think you can tell
Are you sure you're able to distinguish these things?
And did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts
Were you convinced to abandon your role models for something insubstantial?
Hot ashes for trees
Did you give up something valuable for something meaningless?
Hot air for a cool breeze
Did you settle for something mediocre instead of something refreshing and invigorating?
Cold comfort for change
Did you choose safe and familiar over challenging and transformative?
And did you exchange a walk-on part in the war
Did you give up a small and insignificant part in a larger struggle?
For a lead role in a cage
In exchange for a more visible position, did you give up your freedom?
How I wish, how I wish you were here
I really miss you and wish you were with me.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
We feel directionless and trapped, like we're confined in a small space.
Year after year
This feeling has persisted for a long time.
Running over the same old ground
We seem unable to break free from our routine and are stuck in a monotonous cycle.
What have we found
Despite all this repetition, we still haven't discovered anything new or significant.
The same old fears
Our anxieties and concerns remain unchanged.
Wish you were here
Once again, I really miss you and wish you were here with me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Gilmour, Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind