Wilson is self-taught as a producer, audio engineer, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter. Under his own name, he has released the albums Insurgentes (2008), Grace for Drowning (2011), The Raven That Refused to Sing (and Other Stories) (2013), Hand. Cannot. Erase. (2015), To the Bone (2017), and The Future Bites (2021). He also released a EP, 4 ½ (2016), as well as a series of singles titled Cover Version (released online between 2003 and 2010; released worldwide as a compilation in 2014). His other solo projects can also be found attributed to monikers of his, such as Bass Communion and Incredible Expanding Mindfuck.
He is perhaps best known as the frontman for progressive rock band, Porcupine Tree, for whom he was the sole member during the 1980s and early 1990s. His projects are numerous however, including collaboration with Aviv Geffen as Blackfield; a long-running partnership with Tim Bowness, known as No-Man; teaming up with Dirk Serries in Continuum; as well as a joint album with Opeth's frontman, Mikael Åkerfeldt in Storm Corrosion.
Wilson employs synthesizers and programmed music along with live instruments to create a unique atmosphere for each song he works on, including otherwise-simple pop tunes. In addition to his prolific musical output, Steven has crafted a reputation for the high production quality of his music, and has undertaken production duties with such high-profile artists as Opeth, Dream Theater, Jim Matheos of Fates Warning, Anathema, Orphaned Land, Marillion, Fish, Pendulum, Yoko Ono, and friend Robert Fripp. He is also part way through remixing the albums of King Crimson and other classic artists' back catalogues into surround sound and new stereo mixes.
Luminol
Steven Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born into a struggle
To come so far
But end up returning to dust
Oxfam panache tips his hat
(Laces undone)
He has no truck with idle chat
The songs he learned from scratched LP's
Stops in mid-flow to sip his tea
He strums the chords with less than grace
(Songs we all know)
Each passing year etched on his face
(Sun, rain or snow)
The words he sings are not his own
They speak of things he'll never know
In Steven Wilson's song Luminol, the lyrics speak about the universal struggle of life. We are all born into this world with a struggle, and although we strive to come so far, in the end, we are destined to return to dust. This can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. The lyrics seem to suggest that no matter how much we may try to avoid it, death is inevitable, and we must all face it. The aching tone of the song highlights the beauty and sadness of this life cycle, and how we all try to make the most of our lives knowing that they are finite.
The verses detail the mundane routine of a man who is committed to his work, and his unperturbed manner is possibly a way of accepting the inevitability of death. The mention of him sipping tea indicates his calm demeanor, in direct contrast to the urgency of the task at hand. The lyrics also suggest that he may be aging, as the years pass and are etched on his face. The songs he plays have been passed down to him, and they speak of things he may never experience. This can be interpreted as the fleeting nature of life, in that we often learn from the experiences of the ones before us.
Overall, Steven Wilson's song Luminol is a poignant and melancholic exploration of life, death, and the struggles we all face in between. The lyrics highlight the beauty of routine, the inevitability of death, and the idea that we are all part of a larger cycle of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Here we all are
We are all present, existing
Born into a struggle
We enter this world facing difficulties
To come so far
Despite challenges faced, we have progressed a great deal
But end up returning to dust
After everything, we eventually die and are forgotten
Oxfam panache tips his hat
The character 'Oxfam panache' is greeting someone by nodding his head
(Laces undone)
Note that the character has his shoelaces untied
He has no truck with idle chat
Oxfam panache ignores small talk and engages in meaningful activities
(Work to be done)
There is important work that demands his attention
The songs he learned from scratched LP's
He learned to play music from worn out vinyl records
Stops in mid-flow to sip his tea
He interrupts his music-playing temporarily to have a drink
He strums the chords with less than grace
His style of playing is not very smooth
(Songs we all know)
He is playing well-known songs
Each passing year etched on his face
His face shows the wear and tear of aging
(Sun, rain or snow)
Regardless of the weather, he continues to do what he loves
The words he sings are not his own
He is playing music that was written by someone else
They speak of things he'll never know
The lyrics of the songs he's singing are about experiences he's never had
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Steven John Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind