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.
Routine
Steven Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With all the children's clothes?
Such tiny things
That still smell of them
And the footprints
In the hallway
Onto my knees
Scrub them away
And how to be of use?
Make the tea and the soup
All of their favorites
Throw them away
And all their schoolbooks
And the running shoes
Washing and cleaning
The dirty still sink
Routine keeps me in line
Helps me pass the time
Concentrate my mind
Helps me to sleep
And keep making beds
And keep the cat fed
Open the windows
Let the air in
And keep the house clean
And keep the routine
Paintings they make
Still stuck to the fridge
Ladadada
Ladada
Dadadada
Laladalala
Ladadada
Ladada
Dadadada
Laradala
Mother I am far from you
Left behind a dream of my youth
All these years now gone
Keep cleaning
Keep ironing
Cooking their meals
On the stainless steel hop
Keep washing
Keep scrubbing
Long until the dark comes
To bruise the sky
Deep in the debt to night
Routine keeps me in line
Helps me pass the time
Helps me to sleep
Routine keeps me in line
Helps me pass the time
Ah-ah, ah-ah
Helps me to sleep
Ah
The most beautiful morning
Forever
Like the ones from far off
Far off away
With the hum of the bees
In the jasmine sway
Don't ever let go
Try to let go
Don't ever let go
Try to let go
Don't ever
let go
Try to let go
In Steven Wilson's hauntingly beautiful song "Routine," the lyrics describe the life of a bereaved mother who has lost her children. The song's imagery conveys the mother's desperate attempt to maintain a sense of normalcy through the daily routine she has established for herself, which includes cleaning their home, making their favorite foods, and caring for their cat. The line "all their schoolbooks and the running shoes, washing and cleaning the dirty still sink" gives us insight that the children are still alive in her mind as she continues to clean and care for the possessions they used to have whilst still clinging to hope.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of routine in helping the mother cope with her grief. The lyrics "Routine keeps me in line, helps me pass the time, concentrate my mind, helps me to sleep" suggest that the routine is essential to her mental stability and emotional survival. The song's title "Routine" reinforces the idea that the mother is clinging to her established habits as a way of coping with her loss. The closing line "Don't ever let go, try to let go" is a plea for the mother to hold on, despite her pain and grief.
Line by Line Meaning
What do I do with all the children's clothes
I am left with the children's clothes after they have left me and I don't know what to do with them.
such tiny things that still smell of them
These clothes are small but they remind me of my children who have left me.
And the footprints in the hallway
The footprints remind me of the days I spent with my children and now that they're gone, this is all that I have left of them.
onto my knees scrub them away
I clean the house and scrub away everything that reminds me of my children.
And how to be of use make the tea and the soup
I try to find ways to be useful and make tea and soup for myself.
All of their favorites throw them away
I throw away all of the things that used to be my children's favorites because I can't bear to be reminded of them anymore.
And all their schoolbooks and the running shoes,
I clean away my children's schoolbooks and running shoes, as they are now useless to me.
Washing and cleaning the dirty still sink
I clean the dirty sink because I need something to do and this helps me pass the time.
Routine keeps me in line
My daily routine is the only thing that keeps me going and helps me maintain some form of sanity.
Helps me pass the time
My routine helps me to keep busy and pass the time.
Concentrate my mind
My routine helps me to focus and concentrate on the things that I need to do.
Helps me to sleep
Following my routine helps me to sleep better at night.
And keep making beds and keep the cat fed
I keep making my bed and feeding my cat as part of my daily routine.
Open the Windows let the air in
I open the windows to let in some fresh air - something that is important to me now that I'm alone.
And keep the house clean and keep the routine
I keep the house clean and continue to follow my routine every day.
Paintings they make still stuck to the fridge
I have kept the paintings that my children made which are still stuck on the fridge, serving as a reminder of the days we spent together.
Keep cleaning keep ironing
I keep cleaning and ironing as part of my routine.
Cooking their meals on the stainless steel hob
I cook meals on the stainless steel hob that used to be used by my children.
Keep washing keep scrubbing
I keep washing and scrubbing every day as part of my routine.
Long until the dark comes to bruise the sky
I continue with my routine until nightfall, which marks the end of another lonely day.
Deep in the debt to night
Now that my children are gone, I am deep in debt to the night which brings with it loneliness and darkness.
The most beautiful morning forever
I long for the most beautiful morning to be forever and never to end.
Like the ones from far off, far off away
I am reminded of the beautiful mornings from the past, which now seem far away and unattainable.
With the hum of the bees in the jasmine sway
The sounds of bees buzzing in the jasmine remind me of the happy times spent with my children.
Don't ever let go
I do not want to let go of the memories of my children as they are all I have left.
Try to let go
However, I know that I need to try and let go of my past in order to move on and find some semblance of happiness again.
Don't ever let go
But it is hard to let go of something so dear to me.
Try to let go
I know that trying to move on is a difficult but necessary process.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Steven John Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bat Rastard
LYRICS:
What do I do with all the children's clothes
such tiny things that still smell of them
And the footprints in the hallway
onto my knees scrub them away
And how to be of use make the tea and the soup
All of their favorites throw them away
And all their schoolbooks and the running shoes
Washing and cleaning the dirty still sink
Routine keeps me in line
Helps me pass the time
Concentrate my mind
Helps me to sleep
And keep making beds and keep the cat fed
Open the Windows let the air in
And keep the house clean and keep the routine
Paintings they make still stuck to the fridge
Keep cleaning keep ironing
Cooking their meals on the stainless steel hop
Keep washing keep scrubbing
Long until the dark comes to bruise the sky
Deep in the debt to night
Routine keeps me in line
Helps me pass the time
Helps me to sleep
Routine keeps me in line
Helps me pass the time
Helps me to sleep
The most beautiful morning forever
Like the ones from far off, far off away
With the hum of the bees in the jasmine sway
Don't ever let go
Try to let go
Don't ever let go
Try to let go
Don't ever
Sergiu Crișan
on 25th of December 2016, my girlfriend, her sister and their father died in a stupid car crash, the only one left is their mother, all alone, this song and video spoke to me on so many levels. It made me cry, made me smile, made think about life in a whole new way. Cherish every moment, enjoy the time spent with your dear ones, for life is extremely fragile. Bless you all
Rohan Chowdhary
Watched Drive Home?
And sorry for your loss brother. :(
zemvenusa
Sergiu Crișan This is absolutely tragic, I feel so sorry for the mother and for you, stay strong and help each other! God bless you
jose miguel bonilla tortorello
sergiu, hace poco sigo a Wilson, su lirica me hace llorar y comparto tu dolor, aunque nunca he perdido un ser querido me siento absolutamente empatico no solo con tu tragedia, sino que me duele el mundo en que vivimos. Dios te bendiga y a todos nosotros por estar vivos.....GRANDE WILSON!!!!!
Rok Zakrajšek
I appreciate you wrote this. I'm not a religious man but bless you man. Thanks for sharing and your words made me cry..Hope you're happy wherever you are right now :)
Pratik Roy
Sorry for your loss bro...hope she is fine ...
Arunava Malo
I lost my mom this year. She passed away all of a sudden while fighting with cancer. And a few days ago I found Steven Wilson's music. I have been listening to these tracks while returning home from work, or sometimes while trying to sleep. I am starting to love his songs and accept the reality that nothing or no one lasts forever. We are left with a melancholic feeling and some sweet memories. It's hard to describe what I feel now. But... I am thankful to this artist, this musician... for these anesthetic tracks. Life is neither great nor bad. We just have to cry a little and then wake up again tomorrow. And we have only love to give.
EDIT: lost my father as well this year due to COVID, 2 years after my mom passed away. I will eventually be okay. Wish much love to everyone who know what memories and teardrops mean.
Joey Tribbiani
Arunava Malo Absolutely true stay strong man!
Keith Ward
I hope you find peace my friend.
Ana Eva Rivera
I send you a big hug...