In 2003, Darone turned his focus on songwriting, and Suit of Lights was born. Collaborating with Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle), Steve Pedulla (Thursday), and Jamie Egan (Streetlight Manifesto), Darone released four critically-acclaimed albums under the Suit of Lights moniker.
Darone draws upon an eclectic range of influences including Art-rock, 60's pop, punk, new wave, metal, and baroque pop in the over 50 songs he has written.
Named after the traditional bullfighting costume (Traje de Luces), Darone considers Suit of Lights as a metaphor for life's juxtaposition of beauty and brutality and reflects that worldview in the music.
Goodbye Sick City
Suit of Lights Lyrics
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no more theatres standing downtown
gone are the mills, what a pity
the first planned industrial city
was there pride in labor
was there flood and fire
dreams we weave don't last forever
a time before the malls went up
down by the falls
it's like it wasn't ever here at all
do you recall
a time before the malls went up
down by the falls
it's like it wasn't ever here at all
'the morning call' won't show up
on newsstands
alexander hamilton's hotel is
housing for homeless
the ghosts in trolleys off to neverland
call for william
if you did not see the damage done
well you're just too young
and gone is poor old silk city
calling william paterson
paterson
gone the land of lenape
if you did not see the damage done
well you're just too young
and gone is poor old silk city
calling william paterson
paterson
gone the land of lenape
The lyrics to the Suit of Lights song "Goodbye Sick City" are a nostalgic eulogy to the city of Paterson, New Jersey. The song laments the downfall and decay of what was once a great city, with majestic theaters that have now gone to shambles and no mills remaining. The song describes Paterson as the first planned industrial city, but now it has lost its pride in labor and the dreams that were once woven for its future have faded away. The song asks if the listener remembers a time before the malls were built and the city was bustling with life, especially at the falls. However, now it seems like that time never existed at all.
The lyrics go on to detail how the city has changed. The morning newsstand call no longer shows up, Alexander Hamilton's hotel is now a shelter for homeless people, and the ghosts in trolleys are off to neverland, calling for William. The song references the damage done to the city, but acknowledges that only those who lived through the city's glory days would know how bad it has really become. The city is gone, with only the memory of the land of the Lenape people and a call to William Paterson remaining.
In summary, "Goodbye Sick City" tells the story of a city that was once great but has now fallen into ruin. It highlights the memories and nostalgia of a bygone era, where the city flourished, but now it is just a shadow of its former self.
Line by Line Meaning
once majestic, now in shambles
This city was once magnificent, but now it is ruined.
no more theatres standing downtown
The city lost its theaters that were once located in the downtown area.
gone are the mills, what a pity
The mills that were the backbone of the city's industries no longer exist, and it is regrettable.
the first planned industrial city
This city was one of the first to be planned specifically for industrialization.
was there pride in labor
Did the citizens here once take pride in their work?
was there flood and fire
Has this city experienced disastrous flood and fire?
dreams we weave don't last forever
The aspirations we have for the future, regarding city and our life's direction, tend not to last long.
do you recall
Do you remember a time?
a time before the malls went up
Do you remember a time before shopping centers dominated our cities?
down by the falls
By the waterfall.
it's like it wasn't ever here at all
It feels like that time never existed.
'the morning call' won't show up
The local newspaper 'The Morning Call' is no longer in circulation.
on newsstands
In the stands where newspapers are sold.
alexander hamilton's hotel is
The hotel named after Alexander Hamilton.
housing for homeless
Now serves as a shelter for the homeless.
the ghosts in trolleys off to neverland
The spirits of people who used to use the trolleys in this city have gone to another world.
call for william
Summoning William.
if you did not see the damage done
If you are not old enough to have witnessed the downfall of this city caused by changes in the economy or urban development.
well you're just too young
You are probably too young to have seen it for yourself.
and gone is poor old silk city
Silk City, the former nickname of this city, is now gone and will never return.
calling william paterson
Calling William Paterson University located in the same city.
gone the land of lenape
The land once belonged to the Lenape people and has now been taken away by colonialism.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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