In the early '70s, Television began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973 in New York City, New York, the group reunited under the name Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. Television was the first punk/new wave bands to play at CBGB. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, "Hey Joe"/"Piss Factory," as well as wrote a book of poetry with the singer.
Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo tape, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded "Little Johnny Jewel," releasing it on their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album.
Marquee Moon, the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 single "Prove It." Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't increase the group's following significantly.
Television released their second album, Adventure, in the spring of 1978. While its American sales were better than those of Marquee Moon, the record didn't make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. Smith rejoined Blondie, while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album Girlfriend.
Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, recording a new, self titled album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began its comeback with a performance at England's Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing Television a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived — the group disbanded again in early 1993. In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago.
Shane She Wrote This
Television Lyrics
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Shane
I want to know
Sisters rejoice in a B-minor chord,
With wildly impassioned delight
Rapture is mine now as I behold
All turning holy and bright
So bright.
Why do I not hear my name?
She gives me all the love
Maybe I don't understand.
Shane
I want to know.
By light celestial
Sweet burning sweet burning sweet
Blest now am I to be taken alive
A wonder complete
Complete.
She gives me all the love
Why do I not hear my name?
She gives me all the love
Maybe I don't understand.
Shane
Sisters
With wildly impassioned delight
Rapture is mine now as I behold
All turning holy and bright
So bright.
She gives me all the love
Why do I not hear my name?
She gives me all the love
Maybe I don't understand.
Shane
I want to know.
I want to know.
I want to know.
I want to know.
I want to know.
I want to know.
The song "Shane She Wrote This" by band Television is a cryptic and enigmatic piece that features lyrics which can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Throughout the song, the singer, who is believed to be the band's frontman Tom Verlaine, seems to be yearning for something that is just out of reach. He repeatedly mentions a woman named Shane and expresses his desire to know her, suggesting that he may be infatuated with her. The lyrics are written in a dream-like, almost surreal style, giving them an otherworldly feel.
The song's chorus is particularly notable, with the repeated phrase "She gives me all the love, Why do I not hear my name?" suggesting a feeling of being lost or adrift. This is echoed in the repeated repetition of the line "I want to know," which seems to indicate a sense of longing for something that is not yet known.
The lyrics also contain a number of religious and spiritual references, including mentions of sisters rejoicing in a B-minor chord, light celestial, and the concept of being taken alive. These references add to the overall mystical and transcendent feel of the song.
Overall, the lyrics to "Shane She Wrote This" are open to interpretation and can be read in a variety of different ways, depending on the listener's perspective.
Line by Line Meaning
(Verlaine)
Introduction to the song, referencing the musician Tom Verlaine.
Shane
Addressing a person named Shane, likely the subject of the song.
I want to know
Expressing a desire to gain knowledge or understanding about a particular topic.
Sisters rejoice in a B-minor chord,
Describing a musical scene where multiple people are playing a specific chord on instruments.
With wildly impassioned delight
Showing that the musicians are playing with strong, emotional expression.
Rapture is mine now as I behold
Expressing a feeling of intense joy or ecstasy upon witnessing this musical scene.
All turning holy and bright
Describing a sense of spiritual purity or enlightenment that is being felt in this moment.
So bright.
Reiterating the bright and transcendent nature of the experience being described.
She gives me all the love
Referencing a woman who is giving the singer a great deal of affection or attention.
Why do I not hear my name?
Expressing confusion about why the woman isn't saying the singer's name in the midst of all this attention.
Maybe I don't understand.
Acknowledging a personal lack of comprehension about the situation with the woman giving affection.
By light celestial
Describing an experience of divine illumination or otherworldly energy.
Sweet burning sweet burning sweet
Describing an intense and pleasurable sensation with repeated words.
Blest now am I to be taken alive
Feeling incredibly fortunate or blessed to be alive in this moment of transcendent experience.
A wonder complete
Referencing the completeness of the experience of spiritual transcendence or enlightenment.
Shane
Addressing Shane, the person mentioned earlier in the song.
Sisters
Referring again to the group of musicians, likely all women due to the use of the word 'sisters.'
With wildly impassioned delight
Reiterating the intense and emotional nature of the musical experience.
Rapture is mine now as I behold
Feeling a sense of transcendence and bliss once again as the song repeats its themes.
All turning holy and bright
Describing the transformative and spiritual nature of this musical experience once again.
So bright.
Closing the song with the same emphasis on brightness and spiritual transcendence seen throughout.
I want to know.
Repeating the earlier statement about seeking knowledge or understanding as a closing refrain.
I want to know.
Repeating the desire for understanding once again.
I want to know.
Closing the song with a final statement about seeking knowledge or understanding of the elusive experiences described in the lyrics.
Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.