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.
The Fire
Television Lyrics
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Your hands they were folded you knew no demands
My tongue, it clattered like tin, my eyes repeat they take my seat
Your eyes they say you resigned from the heat
We leaned in the cold, holding our breath, watching the corners turn corners
Coins on the table, the cards in the air, the face at the window kept smiling
Storms all that winter we stayed locked away
End of the street, horizon retreats
You ran with it I wish I could
Sleep is not sleep my eyes repeat
You take the voltage that watches you weep
You caught the voice I listen close
All I heard was the echoes
Praise emptiness
Her rose-colored dress
Her circling motions
Praise emptiness
Everything scattered, nothing was missed
We took our house in the fire
The song "The Fire" by Television is a poetic depiction of a tumultuous relationship or perhaps a metaphor for a particular time period. The opening lines "Storms all that summer we lived in the wind, out in some room in the wind" paints a picture of a couple living through a chaotic and shifting time in their lives. The use of the imagery of storms and the wind creates a sense of instability and change. The following line, "Your hands they were folded you knew no demands" suggests that one person in the relationship is resigned to their circumstances and has given up making demands or trying to control the situation.
The lyrics continue with the singer speaking about their own insecurities and nervousness, describing their tongue clattering like tin and repeating that their eyes take their seat. Meanwhile, the other person in the relationship resigns themselves to the situation and leans into the cold. The second verse moves forward in time to describe a winter where they remained locked away, watching and waiting for something to happen. The singer wishes they could run with it, but is stuck and unable to move forward.
The chorus seems to suggest a sort of acceptance or even celebration of emptiness or nothingness. The lines "Praise emptiness, her rose-colored dress, her circling motions" are enigmatic and could have multiple interpretations. It might suggest that there is beauty in nothingness or that the circle of life is ultimately empty. The final line "We took out house in the fire" could suggest that the couple has learned to live within the chaos and instability that once caused them so much difficulty.
Overall, "The Fire" is a dreamy and poetic song that seems to describe a particular period in time or a particular relationship. It leaves a lot up to interpretation and allows the listener to make their own meaning out of the imagery and emotions expressed.
* The song was released on Television's album "Adventure" in 1978.
* The band was influential in the development of punk rock but sound more like a precursor to post-punk due to their complex arrangements and songwriting.
* The band members were initially part of the New York punk scene that included bands like the Ramones, Blondie, and Talking Heads.
* The song was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, which was founded by Jimi Hendrix.
* Singer/guitarist Tom Verlaine wrote the song, as well as most of the band's material.
* Verlaine has said that the song was inspired by the poet Arthur Rimbaud, whom Verlaine had a persistent fascination with throughout his life.
* The album "Adventure" was produced by John Jansen, who had previously worked with David Bowie and the Rolling Stones.
* The cover art for the album features a photograph of a bed with two different sheets on it, which was taken by fashion photographer Helmut Newton.
* Television disbanded in 1978 but reunited in 1992 and have continued to play occasional shows ever since.
* The band members have been cited as influences on bands like R.E.M., Sonic Youth, and the Strokes.
Chords:
Verse: F#m D E D
Chorus: A D E D E D E D
Line by Line Meaning
Storms all that summer we lived in the wind, out in some room in the wind
We went through many difficulties during that summer and we were living in a place where everything was exposed to the elements
Your hands they were folded you knew no demands
You had no expectations or requirements, you were content with what was given to you.
My tongue, it clattered like tin, my eyes repeat they take my seat
I was nervous and kept stuttering while my eyes kept looking for a place to rest
Your eyes they say you resigned from the heat
Your tired expression indicated that you had given up trying to escape from the oppressive situation
We leaned in the cold, holding our breath, watching the corners turn corners
We were tense and anxious, waiting for something to happen
Coins on the table, the cards in the air, the face at the window kept smiling
Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there was someone outside who was happy and contented.
Storms all that winter we stayed locked away
Like the previous summer, we faced many difficulties, so we decided to stay indoors.
Waiting, watching falling
We were waiting and observing something falling.
End of the street, horizon retreats
We were at the end of a street, and the horizon appeared to move further away from us.
You ran with it I wish I could
You were able to move on from the situation, but I was not able to do the same.
Sleep is not sleep my eyes repeat
My sleep is disturbed, and I keep waking up
You take the voltage that watches you weep
You take the pain and the emotion and use it to become stronger
You caught the voice I listen close, All I heard was the echoes
You were able to hear and understand someone's message clearly, while I was not able to do the same and only heard the repeated echoes of their words.
Praise emptiness, Her rose-colored dress, Her circling motions
Despite appearances, emptiness and sadness are present, indicated by her melancholy movements and the color of her dress
Praise emptiness, Everything scattered, nothing was missed
Despite the scattered and disjointed nature of things, nothing important or valuable was lost.
We took our house in the fire
We faced difficulty and pain head-on, but were able to come out the other side still standing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM VERLAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind