Classed as a Britpop band, given that their appearance and initial huge success with songs such as Slight Return coincided synchronously with the Britpop explosion, their debut record Expecting To Fly appeared in 1996.
As time has gone by, the band have actually become a more conventional 'indie' band - whilst notching up hits such as Marblehead Johnson, If... and Keep the Home Fires Burning they have struggled to replicate the success of their debut. After seven singles reaching the UK Top 20 in total, they are now well out of the public eye, but unlike almost all of the fellow 'Britpop' bands, they continue to release new material and tour.
Following two further albums on major, A&M/Universal (1998's Return to the Last Chance Saloon and 2000's Science & Nature), they signed to the big indie, Cooking Vinyl in 2003 for Luxembourg and 2006's The Bluetones.
Vocalist Mark Morriss released a solo EP under the alias Fi-Lo Beddow in 2006, which eventually bloomed into a full solo record under his real name. Memory Muscle was released in June 2008, and received a surprising amount of critical acclaim, given the music press' frosty attitude to Bluetones material. It included new versions of the songs which made up the Fi-Lo Beddow EP, and featured strings arrnaged by film score composer David Arnold.
The band released their final album, A New Athens, in 2010, and completed their farewell tour in September 2011.
It was announced on 13 April 2015 that the band was reforming for a tour and have subsequently toured on further occasions, including a headline slot on the 2017 Star Shaped Festival tour.
Solomon Bites The Worm
The Bluetones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Count all the teeth in my head
Tuesday
Anointed by a man in a dress
It's more than just a question of time
It's more a question of
Reason and rhyme
Got hiched just like a good boy should
Thursday
And Friday didn't feel so good
On Saturday I said my goodbyes
On Sunday I'm food
For the worms and the flies
Pack up your troubles now take
All you can carry
On your way
Your way
Just remember this time you know you've only got seven days
It's more than just a question of time
It's more a question of
Reason and rhyme
Pack up your troubles now take
All you can carry
On your way
Your way
Just remember this time you know you've only got seven days
The Bluetones’ song “Solomon Bites The Worm” is a contemplative track that deals with the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of death. The song presents a series of events that occur throughout the week, symbolizing the passing of time. The singer reflects on the past and future, contemplating the purpose of life and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.
From the opening line “Monday, count all the teeth in my head,” the song suggests a tone of introspection and self-awareness. Each day presents a different challenge or event in the singer’s life, from getting married to feeling unwell. The lyrics suggest that these events are trivial and routine, highlighting the mundanity of life. The singer, however, seems to seek a deeper meaning, looking for reason and rhyme in their experiences.
The chorus of the song, “Pack up your troubles now, take all you can carry, on your way, your way, just remember this time you know you've only got seven days,” reinforces the idea that life is fleeting and that one must make the most of their time. The lyrics implore the listener to take advantage of the time they have, to make the most of their lives because they only have seven days, a symbolic reference to the biblical “creation week.”
Overall, "Solomon Bites The Worm" shows that there is an underlying desire to make sense of the world and our experiences within it, even though ultimately we have a limited time in which to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
Monday
The beginning of a new week.
Count all the teeth in my head
Feeling worried and anxious.
Tuesday
The second day of the week.
Anointed by a man in a dress
Blessed by someone who seems insincere.
It's more than just a question of time
It's not just a matter of waiting.
It's more a question of Reason and rhyme
There needs to be a logical explanation.
Wednesday
The middle of the week.
Got hiched just like a good boy should
Getting married because it's expected.
Thursday
The day after Wednesday.
And Friday didn't feel so good
The week started out well but now feels awful.
On Saturday I said my goodbyes
Saying farewell to someone or something.
On Sunday I'm food For the worms and the flies
Death comes for everyone eventually.
Pack up your troubles now take All you can carry
Take what you can and try to forget about your problems.
On your way Your way
Forge your own path in life.
Just remember this time you know you've only got seven days
Life is short, make the most of it while you can.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind