The band has released five studio albums: "Brave Worlds" (1987), "Submarine Bells" (1990), "Soft Bomb" (1992), "Sunburnt" (1996), "Silver Bullets" (2015) and "Snow Bound" (2018). The compilation "Kaleidoscope World" (1986) collects most of their single releases and EPs between 1980 and 1986.
The band is best known as apart of the Dunedin Sound style of indie pop music, which coalesced around the Auckland-based label Flying Nun Records. The band originally formed with the lineup of Martin Phillips (vocals, guitar), his sister Rachel Phillips (keyboards), Peter Gutteridge (guitar), Jane Dodd (bass) and Alan Haig (drums). By the time the band released their debut single "Rolling Moon" in 1982, the lineup had changed to Martin Phillips, Rachel Phillips, Terry Moore (bass), and Martyn Bull. The band disbanded when Bull died of leukemia in 1983.
After Martin Phillips reformed The Chills in 1984, the band never again had a constant lineup, with the only two members to last for more than two albums being bassist Justin Harwood and keyboardist Andrew Todd, who were both members of the group from 1986 to 1990. Terry Moore also rejoined the band sporadically between 1984 and 1992. The Chills disbanded in 1993, but reformed once more in 1995. Since then the band has sporadically toured and recorded.
Part Past Part Fiction
The Chills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bands in backgrounds always play
Their phoney lonely cacaphony
It didnt have to be this way
Some place alone, yeah yeah
And no one known, yeah yeah
So far from home here, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
I really didn't choose to leave you
To tear myself away so long
To travel and unravel all the fabric we'd sewn
So now something's wrong
And the world we used to know has gone
Some place alone, yeah yeah
And no one known, yeah yeah
So far from home here, yeah yeah
Years of awkward confrontation
I'd like to set your mind at ease
But stuck here in these muddled ages
I find the words won't please
Where could we dwell
Within our past alive and well
Escape from all that's hard to bear
To where the child that you were creeps near, without fear
Scary things aren't always clear
To hide in fiction and nostalgia can be eerie too
You cannot drive and stare rearview
Oohh oohhh, ooohh
Some place alone, yeah yeah
And no one known, yeah yeah
So far from home here, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
imsite
The lyrics of "Part Past Part Fiction" by The Chills convey a feeling of nostalgia, regret, and sadness. The song starts with the singer sitting in a foreign place while music plays in the background. The music seems phony to him, and he wishes things could be different. He feels alone, unknown, and far away from home.
The singer then admits that he didn't choose to leave someone behind but had to tear himself away from them to travel and unravel the fabric they had sewn together. He realizes that something is not right, and the world they knew has changed. The second verse talks about years of awkward confrontations and the singer's desire to set the other person's mind at ease. But he finds that the words won't please them, and he's stuck in a confusing time where he can't find a way to heal their relationship.
In the last verse, the singer wonders where they can find solace from their troubled past. He suggests that they escape from reality and go back to the time when they were children, free from fear and worries. However, he acknowledges that it's not easy to hide in nostalgia and fiction and that looking back while moving forward can be scary.
Overall, "Part Past Part Fiction" is a bittersweet reflection on the past, present, and future, and the complicated emotions that come with lost love and missed opportunities.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in a foreign setting
I am sitting in an unfamiliar place.
Bands in backgrounds always play
There are always bands playing in the background.
Their phoney lonely cacophony
Their music is artificial and lonely.
It didn't have to be this way
The situation could have been different.
Some place alone, yeah yeah
I am alone in a place without anyone I know.
And no one known, yeah yeah
There is no one I know.
So far from home here, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
I am far away from my home.
I really didn't choose to leave you
I did not choose to leave you behind.
To tear myself away so long
I had to leave for a long time.
To travel and unravel all the fabric we'd sewn
I had to travel and undo everything we had built.
So now something's wrong
Something is not right.
And the world we used to know has gone
The world we used to know has changed or disappeared.
Years of awkward confrontation
We have had many uncomfortable conversations.
I'd like to set your mind at ease
I want to calm your worries.
But stuck here in these muddled ages
I am stuck in this confusing time.
I find the words won't please
I cannot find the right words to make you happy.
Where could we dwell
Where could we live together?
Within our past alive and well
In a time when our past was strong and healthy.
Escape from all that's hard to bear
Run away from everything that is difficult to deal with.
To where the child that you were creeps near, without fear
To a place where you can remember your childhood without being afraid.
Scary things aren't always clear
Things that are scary are not always obvious.
To hide in fiction and nostalgia can be eerie too
Escaping into fiction or nostalgia can also be unsettling.
You cannot drive and stare rearview
You cannot move forward while constantly looking back.
Some place alone, yeah yeah
I am still alone in an unfamiliar place.
And no one known, yeah yeah
I still do not know anyone here.
So far from home here, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
I am still far away from home.
Contributed by Micah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
VenomousSixx
the fact that some people appreciate this music restores my faith in humanity
johnny escalera
Why their 10 dislike should this song be great?
Jake Waller
That really smooth solo in the middle is amazing! So fast and tight
captainfutility1
melts me every time
Tim Roberts
one of the best recorded pieces of music ever.
Jan Ev
The writing in this song is exquisite
Linda Lucas
omg. I never tire playing this over and over. My CD (I'm staying old school) has worn the f out, so I look forward to having another when $ are available
captainfutility1
old school haha :)
ELXOSE80
Thanks for sharing this outstanding song.
**10**/Fav
Keiko Ito
Absolutely perfect.