In 1981, a fan of the Clean founded the Flying Nun label to release their first single, "Tally Ho." A follow-up track off one of their early EPs, "Beatnik", also achieved success, as did the second single, "Getting Older". The Flying Nun label went on to be New Zealand's biggest independent record company, championing the Dunedin Sound, a loosely-connected style of music largely produced by bands from this southern city. Others on the label included The Chills, The Verlaines, The Bats, and Sneaky Feelings.
During much of the 1980s, The Clean disbanded, and during this time the Kilgour brothers worked together on an experimental album and EP using the deliberately punning titles "The Great Unwashed" and "Clean Out of Our Minds". Reforming in the late 1980s, the band explored a slightly poppier vein of music while still retaining their experimental edge.
In June 2008 a live album recorded during the 2007 New Zealand tour was released in New Zealand on Arch Hill Records, entitled "Mashed". A new studio album, titled Mister Pop was released on September 7, 2009 on Arch Hill, and on September 8 in the United States on the Merge label.
In December 2009, The Clean announced their first European dates in more than 20 years, supporting the cult U.S band Pavement at Brixton Academy on the 10th of May. They also played at the Pavement curated ATP at Butlins Minehead on the 14th of May. Other dates on the tour included Amsterdam (May 22), Hamburg (May 23), Berlin (May 25) and Barcelona's Primavera Sound festival May 29).
Sad Eyed Lady
The Clean Lyrics
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sits on the edge of town
The sad eyed lady
smiles on the edge of town
One o'clock
and two o'clock
And some more
The sad eyed lady
sits on the edge of town
The sad eyed lady
smiles on the edge of town
It's time to go
It's time to go
"The Clean's" song "Sad Eyed Lady" is a melancholic ballad that seems to be sung from the perspective of someone who is observing a lonely woman who is a little lost, dejected, and detached from the rest of the world. The woman referred to as the sad-eyed lady appears to be sitting at the edge of the town. The singer notes that she's smiling, but the smile seems forced and unnatural, perhaps a disguise to mask her underlying sadness. Then, the singer notes the time passing by, indicating that the sad-eyed lady has been there for a while.
As the song progresses, the singer repeats the same words about the sad-eyed lady sitting on the edge of town and smiling on the edge of town. The repetition of these lines is a way of emphasizing the woman's isolation. In the final section of the song, the singer notes that it's time to go, perhaps indicating that the sad-eyed lady has been there for too long, and that it's time for her to go back home or wherever else she might need to be.
Overall, "Sad Eyed Lady" is a poignant and meditative narrative about a lonely woman who seems to be struggling with some personal issues. The song's melancholic tone and repetition of certain phrases add to its haunting quality, making it a deeply moving piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
The sad eyed lady sits on the edge of town
A woman who appears gloomy and sorrowful is positioned on the outskirts of civilization.
The sad eyed lady smiles on the edge of town
Despite her melancholic appearance, the lady on the town's margin still manages to exude a sense of joy.
One o'clock
The first hour of the afternoon has arrived.
and two o'clock
The second hour of the afternoon has arrived.
And some more
Additional time has passed, but it is unspecified how much.
some more
More time has passed that is still ambiguous.
It's time to go
The moment to leave has arrived.
It's time to go
The situation is compelling somebody to move on from their current location.
Contributed by Christopher T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.