MacLean and Hornsey began collaborating musically while still in school, after MacLean saw that Hornsey had written the name of the band Felt on his pencil case. The band formed in 1991, with the current lineup along with Innes Phillips, who shared singing and songwriting duties with MacLean. The band recorded an album's worth of material but failed to get any label interest. Innes left the band (and would go on to found The Relict); the rest of the group re-formed in 1997, and they released a number of singles that were eventually collected on Suburban Light (2000). The Violet Hour (2003) was their first album proper, which again saw great acclaim, but, as yet, little commercial success. August 2005 saw the release of their second full album, Strange Geometry. Draisey joined the band in 2006 just in time for band's second tour of the States.
The band is more successful in America, where they are signed to Merge Records, home of bands such as Lambchop and Spoon, than in their native Britain.
Their music is noted for its reverb-rich production and MacLean's distinctive breathy vocals and jangly guitar playing. Their lyrics take a strong inspiration from surrealist literature and art from the early 20th century. "We Could Walk Together" quotes a line ("like a silver ring thrown into the flood of my heart") from a 1928 poem by French surrealist Joe Bousquet; the song "What Goes Up" quotes the poem "Stupidity Street" by Ralph Hodgson in its entirety.
The song "I Can't Seem To Make You Mine" from their album "Strange Geometry" is used in the movie "The Lake House" (2006).
Their album 'God Save The Clientele' was released on May 8th 2007. 'Bonfires on the Heath' followed in 2009, and 'Minotaur' in 2010. Their last one, 'Music For The Age Of Miracles' was released on september 22th.
http://www.theclientele.co.uk/
Bonfires On The Heath
The Clientele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
How am I going to get myself to sleep?
Late October sunlight in the wood
Late October sunlight in the wood
Nothing here quite moves the way it should
Laughing windows up and down the street
And the walls are closing in on me
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
How am I going to get myself to sleep?
The Clientele's song Bonfires On The Heath is a melancholic and dreamy reflection on the passage of time and the changes that come with it. The song's opening lines describe kids jumping over bonfires on the heath, creating an image of youthful energy and freedom. However, the singer is unable to join in the festivities and instead finds himself alone and unable to sleep. The late October sunlight in the wood is a reminder that autumn is here and winter is coming, and the singer struggles with the feeling that nothing is quite as it should be.
The laughing windows up and down the street suggest that life is moving on without the singer, and his sense of detachment is heightened by the feeling that the walls are closing in on him. The repetition of the lines "kids all jumping bonfires on the heath, how am I going to get myself to sleep?" brings a sense of helplessness and resignation to the song, as if the singer is resigned to his loneliness and unable to find a way out of it.
Overall, the lyrics of Bonfires On The Heath are a beautiful and evocative reflection on the bittersweet nature of the passage of time, and the way that we all eventually find ourselves on the outside looking in. The song captures a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time, while also acknowledging the difficulties of growing older and the sense of loss that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
Children are happily engaging in activities amidst the burning flames on the heath
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
Children are happily engaging in activities amidst the burning flames on the heath
How am I going to get myself to sleep?
The loudness and excitement of the surroundings are making it difficult to get some rest
Late October sunlight in the wood
As autumn progresses, the sunlight in the woods seems to have lost its warm, welcoming touch
Nothing here quite moves the way it should
There's a sense of unease and disorder in the environment that's hard to ignore
Laughing windows up and down the street
House windows seem to be mocking the state of things in the streets, adding to the sense of chaos
And the walls are closing in on me
The surroundings seem to be getting smaller and more suffocating, closing in on the singer
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
Children are happily engaging in activities amidst the burning flames on the heath
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
Children are happily engaging in activities amidst the burning flames on the heath
How am I going to get myself to sleep?
The loudness and excitement of the surroundings are making it difficult to get some rest
Contributed by Isaiah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
PARANOIDANDROID6
Lyrics:
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
How’m I going to get myself to sleep?
Late October sunlight in the wood
Late October sunlight in the wood
Nothing here quite moves the way it should
Laughing windows up and down the street
Laughing windows up and down the street
And the walls are closing in on me
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
Kids all jumping bonfires on the heath
How’m I going to get myself to sleep?
from: http://theclientele.co.uk/lyrics/119/bonfires-on-the-heath
Bluestem
This is one my 'autumn songs'. Love it!
King of Low End Paintball
Such an underrated band
ingsoc
the antidote to coronavirus...best wishes folks!
Nevenius von Dubowatz
We will prevail!!!
Ya Wha?
My word, what a gorgeous track..
Oscar Hernández Arteaga
¡Me encanta! Llena de referencias y matices. Muy bien producida.
Michael Marino
Seen the clientele perform this and lots more 4 years ago 2017 at Mississippi studios Portland Oregon. They delivered the magic. Very nice venue too..
Re Piano
love this
Leehiro
Why is this so unpopular?