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/
I Hope I Know You
The Clientele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a bad night on the rise
And so we take one step aside
There's a bad night on the rise
Nervous girl, who plays your parents
Staring down at me
My Dad will soon be home from work
But I hope they know me
And I hope they see me
I just keep hanging round
La da da da da, da da da da
I just keeping hanging round
La da da da da da da da da
I could start with just one line
Make my walls to piece tonight
But friends keep calling in my head
Yeah, friends keep calling in my head
Nervous girl, who plays your parents
Staring down at me
Nothing here has any value
Nothing here is real
But I hope I know you
And I hope I see you
Just keep hanging round
La da da da da, da da da
I just keep hanging round
La da da da da da da da
The first verse of The Clientele's song, "Close your eyes, take your time / There's a bad night on the rise / And so we take one step aside / There's a bad night on the rise" creates a sense of anticipation for something dreadful that is likely to happen. The use of the phrase "take one step aside" can be interpreted as the singer wanting to avoid whatever is coming. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for avoiding an inevitable conflict or discomforting situation.
The second verse, "Nervous girl, who plays your parents / Staring down at me / My Dad will soon be home from work / It's August in this dream" seems to describe a dream. The imagery of the nervous girl and her parents staring at the singer creates a sense of vulnerability in the dreamer. The line "Nothing here has any value / Nothing here is real" suggests that the dreamer is aware that they are in a dream and nothing they experience there is tangible, adding to their feelings of helplessness.
Overall, "I Hope I Know You" seems to be exploring themes of vulnerability, anticipation, and uncertainty. The use of dream-like imagery adds to the confusion and lack of control. The repeated line "But I hope they know me / And I hope they see me" suggests a desire for recognition and validation amidst the chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Close your eyes, take your time
Take a moment to relax and gather your thoughts, as something unpleasant seems to be approaching.
There's a bad night on the rise
Something negative or difficult is approaching.
And so we take one step aside
We try to avoid or prepare for the approaching difficulty.
Nervous girl, who plays your parents
A character in a dream who represents feelings of anxiety or uncertainty, possibly related to parental figures.
Staring down at me
The character is being observed or judged by the figure.
My Dad will soon be home from work
An ominous sign that something negative or unpleasant is about to happen.
It's August in this dream
A detail of the dream setting that may or may not have significance.
But I hope they know me
Despite feeling uncertain and observed, the character still wants to be recognized and acknowledged by the figures in the dream.
And I hope they see me
The same desire for recognition and validation is repeated.
I just keep hanging round
The character is stuck in this dream or mental state and can't seem to move on.
I could start with just one line
The character seems to be contemplating writing or creating something as a way to cope with their feelings.
Make my walls to piece tonight
Possibly a reference to breaking down emotional barriers or trying to create something meaningful despite feeling vulnerable.
But friends keep calling in my head
Despite trying to focus, the character is distracted by thoughts of other people.
Nothing here has any value
The character may be feeling hopeless or disillusioned with their surroundings or circumstances.
Nothing here is real
The character may be feeling disconnected from reality, possibly due to depression or anxiety.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ALASDAIR DAVID MACLEAN, JAMES MARK HORNSEY, MARK NICHOLAS KEEN, MELAINE JANE DRAISEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AhaBach4Life
So serene.
Vanderley Vivas
Fantastic!