The band's music is a mixture of 1960s-style psychedelia and folk-rock with old-fashioned country and modern alternative rock influences. The Coral have released nine albums (The Coral, Magic and Medicine, Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker, The Invisible Invasion, Roots & Echoes, The Singles Collection/Magic & Mysteries, Butterfly House, The Curse of Love, and Distance Inbetween). Their self-titled debut album was nominated for the 2002 Mercury Music Prize and later voted the fourth best album of the year by NME Magazine. It was announced on 9 January 2008 that Bill Ryder-Jones would be leaving, but the band would continue as a 5-piece.
So Long Ago
The Coral Lyrics
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The sand dunes are still
It ends as it begins
December 1903
A buzzard on the breeze
The coin will see who wins
I said it's heads or tails
Bicycles for sale it's time to go
But now it seems so long ago
Now it seems so long ago
It was three days later
In a web of wire
Or so it seems
Up on Kill Devil hill
The sand dunes are still
Picture the scene
I watched their plans unfold
In the morning cold
The world will know
But now it seems so long ago
Now it seems so long ago
If that's you over there
You can laugh you can stare
Well i don't care
I'll just say heads or tails
Bicycles for sale it's time to go
But now it seems so long ago
But now it seems so long ago
But now it seems so long ago
"So Long Ago" by The Coral is a song that speaks about the historic flight conducted by the Wright Brothers in December 1903. The song describes the scene up on Kill Devil Hill where the sand dunes are still. The singer mentions that it began and ended there. The setting is significant as it was here that the Wright Brothers conducted their experiments that led to the invention of the first successful airplane. The lyrics go on to mention a buzzard on the breeze, and a coin that will determine who wins, referring to the Wright Brothers' coin toss to determine who would have the first attempt at piloting their airplane.
The second verse of the song talks about the successful flight that took place three days later after the coin toss. The lyrics describe being in a web of wire and watching everything unfold in the morning cold. The singer notes that the world will know about what happened there. However, as time has passed, the singer feels that it seems so long ago.
Overall, the song pays tribute to one of the most significant events in the history of aviation. The lyrics are imagery-rich and effectively capture the awe and wonder of the scene up on Kill Devil Hill. The song is a fitting tribute to the Wright Brothers' accomplishment and is a reminder that great ideas often take time to gain recognition.
Line by Line Meaning
Up on Kill Devil hill
We're setting the scene for a historical event, taking place on a specific hill.
The sand dunes are still
The area around the hill is desolate, untouched by human activity.
It ends as it begins
The events that will take place on this hill are part of a larger cycle, with a sense of history repeating itself.
December 1903
The specific date when events on Kill Devil Hill took place is the beginning of the story.
A buzzard on the breeze
The atmosphere is desolate, with no signs of life except for a buzzard circling overhead.
The coin will see who wins
The outcome of what's about to happen will be determined by chance, like the flip of a coin.
I said it's heads or tails
The singer is referring to the coin toss mentioned earlier, reminding themselves and the listener that the outcome was random.
Bicycles for sale it's time to go
The scene transitions into present day, with the artist indicating that it's time to leave.
But now it seems so long ago
Reflecting on the events that took place on Kill Devil Hill, the artist feels a sense of distance from them.
It was three days later
The artist introduces a new detail from the past, setting the scene for the next verse.
In a web of wire
The singer describes a complex, tangled situation.
Or so it seems
The artist is uncertain of the accuracy of their memory.
I watched their plans unfold
The singer was an observer to important events and had a view of the bigger picture.
In the morning cold
The event took place in a cold, harsh environment.
The world will know
The singer is referring to the significance of what took place and its impact on the world.
If that's you over there
The artist is addressing someone directly, but the context is unknown.
You can laugh you can stare
The artist isn't affected by outside judgments.
Well I don't care
The singer is indifferent to the others' opinions.
But now it seems so long ago
The singer is once again reflecting on the past, acknowledging its distance in time from the present day.
But now it seems so long ago
Repeating the previous line, the artist emphasizes the disconnection between past and present.
But now it seems so long ago
Repeating the previous line again, the artist underscores a sense of finality and loss.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICHOLAS POWER, WILLIAM RYDER-JONES, JAMES SKELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind