The band started in May 1994 when vocalist John Grant and bassist Chris Pearson had a chance meeting at Rock Island, a club in Denver’s lower downtown warehouse district. It took over a year to pull a complete band together and play their first show. The early years were slow, but recording began with local music icon Bob Ferbrache in 1995, who produced the first two albums. Contrary to press releases, the band actually self-released two albums, “Moodswing” and “La Brea Tar Pits of Routine” on their own label, Velveteen Records in 1995 and 1997, the later was sent to Cocteau Twins' Bella Union in London. Bella Union thought there was some promise and a follow-up five-song demo was quickly recorded and sent to Cocteau’s Simon Raymonde. He offered the band a four album deal soon after. The Czars would be the first American band to sign with London's Bella Union. A string of local opening gigs followed with opening slots for Low, the Dirty Three, and Ween
Recording on “Before...But Longer” was initiated at London’s September Sound studio in September ’98, and Raymonde finished production on the album in December.
By the end of ‘99 The Czars were named Best Rock Band by Westword (a local Denver music magazine). The following year the band was approached to compose the soundtrack for an independent film, “I’d Rather Be … Gone" again through the connections of Bella Union. Although it never saw the light of day outside of the Gay and Lesbian film festival in San Francisco, the soundtrack mini EP was released by Toronto's Absalom Recordings that November. Self-produced by the band in Denver with Colin Bricker at NFA studios this remains a collector's item.
Even though, the band didnt sell many records, the label stuck with them, and next up was the second album “The Ugly People vs. The Beautiful People.” Recorded in Denver over a month in early 2001, when Simon Raymonde took more time away from his family and label back home in London and produced it out of his love for the band. It was released in October with cover art featuring asses and tattoos. After 23 takes at “Black and Blue” the band nearly killed each other, but the recording was finished and accolades poured in, winning the 2002 album of the year in Westword and receiving critical praise from Mojo, Q, and NME. The band signed to Manifesto Records for a one-record deal for the United States.
The Czars toured Europe opening for David Gray, 16 Horsepower, and The Flaming Lips. Three small US tours followed. The band recorded and self-produced the tour EP “X Would Rather Listen to Y Than Suffer Through a C of Z’s”, a reference to John’s linguistics book on Russian sentence structure.
Despite all the touring, the band were not making any kind of critical breakthrough, despite Bella Union's best efforts in bringing the band over to Europe several times and releasing several singles. The band recorded "Goodbye” with money donated by fans. Work was completed in June 2004, and “Goodbye” was released to much acclaim last September. Picked as the 38th on the Top 50 albums of the year by Mojo, it beat out such luminaries as The Shins, Morrissey, and Bjork. Still the breakthrough wasn't on the horizon and whilst fellow labelmates like Explosions in The Sky and Midlake were also selling records as well as picking up plaudits, The Czars remained an enigma. The band were rarely happy in each other's company and recording and touring always seemed traumatic. Perhaps the audience picked up on this in someway.
In 2004, the core of the band would dissolve away over the course of the ultimately prophetic last album entitled “Goodbye”. Over the span of nine months would see the departure of five out of six members, including original founding members Jeff and Chris, plus long-time guitarists Andy and Roger, as well as violinist Elin Palmer.
Song To The Siren
The Czars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I did all my best to smile
til your singing eyes and fingers
drew me loving to your aisle
and you sang
sail to me
sail to me, let me enfold you
here I am, here I am
waiting to hold you
did I dream, you dreamt about me
were you hare, when I was fox
now my foolish boat, is leaning
broken lovelorn on you rocks
for you sing, touch me not
touch me not, come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, oh my heart
shy's from the sorrow
I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
should I stand amid the breakers
or should I lie with death my bride
hear me sing
swim to me
swim to me
let me enfold you
here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you
The Czars's song, "Song to the Siren," is a haunting ballad that speaks to the power of love and the deep longing it can create. The lyricist, Tim Buckley, wrote about a person who is lost at sea, looking for someone to save them from the isolation and despair of their situation.
The opening lines "Long afloat, on shipless oceans" create an image of someone lost and adrift, struggling to stay afloat. The singer did all that they could to keep smiling, but it was not until they heard the singing of their beloved that they found a reason to keep going. The lines "til your singing eyes and fingers/drew me loving to your aisle" suggest that the person they love has a magical quality to them that is irresistible.
Throughout the song, the singer is torn between their desire to be with their love and the fear that they will be rejected or hurt. The lines "touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow/Oh my heart, oh my heart, shy's from the sorrow" show that the singer is afraid of being hurt and is hesitant to take risks.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more desperate, asking their love to "swim to me/let me enfold you." They are willing to risk everything to be together, even if it means facing danger or death.
Overall, "Song to the Siren" is a powerful song that speaks to the human need for love and connection. It is a reminder that even in the depths of despair, there is always the possibility of finding someone who can bring light into our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Long afloat, on shipless oceans
Lost and drifting aimlessly without direction or purpose.
I did all my best to smile
I tried to keep a positive attitude despite feeling lost.
til your singing eyes and fingers
But then I saw you and everything changed.
drew me loving to your aisle
You brought me to your world with your love and music.
and you sang
You sang to me.
sail to me
Come to me, let me be what you need.
sail to me, let me enfold you
Come closer to me, let me hold you close.
here I am, here I am
I am always here for you.
waiting to hold you
Waiting for the chance to embrace you.
did I dream, you dreamt about me
Did I imagine that you had feelings for me too?
were you hare, when I was fox
Were you playing hard to get when I was pursuing you?
now my foolish boat, is leaning
My attempts to win you over have left me vulnerable and exposed.
broken lovelorn on you rocks
My heart is shattered on the rocks of your rejection.
for you sing, touch me not
You refuse to let me touch you.
touch me not, come back tomorrow
Maybe you'll feel differently tomorrow.
Oh my heart, oh my heart
I'm in pain and agony.
shy's from the sorrow
My heart is afraid of being hurt again.
I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I am as confused and unsure as a new baby.
I'm as riddled as the tide
My emotions are as complex and uncertain as the ocean tides.
should I stand amid the breakers
Should I stay and endure the chaos and upheaval?
or should I lie with death my bride
Or should I give up and succumb to despair?
hear me sing
Listen to my plea.
swim to me
Come to me, defy the currents and obstacles.
swim to me
Take a chance on me, on us.
let me enfold you
Let me hold you in my arms and protect you.
here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you
I'll be here, waiting for you to come to me and let me love you.
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
n00se
Long afloat, on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your aisle
And you sang
Sail to me
Sail to me, let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you
Did I dream, you dreamt about me
Were you hare, when I was fox
Now my foolish boat, is leaning
Broken lovelorn on you rocks
For you sing, touch me not
Touch me not, come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, oh my heart
Shy's from the sorrow
I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers
Or should I lie with death my bride
Hear me sing
Swim to me
Swim to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you
Sasvim_Istinsko _
Long afloat, on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your aisle
And you sang
Sail to me
Sail to me, let me enfold you
here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you
Did I dream, you dreamt about me
Were you hare, when I was fox
Now my foolish boat, is leaning
Broken lovelorn on you rocks
For you sing, touch me not
Touch me not, come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, oh my heart
Shy's from the sorrow
I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers
Or should I lie with death my bride
Hear me sing
Swim to me
Swim to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you. ...
n00se
Long afloat, on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your aisle
And you sang
Sail to me
Sail to me, let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you
Did I dream, you dreamt about me
Were you hare, when I was fox
Now my foolish boat, is leaning
Broken lovelorn on you rocks
For you sing, touch me not
Touch me not, come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, oh my heart
Shy's from the sorrow
I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers
Or should I lie with death my bride
Hear me sing
Swim to me
Swim to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you
Dina Dunkelman
This is the first time I've heard this version. I think this version nailed it. Really. It really paints a picture with the long intro - it's like a vast expanse of shipless ocean, and then he comes in singing... one man on one boat out of the shipless expanse of his own heart. That's a formidable achievement. Nailed it. 5 stars.
Fiorella Moscatello
+Dina Dunkelman I totally agree... This version is the best I've heard... It's perfect...
EnosEverything
Been saying it since I first heard this on the wonderful tribute double cd set of Tim Buckley songs SING A SONG FOR YOU that THIS is the definitive version of SONG TO THE SIREN... The first major cover I heard featuring Liz Frazer on the THIS MORTAL COIL version is excellent but as you properly proclaim Dina, this version just nails it... John Grant has possibly never sounded better even on his remarkable first two solo albums... Musical bliss.
AcidHouseJunglist
+Fiorella Moscatello sorry i respectfully disagree as much as I adore John no one has a better cover of this classic than This Mortal Coil
dave smith
+EnosEverything yup!!!
dave smith
+EnosEverything yup!!!
Kirsty 8930
Easily the best cover of Tim’s original Song to the Siren and in another league to all other covers including This Mortal Coil’’s imho. This incredibly ethereal version makes all other covers sound like pop songs and John Gran’t stunning vocal is so perfectly measured! ❤
Riveripple
I love this song and was looking up various variations, and really didn't expect this one to be so beautiful. It's fantastic.
Pan
Riveripple dito me too