All three members of the band remain active recording musicians, each with their own careers. They are said to have reunited on a forthcoming album, "Angels and Fools", by Gilbert's new band, The Excellent Staircase (formally The Believers); on the track "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want", a cover of the song by The Smiths.
Lowlands
The Dream Academy Lyrics
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As holy stormy Monday broke out on the streets below
If not to hear your voice is still the thing I can't replace
Somehow I can always see your face
In the lowlands
I rise up in the evening and rebuild a heart of stone
All around the border where your memories have grown
Not until you meet it face to face
In the lowlands
On the battlefield
In the lowlands
In the lowlands
In the lowlands
In the rain
On the street
In all the places
Where we used to meet
I can see a big bright continent
Where fear does not exist
Where you could walk away from me
And I would not resist
And I won't be coming back again
To see where we went wrong
Never more to hear your siren song
And you may not find your hiding place
Not until you meet it
Face to face to face
The low pressure band had broken up, but not let go
As holy stormy Monday broke out on the streets below
In the lowlands
This song is a melancholic reflection of a failed relationship. The opening lyrics describe a storm brewing, which represents the emotional turmoil that the singer is still feeling even though the relationship has ended. The line "If not to hear your voice is still the thing I can't replace" speaks to the fact that even though the relationship is over, the singer is still longing to hear their partner's voice. However, they also seem to have come to the realization that it's time to move on. The repeated refrain of "In the lowlands" represents the emotional state of the singer. The lowlands, typically being a flat, damp, and dismal place, represent their current emotional state of feeling low and trapped in sadness.
The middle section of the song describes the singer's attempts to move on from the relationship. They have rebuilt a "heart of stone" to protect themselves from the pain of memories. However, they are reminded that there is "no hiding place" from their emotions. The refrain of "In the lowlands" punctuates this idea of being trapped in sadness. The singer reflects on their desire to find a place without fear where they can start anew, but they also mourn the loss of the relationship. The song concludes with the realization that even though they may not have closure or a hiding place from their emotions, they will not be coming back to dwell on what went wrong or hear the "siren song" of lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
The low pressure band had broken up but not let go
Despite the low pressure band breaking up, its effects still linger
As holy stormy Monday broke out on the streets below
As a tumultuous Monday unfolded outside
If not to hear your voice is still the thing I can't replace
Even though I cannot hear your voice, I still yearn for it and cannot replace it
Somehow I can always see your face
Regardless of the circumstances, your face is always clear in my mind
I rise up in the evening and rebuild a heart of stone
Every evening, I fortify myself emotionally and prepare to face the world with a hardened heart
All around the border where your memories have grown
Wherever the memories of you surround me
'Til someone told me don't you know there is no hiding place
Until someone informed me that there is nowhere to hide from my emotions
Not until you meet it face to face
I must confront my emotions head-on
On the battlefield
In the midst of emotional strife
In the rain
In a time of sadness or hardship
On the street
In public where it may be difficult to conceal one's emotions
In all the places where we used to meet
Wherever we once spent time together
I can see a big bright continent where fear does not exist
I envision a world free of fear and anxiety
Where you could walk away from me and I would not resist
A place where you could leave without eliciting strong emotions from me
And I won't be coming back again to see where we went wrong
I will not return to try and understand what caused our relationship to fail
Never more to hear your siren song
I will no longer be enticed by your alluring ways
And you may not find your hiding place
You may not be able to escape your emotions forever
Not until you meet it face to face to face
You must confront your emotions head-on, without any distractions or illusions
In the lowlands
In a place of emotional turmoil, where it may be difficult to find higher ground
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICK LAIRD-CLOWES, GILBERT GABRIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind