The one permanent fixture amidst the Fall's ever-changing line-up was Mark E. Smith (1957 – 2018). Smith's lyrics are free, unboxed and unpredictable, touching on an extremely wide range of subjects and places, and caring little for being tied down to easily digestible messages.
Smith's singing could put off some people, but others find it a uniquely expressive instrument. Smith was not a conventionally great vocalist, but his keen sense of rhythm, his energy and personality more than made up for this.
The Fall's music changed depending on the line-up at a given time. Always experimental, Mark E. Smith claimed to invent several musical genres, including house music; "we were doing that years ago" and even the internet. "He told me I didn't understand, that we were from the bleak industrial wastes of North England, or something, and that we didn't understand the Internet. I told him Fall fans invented the Internet. They were on there in 1982." One thing that is for sure is that The Fall (and their fans) always pushed the boundaries, and were never afraid to experiment.
The Fall were a favorite group of DJ John Peel, recording 24 sessions for his BBC1 radio program over the years.
The Fall's back catalogue consists of 29 studio albums, and is very fragmented with a seemingly endless number of compilations and semi-official live albums.
In 2006, British music-critic Dave Simpson published an entertaining account of a journalist's attempt to track down all 43 former members of The Fall in the Guardian. Many previous members have been fired, often with little or no notice. Simpson's ongoing effort was subsequently described at greater length in his book "The Fallen" (2008). His effort to track down the final unaccounted stragglers of at least 50 previous members of The Fall - including drummer Karl Burns - continues in his blog. Having decried Simpson's book as a "hatchet job" in the pages of Pseud. Mag., a Fall fan-mag, Mark E. Smith countered in short order with his autobiography "Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smith" (Viking, 2008/Penguin 2009).
Mark E. Smith died on 24 January 2018, aged 60.
Key Albums include:
# Live At the Witch Trials (debut)
# Dragnet
# Totale's Turns (It's Now Or Nevr)
# Grotesque (after the Gramme)
# Perverted By Language
# Hex Enduction Hour
# This Nation's Saving Grace
# Middle Class Revolt
# Bend Sinister
# Extricate
# The Infotainment Scan
# Country on the Click aka The Real New Fall LP
# Fall Heads Roll
# Reformation Post TLC (new)
Compilations/Singles/B-Sides:
# 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats
# The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004
# Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 1) and Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 2)
# 458489 A-Sides
# 458489 B-Sides
Stay Away
The Fall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was young, why I just, yeah, really knew it all
So if you'll listen to an old dog bark
You might see that hole before you fall
I'm gonna lay something on you, then I'm gonna move on out
Gonna lay something on you, moving on out
You can take it or leave it, I know what I'm talking about
I've damn felt the pain
I'm beaten down by the pouring rain
But it hard to get off the old white train
Yeah, the old white train costs a lot to ride
Your heart, your soul and even your pride
Damn sure forever, it'll freeze your brain
Yeah, take a little advice, stay away from the old white train
Cocaine
I've felt the pain
I'm beaten down by the pouring rain
But it hard to get off the old white train
Yeah, the old white train costs a lot to ride
Your heart, your soul and even your pride
Damn sure forever, it'll freeze your brain
So take a little advice, stay away from the old white train
Take a little advice, stay away from the old white train
Cocaine
The Fall's song Stay Away is a cautionary tale of a young man who thought he knew it all and went down the wrong path. The singer reflects on his younger days where he believed he was invincible and knew everything. He then urges the listener to heed his advice and stay away from the old white train which is a metaphor for cocaine. He speaks from first-hand experience, having felt the pain and being beaten down by the pouring rain which could be a metaphor for the difficulties and struggles of addiction.
The lyrics are raw and honest, with the singer warning of the consequences of getting involved with cocaine. The line "Your heart, your soul and even your pride / Damn sure forever, it'll freeze your brain" is particularly powerful, as it showcases the devastating impact that addiction can have on a person's life. The repetition of the phrase "take a little advice, stay away from the old white train" highlights the importance of the message, and that the singer truly wants the listener to avoid making the same mistakes.
Overall, Stay Away is a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting involved with drugs, and serves as a reminder to listeners about the importance of making good choices and avoiding harmful substances.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a young man, yeah, I really knew it all
During my younger years, I believed I was knowledgeable about everything
So if you'll listen to an old dog bark, you might see that hole before you fall
If you pay attention to the advice of experienced individuals, you may avoid falling into a dangerous situation
I'm gonna lay something on you, then I'm gonna move on out
I will share some information with you and then depart
You can take it or leave it, I know what I'm talking about
Whether or not you choose to adhere to my advice, I am confident in its validity
I've damn felt the pain
I have experienced significant suffering
I'm beaten down by the pouring rain
I have been overwhelmed by circumstances beyond my control
But it's hard to get off the old white train, yeah, the old white train costs a lot to ride
Recovering from addiction is challenging, as addiction can be expensive and all-consuming
Your heart, your soul and even your pride, damn sure forever, it'll freeze your brain
Addiction can negatively impact one's emotional well-being, identity, and cognitive functioning
Yeah, take a little advice, stay away from the old white train
I strongly recommend avoiding addiction
Cocaine
Drug addiction, specifically cocaine use
Take a little advice, stay away from the old white train
Once again, I urge you to avoid addiction
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind