Dulli and Lanegan have regularly contributed to each other's projects since 2000; of the duo's origins, Dulli said "I think Mark told a journalist we were doing it, and then the journalist called me, and I didn't know we were doing it." On Christmas Day 2003, Dulli and Lanegan began work on the collaboration, titled Saturnalia.
In July 2007, the music website Pitchfork Media announced that the duo, "two of the alt-rock era's greatest frontmen," had signed to Seattle label Sub Pop. Soon thereafter, Sub Pop reported a 4 March, 2008 release date for Saturnalia. Dulli and Lanegan plan to tour in the United States and abroad to promote the album.
On September 2, 2008, The Gutter Twins released their eight-song EP Adorata exclusively through iTunes. The EP was mostly recorded during sessions for their first album, Saturnalia. Adorata features two previously unreleased originals ("Spanish Doors" and "We Have Met Before") alongside covers of "Down the Line" (José González), "Deep Hit of Morning Sun" (Primal Scream), "Duchess" (Scott Walker), "Belles" (Vetiver), "Flow Like a River" (Eleven), and "St. James Infirmary" (traditional). A portion of the proceeds from the release of Adorata will go to the Natasha Shneider Memorial Fund. Shneider, a long-time friend of the band, was the lead singer for Eleven and a member of Queens Of The Stone Age.
Their official web presence is located at http://www.theguttertwins.com.
Bête Noire
The Gutter Twins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I climb and I stumble and I crawl
Wings are singed, like Icarus to fall
What's left is a shadow of it all
You better run now honey run
Run your race to ruin
A long dead animal is on your trail
A long dead animal is on your trail
Now who will hold onto your little hand?
And who walks behind when you're alone?
One who'd drain the color from your eyes
One who wanders forth without a home
Look away now pretty babe
Go on and look away
A long dead animal is on your trail
A long dead animal is on your trail
A long dead animal is on your trail
I come unhinged, how hard I can't recall
I climb and I stumble and I crawl
Wings are singed, like Icarus to fall
What's left is a shadow of it all
Run now honey run
Run your race to ruin
A long dead animal is on your trail
Look away now pretty babe
Go on and look away
A long dead animal is on your trail
A long dead animal is on your trail
A long dead animal is on your trail
A long dead animal is on your trail
A long dead animal is on your trail
The Gutter Twins' song "Bête Noire" starts with the singer feeling unbalanced and unable to remember how he got to that state. He describes himself as climbing, stumbling, and crawling as he possibly tries to escape something, but it's not clear what it is. The metaphor of Icarus's fall comes up, suggesting that a creature that once had wings, like him, has fallen from grace. The last line suggests that he's just a shadow of his former self. The chorus warns someone to run from their problems or whatever is trailing them because it's a long-dead animal. It's a cryptic line, but it could mean that it's something that's been left to rot for a long time, or it's something that should have been left behind, but the person is still carrying the burden.
The second verse starts with a dark question; who will hold the person's hand when they need support? And who follows when they're alone? The answer isn't hopeful. The person who will accompany them is someone who would suck the life and soul out of them, leaving them colorless. The second time the chorus comes up, it's directed to someone described as a "pretty babe," urging them to look away and not face what's following them. The song ends the same way it started with the singer feeling unhinged, and the chorus repeating a final time.
Line by Line Meaning
I come unhinged, how hard I can't recall
I can't remember the intensity of the emotional turmoil that causes me to lose control
I climb and I stumble and I crawl
I struggle and falter as I try to escape this situation
Wings are singed, like Icarus to fall
I took a dangerous risk and now I am suffering the consequence, just like the mythical figure Icarus
What's left is a shadow of it all
Only remnants of the past remain, a mere silhouette of my former self
You better run now honey run
You should flee now before it's too late
Run your race to ruin
Continue on your path, which will likely lead to your downfall
A long dead animal is on your trail
A reminder of your mortality and inevitable end is haunting you
Now who will hold onto your little hand?
Who will comfort you when you're scared and vulnerable?
And who walks behind when you're alone?
Who is watching you when you think you're by yourself?
One who'd drain the color from your eyes
Someone who would suck the life out of you until you are empty and pale
One who wanders forth without a home
A restless and rootless individual who seeks something they cannot find
Look away now pretty babe
Don't look back, don't acknowledge what's behind you
Go on and look away
Keep moving forward, don't let your curiosity get the best of you
A long dead animal is on your trail
The entity pursuing you is something that has long since ceased to exist
A long dead animal is on your trail
This threat is very real and persistent, it won't go away easily
A long dead animal is on your trail
You can't outrun your fate, your past actions will come back to haunt you
I come unhinged, how hard I can't recall
My grip on reality is slipping, and I don't know how far I will go
Run now honey run
Your best chance at survival is to run away as fast as you can
Run your race to ruin
But be aware that your actions might lead to your eventual downfall
A long dead animal is on your trail
No matter what you do, this shadow from your past will always be lurking around
Look away now pretty babe
Turn a blind eye to the ugliness of the world, protect yourself from the truth
A long dead animal is on your trail
This dead phantom is a constant reminder that your life is finite and fleeting
A long dead animal is on your trail
It's up to you to either face your fears or keep running away from them
Contributed by Mackenzie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Brett x
Great album.