In 2009 The Primitives reformed, releasing their first album for 21 years, Echoes and Rhymes, in May 2012. The album features covers by lesser-known female fronted bands from the 1960s.
There are other bands called The Primitives:
2. A band from the United States with Lou Reed and John Cale
3. A garage rock band from the United Kingdom
4. An alternative country band from the United States
2. The Primitives were a band from New York formed in 1964, they released one 7" that year; "The Ostrich/Sneaky Pete. The band was fronted by Lou Reed and featuring John Cale, both later of the Velvet Underground. Ostrich guitar tuning, the all-D tuning particularly credited to the Velvet Underground, originated from the Primitives single the Ostrich. They disbanded in 1965.
The ostrich guitar or ostrich tuning is a type of trivial tuning. It assigns one note to all strings, e.g. E-E-e-e-e'-e' or D-D-D-D-d'-d'.
The term "ostrich guitar" was coined by Lou Reed in 1965 after the song "The Ostrich" by Lou Reed and the Primitives, on which he first used this tuning. John Cale, a collaborator with avant-garde composer La Monte Young, recognised the similarity between Reed's guitar tuning and Young's work involving drone music when he was hired to play Reed's song 'The Ostrich' as part of a fabricated touring group.
Reed and Cale (who would play viola, keyboards and bass) began to collaborate and investigate the connections between ostrich tuning and drone music, as the band introduced new members (such as guitarist Sterling Morrison and percussionist Angus MacLise, another student of La Monte Young) and became known as The Velvet Underground. Cale had composed and recorded 'Loop' in 1964, but which became the first EP released under this band name, composed of drones played on an electric viola, and the combination of both Cale's viola and Reed's guitar tunings would be an early hallmark of their work. Reed used ostrich tunings on the 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico on the songs "Venus in Furs" (appearing at the end of the song) and "All Tomorrow's Parties", which also included Cale playing drones on viola.
According to an interview with drummer Maureen Tucker in What Goes On? No. 4, Reed's ostrich guitar was a guitar that had its frets removed, and was stolen shortly after the album sessions.
3. The Primitives, from Northampton UK, were also known as Mal & the Primitives. They released their debut (Help Me) in November 1964. They released a couple more 45's before relocating to Italy where they released 3 more albums.
4. The Primitives were an alternative country group formed in 1987. Upon discovering the existence of the British band of the same name, they changed their name to Uncle Tupelo.
Shadow
The Primitives Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold the shadow. breathe the shadow.
Something crawls into your open head
Of all the thing she said
Of all the things she said
Of all the things she said
Of all the things she
Listen to the voice of everything.
Snatch your soul away, steal your heart away.
How many stars can you count
When your lights go out
When your lights go out
When your lights go out
When your lights go
Hold the shadow. breathe the shadow.
Hold the shadow. breathe the shadow.
Something crawls into your open head
Of all the things she said
Of all the things she said
Of all the things she said
Of all the things she-said.
The lyrics of The Primitives' song Shadow are haunting and mysterious, leaving behind an enigmatic atmosphere that intrigues and captivates listeners. The repetition of the phrase "hold the shadow, breathe the shadow" creates an eerie and introspective feeling, almost as if the singer is given the listeners permission to embrace their darkest fears and deepest anxieties. However, the lines that follow are more enigmatic and ambiguous, with the opening of the head and the voice of everything. The singer then warns of a creature that can snatch your soul and steal your heart away, leading the listener to question whether the shadow is ultimately harmful or protective.
The chorus brings us back to the refrain of "hold the shadow, breathe the shadow," but this time the lyrics are accompanied by a question: how many stars can you count when the lights go out? It's a moment of vulnerability and uncertainty, raising questions about mortality and the nature of the self. Overall, Shadow is a richly multifaceted song that encourages introspection and reflection, while also being shrouded in mystery.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold the shadow. breathe the shadow.
Embrace the darkness and let it consume you.
Something crawls into your open head
An idea or thought enters your mind and takes hold.
Of all the things she said
The words of a person you care about weigh heavily on your mind.
Listen to the voice of everything.
Pay attention to the natural world around you and learn from it.
Snatch your soul away, steal your heart away.
Something or someone takes your emotional energy and leaves you depleted.
How many stars can you count
Reflecting on the vastness of the universe and our small place within it.
When your lights go out
When everything you thought you knew disappears and you feel lost.
Hold the shadow. breathe the shadow.
Continue to embrace the darkness and live within it.
Of all the things she said
The words of the person you care about continue to weigh on you.
Of all the things she said
The cycle of thoughts and emotions continues to repeat.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ASHLEE SIMPSON, KARA DIOGUARDI, JOHN SHANKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind