The Shamen were preceded by Alone Again Or, the Love-inspired name under which they recorded their first singles. After their name change, further singles picked up airplay from John Peel. Released in June 1987, The Shamen's first album Drop illustrated their love of 60s psychedelia, with influences such as Love, Pink Floyd and the 13th Floor Elevators.
By mid-1987, frontman Colin Angus was discovering the sounds of early house music pioneers such as S-Express and M/A/R/R/S and increasing his knowledge of the latest studio gadgetry. By September 1987, the Shamen were applying these techniques to their own music, mixing rock guitars, techno and hip-hop rhythms and sampled radio voices to create the prototype rock-dance sound which was to prove so influential to other indie dance groups like Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones and EMF. However, the newfound sound proved too radical for co-founder and vocalist Derek McKenzie, who the left the band in late 1987 to study at university. The Shamen were suddenly one crucial player short. Help was at hand in the charismatic form of Will Sinnott (23 December, 1960 - 23 May, 1991), who joined the group in October 1987, on bass and keyboards, freeing up Colin Angus to handle vocal and guitar chores.
Knature of a Girl was the first record by the Shamen to feature Sinnott, but it wasn't until June's Jesus Loves Amerika single that the techno influence began to show. By this stage, Angus and Sinnott had become hooked on the acid house movement taking place in London, and its music and clubs were to exert a massive influence on the pair. Keith McKenzie and Peter Stephenson were less impressed by these new developments, and left the group the following summer, after the January 1989 release of the In Gorbachev We Trust album, which saw the group further enhancing their sound.
Angus and Sinnott relocated to London, allowing them to start afresh, and plunge headfirst into the emerging rave scene. 1989 was to be a busy year. They set out on their legendary Synergy tour, a nightclub experience combined with live music from The Shamen and others and DJing from the likes of Mixmaster Morris. The tour was to last nearly two years. They also released the Phorward mini album, a genre-defining release in the history of the acid house movement.
Their third album, En-Tact, was released in 1990, and it spawned the hit singles Move Any Mountain, Hyperreal and Make It Mine. Also notable was the appearance of rapper and DJ Mr.C (real name Richard West). The transformation into a successful rave act was complete.
In May 1991, The Shamen headed to Tenerife to film a video for Move Any Mountain. On May 23, Sinnott drowned in an accident off coast of La Gomera. However, with the Sinnott family's encouragement, the group decided to continue.
With Mr C now a full member of The Shamen, and Jhelisa Anderson providing guest vocals, the Boss Drum album followed in 1992. The LP featured a noted spoken-word collaboration, Re:Evolution with Terence McKenna, and The Shamen's biggest and most controversial hit: Ebeneezer Goode. Ebeneezer Goode was accused of promoting drug use owing to the refrain "Ezer Goode, Ezer Goode" - homophonic with "E's are good" ("E" being slang for the dance drug ecstasy) - and to double entendre drug references throughout the song. This echoed similar references in previous songs such as Synergy's "M D M A-zing... we are together in ecstasy". Despite - or maybe because of - the subsequent storm of publicity, the song stayed at the top of the UK charts for 4 weeks.
Although the single was a commercial hit, it was considered a 'novelty record' and severely impacted on the 'underground' credibility of the band. Subsequent singles such as Boss Drum and Phorever People were chart hits, but some long term fans believed they paled in comparison to earlier singles.
However, The Shamen's new mainstream popularity enabled them to release an unusually large number of remix singles, EPs, and LPs during the Boss Drum era, including the Face EP, the S.O.S. EP, and the On Air and Different Drum albums. On Air featured a series of popular tracks from En-Tact and Boss Drum as performed live on BBC radio; Different Drum was a remix album containing alternate versions of every track from Boss Drum. The tracks Boss Drum, LSI (Love Sex Intelligence), Phorever People, Ebeneezer Goode, and Re:Evolution were all released as singles in their own right.
Axis Mutatis in 1995, with new vocalist Victoria Wilson James replacing Jhelisa Anderson, did not make as much of an impact. Early special editions of this album featured a bonus disk, Arbor Bona Arbor Mala, a bizarre ambient album. The Shamen continued recording into the late 1990s, releasing two additional LPs with an increasingly experimental bent. Their penultimate studio album, the instrumental Hempton Manor, followed an acrimonious split with their label One Little Indian. It is alleged to have been recorded in seven days to conclude the recording contract with One Little Indian, and the first letter of each track spell out F**k Birket, referring to label founder Derek Birket, who wanted the group to move back into more commercial territory. UV, in 1998, was their last album. UV was released independently and marked a return to form with both modern techno production and classic Shamen song structures. Mr C. has since continued as an inspiring house DJ and become a successful night-club owner.
Passing Away
The Shamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's easy to see why you'd gladly shovel dirt for a fee
But where in the world, could a sad, sad, sadder tale be heard?
It's over your head to be good, why be content to be led?
Now you walk all up and down your street
Your head hung down right to your feet
So take the time to carve your name
And wait until the evening sees you there
And though the morning went too soon
You're headed through the afternoon
So rack your brains now, see why you should care
Miserable girl
She's the end result of a miserable world
You start to depend on your longing, for the start of the end
It's always the same
Now that life means nothing but hunger and pain
Your passing away, you have nothing but the start of decay
Now you walk all up and down your street
Your head hung down right to your feet
And wait until the evening sees you there
And though the morning went too soon
You're headed through the afternoon
So rack your brains now, see why you should care
I heard somebody said, you'd rather you were dead
So take the time to carve your name
On a rocking chair within the grain
And wait until the evening sees you there
And though the morning went too soon
You're headed through the afternoon
So rack your brains now see why you should care
The Shamen's song "Passing Away" seems to be about the end of a relationship or a life, and the difficult emotions that come with it. The opening lines set the scene for the rest of the song by describing the start of the day and the singer's state of mind. The following lines suggest that the singer is willing to do anything for money, but feels lost and sad because of it. The lyrics then explore the idea that life is about more than just being good, and that being content to follow others without questioning things only leads to a blander existence.
The chorus of "Passing Away" is particularly striking, describing a "miserable girl" who is a product of a "miserable world." This line captures the sense that the singer feels trapped, both in her personal life and her broader circumstances. The rest of the chorus suggests that she is consumed by hunger and pain, with "nothing but the start of decay" left for her. The final verse seems to suggest that the singer has given up on life entirely, with someone saying that she would rather be dead. The last lines of the song encourage the singer to care about her life and leave her mark on the world.
Overall, "Passing Away" is a melancholy song that explores themes of loss, sadness, and despair. The lyrics suggest that life can be difficult and that it's easy to feel lost and disconnected from the world. However, they also encourage listeners to stay engaged and to care about their existence, even when things feel difficult.
Line by Line Meaning
Morning began And your head popped out with your heart and your hands
At the beginning of life, you are born with a clear passion and drive.
It's easy to see why you'd gladly shovel dirt for a fee
You are willing to do anything for monetary gain, even if it means compromising your values.
But where in the world, could a sad, sad, sadder tale be heard?
No story could be as tragic and depressing as the one you are living.
It's over your head to be good, why be content to be led?
Being a morally good person is beyond your comprehension, so why not just follow others' lead?
Now you walk all up and down your street
You aimlessly wander around without purpose.
Your head hung down right to your feet
You are consumed with sadness and despair.
So take the time to carve your name
Take a moment to leave your mark on the world.
On a rocking chair within the grain
Make your mark in a meaningful and lasting way.
And wait until the evening sees you there
Be patient and wait for your moment to shine.
And though the morning went too soon
Life passes by quickly and unexpectedly.
You're headed through the afternoon
You are in the middle of your journey through life.
So rack your brains now, see why you should care
Take some time to reflect and find a reason to care about your life and the world around you.
Miserable girl
The subject of the song: a girl consumed by sadness and despair
She's the end result of a miserable world
Her sadness and despair is a reflection of the cruel and difficult world she lives in.
You start to depend on your longing, for the start of the end
You find comfort in the idea that your suffering may come to an end.
It's always the same
Life is a never-ending cycle of pain and suffering.
Now that life means nothing but hunger and pain
Life has lost all meaning and is only defined by suffering.
Your passing away, you have nothing but the start of decay
As you die, you realize that your life is only the start of a long process of decay.
I heard somebody said, you'd rather you were dead
Rumors spread that you no longer want to live.
Writer(s): Keith Alan Mckenzie, Derek John Mckenzie, Peter William Stephenson, Colin Gilbert Angus
Contributed by Adeline V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Brower
This is a very well crafted song. I love the bridge.
The Barbary Ghost
Used to put this thing on repeat every day.
djrubus
One of my fav at Liceo Classico
crowhillian58
If Pink Floyd had formed in Scotland in the 1980's
Pierre Pence
@krekona They did cover Golden Hair, but it didn't appear on the original "Drop." It was appended to the '99 reissue.
krekona
@Pierre Pence didn't they do a great cover of Golden Hair on this album?
Pierre Pence
Hello from 2021! Yes, "Drop" was one of my favorite records in 1988. It was smart and psychedelic without being ponderous. And there is definitely Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd influence.
You Joker
Influenced by Strawberry Alarm Clocks Incense & Peppermint
Gianluca
Vecchio e grande amore.......
Tinkerbelle
Terrence McKenna brought me here ✌️