Palmolive had just written this song before she… Read Full Bio ↴Adventures Close to Home
Palmolive had just written this song before she left the Slits in 1978 and
brought it into The Raincoats and later in 1979 when both groups recorded
the song we were keen to do something different as far as publishing credits
go and made a special agreement. We agreed that it would be credited to both
groups for each separate recording so on ³The Raincoats² it¹s credited to
The Raincoats and on ³Cut² to the Slits.
Palmolive was also responsible for some amazing Slits songs such as FM and
Newtown. Adventures was the only song she contributed as a songwriter to The
Raincoats first album, but she contributed to the arrangements of all the
other album tracks.
Adventures Close to Home
The Slits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and red with anger
I lost myself
Through alleys of mysteries
I went up and down
like a demented train
Don't take it personal
I follow love
I follow hate.
Searching for something
that makes makes hearts move
I found myself.
But my best possession
walked into the shade
and threatened to drift away.
Don't take it personal
I choose my own fate
I follow love
I follow hate.
Full of myself
I left you behind
as if I could,
possessed by Quixote's dream
went to fight dragons
in the land of concrete.
Don't take it personal
I choose my own fate
I follow love
I follow hate.
Rolling in pain
discovered what hurts
and tasted hell
infatuated by madness
I danced in flames
and drunk in the depth of love.
The lyrics of The Slits's song Adventures Close To Home depict someone who has gone on a journey of self-discovery and has experienced intense emotions. The first stanza speaks of passion and anger, and the singer losing themselves in the "alleys of mysteries." They describe themselves as a "demented train," suggesting that they may have felt out of control or overwhelmed at times. However, they ultimately embrace the idea of choosing their own fate and following both love and hate.
In the second stanza, the singer reflects on the search for something that moves hearts and finding themselves in the process. They also mention a possession that "walked into the shade" and threatened to leave. This could refer to a person or a personal trait they value, but regardless, it highlights the idea that sometimes, things we hold dear can be taken away.
The third and final stanza describes the singer leaving someone behind and going on a quest to fight dragons. This is likely a metaphor for facing personal challenges and overcoming them. They acknowledge the pain they've experienced but also suggest that they've grown and learned from it, as they've "discovered what hurts" and "tasted hell." Overall, the song speaks to the idea of choosing one's own path, experiencing intense emotions, and coming out stronger for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Passion that shouts
and red with anger
I lost myself
Through alleys of mysteries
I went up and down
like a demented train
Overwhelming emotions, boiling with fury led me astray, deep into the unknowns of life. I wandered around with no particular direction, like a mentally disturbed train.
Don't take it personal
I choose my own fate
I follow love
I follow hate.
My actions are not meant to harm anyone, I am only doing what I want. I pursue both love and hate with the same fervor, without caring about others.
Searching for something
that makes makes hearts move
I found myself.
But my best possession
walked into the shade
and threatened to drift away.
After a long search for something that would give meaning to my life, I finally found myself. But the most valuable thing I had drifted away from me and slipped into darkness, threatening to be lost forever.
Full of myself
I left you behind
as if I could,
possessed by Quixote's dream
went to fight dragons
in the land of concrete.
Overconfident and arrogant, I abandoned you without a thought, as if I was invincible. Driven by an unrealistic and fanciful fantasy, I fought fierce battles in a world of urban constructs.
Rolling in pain
discovered what hurts
and tasted hell
infatuated by madness
I danced in flames
and drunk in the depth of love.
Suffering immense pain, I learned the nature of pain itself and experienced the depths of despair. Despite its madness, I fell in love with the chaos and freely danced in flames, immersed in the abyss of passion.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.