Fittingly enough, Borland's motivation to cut ties to the punk movement mirrored that of original Buzzcocks member Howard Devoto, who left his own band after Spiral Scratch. Like Devoto, who had gone on to pioneer yet another field called post-punk with Magazine, Borland looked around, saw all the bands who played straight-ahead chug-chug-chug rock & roll, and decided that the tired blueprint was in need of a little more depth and variation; atmospheres, tensions, and unfamiliar twists on the interplay between the instruments would be needed. Lyrics were another thing. Not content with simply railing against the government or grunting and yelping about trivial matters to merely keep a song moving, Borland became one of the few post-punk songwriters whose lyric sheets were truly worth ingesting and analyzing. Former Outsider Adrian Janes aided the cause, remaining involved with Borland in a behind-the-scenes manner, writing some of the band's lyrics with his former band mate.
The Sound made their first recordings in the living room of the Borland family home, with Adrian's supportive father Bob acting as recording engineer. As demonstrated on Propaganda, a posthumous release from 1999 that collects these sessions, the band was gradually -- not so drastically and suddenly -- leaving the Stooges/Velvets axis and applying touches that would be developed into something all their own. They received their first break of sorts from Stephen Budd, an early supporter since the Outsiders days, who had recorded and released some material by Bailey and Borland's electronically inclined side project, Second Layer. Budd's label, Tortch Records, made a small profit from a Second Layer release, so he opted to put it right back into the Sound's first release. Budd also became the band's manager, booking studio time for them with Nick Robbins in Elephant Studios and finding places for the band to gig.
The first release made a humble impression. Physical World was reviewed positively in the NME by Paul Morley, and DJ John Peel took minor interest, playing it a couple times during his influential BBC program. Though the Sound hadn't the will to pine for a major label deal, the WEA-affiliated Korova label (home of Echo & the Bunnymen) came knocking when they found out the band was going back into the studio to make a full album. Korova heard the rough mixes of the album and a deal was made. Regardless of the label's involvement, Jeopardy was recorded cheaply, and upon its release was reviewed extremely favourably by all the important outlets. Reviews in the NME, Sounds, and Melody Maker gave it five stars. Rightfully likened to the Bunnymen, the Teardrop Explodes, and Joy Division in those reviews, one only needs to hear the weakest song from the record to realize that the Sound -- from the very beginning -- belonged in that high class.
Bi Marshall left the band and was replaced by Max Mayers (aka Colvin Mayers) before the Sound went in to work with master producer Hugh Jones, who had previously worked with the Teardrops and the Bunnymen, for the follow-up. From the Lion's Mouth took full advantage of the band's atmospheric, mind-bending capabilities by coating their songs -- accessible and economical as ever -- with richly layered productions that didn't hide the rock-solid foundation the songs were built on. Another round of positive reviews and another round of general indifference from the public ensued, though a cult following was festering. Korova became a little anxious with the band and wanted some hits. Surely, the next one would break them.
It wouldn't happen. Working again with Nick Robbins, the band was pressured by the label to compromise and play the pop game. Not only that, but the band was shifted to WEA proper, a move that probably had more to do with taxes than music. The heat from the label and the climate it spawned resulted in All Fall Down, one of those historically troubled third albums (i.e., the one that super-diehard fans defend to their grave). The Sound responded to the situation with their least penetrable record by a couple brick walls. And WEA responded to the response with no promotion. Criticized for being too wilfully distant, for cannibalizing the back catalog, and for lacking immediacy (i.e., "tunes"), the record still has much to give the listener. Although it's not the band's best moment by a long shot, it's hardly something the band would feel ashamed of later on. To little surprise, the band wound up without a label and decided to reconsider their direction.
The period of dormancy involved a collective realization that the enthusiasm for making music and playing it, despite being a little drained from their experiences with WEA, had never really waned. Several major labels expressed interest in signing them, but in the end Statik won out; the band decided it would be better to go with the small independent. (Surprisingly enough, the band worked out a short-term deal with A&M to release material in the States, but it was pretty pointless.) Shock of Daylight, a six-song EP, was released in 1984. The time off served them well, resulting in some of the band's most fiery and uplifting material. This carried through to the following year's glassy/classy Heads and Hearts, the band's fourth studio album. Two dates at the Marquee during August were recorded for the double live album In the Hothouse, which was released in 1986.
For their final album, 1987's Thunder Up (released on Play It Again Sam in Belgium and Nettwerk in Canada), the band allowed the darkness from All Fall Down and the shivering, plaintive desolation of Shock of Daylight's "Winter" to creep back in. Few were still paying attention, but the Sound released a swan song that most of the members considered to be their finest work, with plenty of variety that hangs together. Nearly a decade of empty wallets and minor personality clashes had eroded the band's resilience, so the band decided to stop shortly after its release.
Borland continued in music throughout the next two decades, producing other acts and releasing another batch of under-appreciated records as a solo artist and as a member of a couple side projects (the Honolulu Mountain Daffodils, White Rose Transmission). Bailey, Dudley, and Mayers left music for the most part. Mayers passed away in the early '90s, a victim of AIDS. And on April 26, 1999, Borland took his own life. Thanks to the Renascent label's reissuing program in the late '90s and early 2000s, the Sound's discography has been restored and revitalized. "From the Lion's Mouth" is still regarded as a mark in new wave.
Counting the Days
The Sound Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The years before our happiness
And moving mountains into that ocean
Won't make that sadness any less
Counting the days towards our new construction
Moving mountains by compulsion
The impulse that shocks us out of our long term decision
I'm counting the days towards our love
So far apart in so many ways
Like the way five hours feels like forever
It's in our hands to make our stands
And move these continents together
He was with you like she was with me
More than a best friend, a guiding light
But lessons learned and now we have to burn
Our fires in the night
Cross the ocean of tears
Before the moving mountains disappear
The Sound's song Counting the Days talks about the struggle and hardship of moving on from a past relationship towards a new construction. The opening line, "There's an ocean of tears, the years before our happiness," suggests that the pain and traumatic experiences from the past continue to loom large and haunt the present. The next line, "And moving mountains into that ocean won't make that sadness any less," implies that no matter how hard one tries to bury or forget about the past, it never really goes away. "Counting the days towards our new construction" signifies that despite the difficulties, there is hope and optimism for a brighter future.
The second verse emphasizes the physical distance and emotional disconnect that exists between the two individuals. "So far apart in so many ways, like the way five hours feels like forever," conveys the sense of longing and separation that comes with maintaining a long-distance relationship. However, the song suggests that it's not entirely hopeless. "It's in our hands to make our stands and move these continents together" communicates the idea that with concerted effort and commitment, even seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome.
The third verse introduces a third person in the story, someone who was previously a significant other or confidante to both individuals. "He was with you like she was with me, more than a best friend, a guiding light" represents the shared history and connection that exists between them. However, the line "But lessons learned and now we have to burn our fires in the night" implies that their previous relationship was toxic or caused harm, and they must now move on from it.
Overall, the song is about resilience and the determination to overcome obstacles, whether they be emotional scars, physical distance, or past experiences. It conveys the idea that moving towards a new construction requires great effort and sacrifice, but it's ultimately worth it if it leads to a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
There's an ocean of tears
Before our happiness, we had years of sadness represented as an ocean of tears.
The years before our happiness
The time period before our happiness was filled with difficulties and struggles.
And moving mountains into that ocean
Trying to solve our sadness by taking drastic measures, like moving mountains, won't change the underlying emotions.
Won't make that sadness any less
Attempting to fix the sadness in extreme ways will not diminish its intensity.
Counting the days towards our new construction
We are eagerly waiting for a new beginning, a new project or creation.
Moving mountains by compulsion
We feel the need to take action, even if it requires great effort and persistence.
The impulse that shocks us out of our long term decision
Sometimes we need a sudden, unexpected event to make us change our minds about a long-standing decision.
I'm counting the days towards our love
I'm looking forward to the rekindling of our love and the beginning of a new phase of our relationship.
So far apart in so many ways
We lack connection and intimacy in multiple aspects of our lives.
Like the way five hours feels like forever
Time drags on when we're not together, and each moment feels like an eternity.
It's in our hands to make our stands
We have the power to advocate for our relationship and take action to bring us closer together.
And move these continents together
We can work to bring together separate parts of our lives, like the separate landmasses of continents.
He was with you like she was with me
We each had a close, supportive relationship with someone else in the past.
More than a best friend, a guiding light
These past relationships were more than just friendships; they were sources of inspiration and direction.
But lessons learned and now we have to burn
We've learned from our previous relationships, but we have to let them go in order to move forward.
Our fires in the night
As we look towards the future, we must create a new source of warmth and light to guide us forward.
Cross the ocean of tears
We need to overcome our past sadness and obstacles in order to move forward together.
Before the moving mountains disappear
If we don't take action soon, the impulse and motivation to change our situation may fade away.
Contributed by Julian L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@MarkSmith-ed2dz
There's an ocean of tears
The years before our happiness
And moving mountains into that ocean
Won't make that sadness any less
Counting the days towards our new construction
Moving mountains by compulsion
The impulse that shocks us out of our long term decision
I'm counting the days towards our love
So far apart in so many ways
Like the way five hours feels like forever
It's in our hands to make our stands
And move these continents together
He was with you like she was with me
More than a best friend, a guiding light
But lessons learned and now we have to burn
Our fires in the night
Cross the ocean of tears
Before the moving mountains disappear
@forecastjanna9229
There's an ocean of tears
The years before our happiness
And moving mountains into that ocean
Won't make that sadness any less
Counting the days towards our new construction
Moving mountains by compulsion
The impulse that shocks us out of our long term decision
I'm counting the days towards our love
So far apart in so many ways
Like the way five hours feels like forever
It's in our hands to make our stands
And move these continents together
Let's get together
He was with you like she was with me
More than a best friend, a guiding light
But lessons learned and now we have to burn
Our fires in the night
Counting the days towards our new construction
Moving mountains by compulsion
The impulse that shocks us out of our long term decision
I'm counting the days towards our love
Cross the ocean of tears
Before the moving mountains disappear
@wendrickhenrill8675
Que música 👏 Que música 👏
❤️🎶🇧🇷
O q essa música faz na minha alma é impossível de descrever. Amo demais.
@MarkSmith-ed2dz
There's an ocean of tears
The years before our happiness
And moving mountains into that ocean
Won't make that sadness any less
Counting the days towards our new construction
Moving mountains by compulsion
The impulse that shocks us out of our long term decision
I'm counting the days towards our love
So far apart in so many ways
Like the way five hours feels like forever
It's in our hands to make our stands
And move these continents together
He was with you like she was with me
More than a best friend, a guiding light
But lessons learned and now we have to burn
Our fires in the night
Cross the ocean of tears
Before the moving mountains disappear
@massivegat5087
Adrian is the reason I'm learning to sing and play guitar. More than any other artist, he's moved me. Such a tragic passing. I'll keep living as long as I can! I miss you, man. Hope to see you someday.
@gabrielceballos8789
same here
@rounick28
This is one of the most perfect songs, EVER. Right up there with "heroes","love will tear us appart",and "killing moon".
@noneinparticular2338
maybe love will tear us apart for me but good choice indeed
@blueprintblue6781
can't compare this to them.
@curly_wyn
@@blueprintblue6781 Can, this is easily as good!
@gabrielceballos8789
True
@fastessonkim
I recently discovered The Sound and Adrian Borland and I must admit that it's probably one of the best bands I've ever heard even though im just half way through their discography. This song is mindblowingly beautiful. It'll be the soundtrack for my 2011. Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the lyrics, the songmeaning?