Anderson also had this to say about the renewed partnership with Bernard Butler: “For years and years after Bernard left Suede it was me running the show, but now the stakes are raised. I feel like we are duelling with each other, in some kind of friendly competition. When we were at our best it was always like that, each trying to better each other.”
The band played their first ever live show on December 14, 2004 at the Oxford Zodiac. Things went as expected for the "new" band, and most new songs were received well by those attending the first set of shows. When asked during a concert by a fan to play the famous Suede song, The Drowners, Anderson replied saying, "Did somebody say they want us to play The Drowners? They came to the wrong gig".
Apart from relatively minor reviews of the first clutch of live shows, The Tears first press, a review of Refugees, interview with Anderson and a poster(!)was in The Sun on 15 April. The next major article was by Alex Petridis in The Guardian, which ended on an extremely optimistic note: "the pair seem artistically reinvigorated by each other's company. Anderson talks excitedly of Tears songs like the ballad Asylum, inspired by his father's struggle with depression, as having moved away from "Suede cliches or Brett Anderson cliches ... it's not, you know, opiated fop territory". There's even a hint of the old provocative flash and arrogance when talk turns to the future: Here Comes the Tears feels like a debut. It will be massively bettered. On this at least there's no hint of disagreement. "This album's like rocking the boat a bit. There's been a few splashes," nods Butler. "Next time, I want to get rid of the sails and see what happens."
From the start, Anderson and Butler were very insistent that the band would not be playing any songs by Suede. Things would change over time, however, as the band ended up playing a b-side of Suede's titled The Living Dead to an enthusiastic reception, during an encore for their show at the Sheffield Leadmill in April. On April 25, 2005, the band's first single, Refugees, was released. The single was very much a success and jumped into the top ten singles chart at number nine.
The band's debut album, Here Come The Tears followed on June 6, 2005. It was released to stellar reviews that helped solidify the duo's comeback, yet it failed to crack the top 10. In late June, the band played a set at the John Peel stage at the Glastonbury Festival. The second single from the debut album, entitled Lovers, was released on June 27. Though a significantly lower charting than the previous single, it still managed a decent spot in the top 25.
More than a month later, singer Anderson announced that he would release his long awaited solo album in between the touring and the release of the band's follow up album. After playing a few festivals and international gigs, the band announced a European tour with dates in October and November. However, to the disappointment of many fans, they later cancelled the tour in favour of beginning work on their second album. Shortly after, the band were dropped from their label most likely due to insufficient touring or low sales.
In late April of 2006, Anderson posted a message on the band's message board announcing the band were on temporary hiatus because "no one ever wanted this thing to get caught up within the drudgery of the whole tour/record/tour cycle anyway". In addition, he announced that he had completed his debut solo album and that it would see light in early 2007, hinting that the second Tears record would most likely come after that, if at all.
By the end of August 2006, their website and forum are officially closed, leaving dimmer hope for the future of the band.
In September of 2006 Butler posted on his website: ".....actually tears are the same as ever....i guess coming from the suede trajectory it would look odd to make a record and not stick to the brand name plugging away endlessly at one thing....but if you take my shocking career line over 12 years its just par for the course....im on top of the world working constantly on terrific records from 1990's the mescalitas on offs, and soon we will be making the Duffy record ....
yes i always loved more than i thought"
The Asylum
The Tears Lyrics
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All the megaphones are screaming letters of the lord
Would you walk in through the gate and visit me?
Would you please? In the asylum
When they're counting out the chemicals and doing daily tasks
Giving out prescription drugs and putting on their masks
Would you wander through the ground to visit me?
Would you please? In the asylum
If they burn my brain away would you understand?
If they try to hold me down would you hold my hand?
Could you stand?, stand the asylum
In the asylum
In the asylum
In the asylum
The Tears’s song “The Asylum” is a haunting and melancholic composition that depicts the struggles of a person incarcerated in a mental institution. The song’s opening verse describes the person’s fear of the staff and the oppressive atmosphere of the institution. The following verse portrays the monotony of daily life in the facility, with the staff distributing medication and masquerading behind their masks. However, as the song progresses, the artist pleads for someone to visit them in the asylum.
The chorus is where the artist’s pleas for companionship and assistance become more desperate. They ask if the visitor would still understand them if their mental faculties were to be destroyed by the institution's treatments. They also ask if the visitor would provide emotional support if they were to be physically restrained. The final line of the chorus is a direct appeal for the visitor to be by their side during their time at the institution.
The lyrical content of this song reflects the stigma and isolation that those with mental illness face. The artist is conveying the despair that comes with being abandoned in an institution where they feel trapped, untreated, and misunderstood. The song provides a poignant reminder that mental health is a pressing issue that deserves more attention and compassion.
Line by Line Meaning
When I hear the men outside my window kicking down my door
I feel threatened and scared by the people outside my door who are trying to break in.
All the megaphones are screaming letters of the lord
The people outside are using religious rhetoric or language to amplify their message and intimidate me.
Would you walk in through the gate and visit me?
I would appreciate your visit and support during this terrifying experience that I am going through.
Would you please? In the asylum
I am asking you to come to the asylum, a place where I am being held against my will, to ensure that I am safe and not alone.
When they're counting out the chemicals and doing daily tasks
The people in the asylum are heavily medicating me and performing routines on me as part of their daily work.
Giving out prescription drugs and putting on their masks
The staff in the asylum are administering prescription drugs and hiding their true emotions and intentions behind a mask or facade.
Would you wander through the ground to visit me?
I want you to be brave and come to the asylum even though it may be intimidating, so that you can see what I am going through.
As they opened up the gates and turned the key
The asylum gates are being opened by the staff, providing an opportunity for you to enter and visit me.
If they burn my brain away would you understand?
If the drugs and treatment at the asylum lead to extreme side effects or damage to my brain, would you empathize and comprehend the severity of my situation?
If they try to hold me down would you hold my hand?
If the staff in the asylum restrain me or use force to control me, will you stand by me and offer me comfort or support?
Could you stand?, stand the asylum
I am asking if you have the courage and strength to come to the asylum and face the harsh reality of what is happening to me.
In the asylum
This phrase is repeated at the end of the song to reinforce the idea that the artist is trapped and alone in the asylum, and that their only hope is for someone to come visit them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD JOSEPH BUTLER, BRETT ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind