While in-between Afghan Whigs albums and amidst a dispute with their record label, Elektra, Dulli recorded demos for the act with friends and collaborators Shawn Smith (Brad, Satchel, Pigeonhed) and Harold "Happy" Chichester (Royal Crescent Mob, Howlin' Maggie) in New Orleans. The demos have an exceptionally dark, tense, and New Orleans-flavored groove and swagger. As a result of The Afghan Whigs' label troubles, it is debated that Elektra leaked the demo tapes as they were widely circulated in the trader circuit.
The Afghan Whigs settled their dispute with Elektra and signed with Sony/Columbia in April 1998. Columbia optioned The Twilight Singers recordings; but preferred to release a new Afghan Whigs album instead. The Afghan Whigs' swan song 1965 was released in October 1998 to wide critical acclaim. The band toured for one year in support of the album but decided to disband in February 2001.
2000 saw Greg Dulli revive The Twilight Singers, reworking the original leaked demos with dance producers and remix auteurs Fila Brazillia. The final product was a mix of southern trumpet, Midwest idealism, and UK big beat, all masking a solemn dirge of life's transformation to death. Columbia released the album as Twilight as Played by the Twilight Singers in September 2000. The band toured with members of Howlin' Maggie and former Afghan Whigs' drummer, Michael Horrigan, on bass.
Dulli took time off following the short tour for Twilight.., investing in a bar in Los Angeles. In 2001, he began working on the follow up for Twilight.. tentatively titled Amber Headlights. The death of Dulli's friend, director Ted Demme in January 2002, forced him to shelve the project, and he took a second leave from writing and recording. After reading the Jack London book Martin Eden, and experiencing an earthquake, Dulli set about writing the concept album that became Blackberry Belle.
Working with a large cast of performers, including former Prince protégé Apollonia and former Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan, Blackberry Belle became a rolling expose' of the dark side of love and loss, a familiar topic revisited from former Afghan Whigs albums like Black Love. The critics welcomed Dulli's return and were eager to give his second album, independently financed and released through One Little Indian in October 2003, high marks.
A second touring version of The Twilight Singers including Jon Skibic (guitars), Scott Ford (bass) and Bobby Macintyre (drums), made two legs through the United States and Europe in 2003 and 2004.
August 2004, the band released their third album, She Loves You, a collection of cover songs from artists as varied as Fleetwood Mac, Mary J. Blige, and George Gershwin.
September 2005, Dulli finally released his formerly shelved Amber Headlights on his own Infernal Recordings label through his official website thetwilightsingers.com as his first solo album while working on his fourth Twilight Singers' album titled Powder Burns.
Dulli is also the other member of the duo called The Gutter Twins with Mark Lanegan who released their album entitled Saturnalia.
A third touring version of The Twilight Singers including Dave Rosser (guitars), Scott Ford (bass), singer/songwriter Jeff Klein (keys) and Bobby Macintyre (drums), played at the 2006 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX at the venue Friends (208 E 6th St) on March 16th to debut tracks from Powder Burns. Mark Lanegan also currently tours with the group.
The Twilight Singers released Powder Burns on May 16, 2006 supported by United States and European tours.
On January 3, 2007, The Twilight Singers made their television debut on the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show, performing their song "Forty Dollars" from Powder Burns. The band was joined by friend and musician Joseph Arthur on guitar and vocals.
In 2011 they released the full length album "Dynamite Steps".
www.thetwilightsingers.com/
Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair
The Twilight Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her face so soft and wonderous fair
The purest eyes and the strongest hands
I love the ground on where she stands
I love the ground on where, on where she stands
Oh, I love my lover, and well she knows
Yes, I love the ground on where she goes
When she and I will be, will be as one
When she and I will be, will be as one
To be oh (?)
So black is the colour of my true love's hair
Her face so soft and wonderous fair
The purest eyes and the strongest hands
I love the ground on where she stands
I love the ground on where, on where she stands
I love the ground on where, on where she stands
The Twilight Singers' "Love" is a cover of the traditional folk song "Black Is the Color (of My True Love's Hair)." The song was originally recorded in Appalachia in the early 20th century with the earliest known recording being from the 1920s. The basic premise of the song is about a person who is in love with someone whose hair is black. The singer describes how beautiful and wonderful their lover is, with the strongest hands and purest eyes. They love not only their lover but also the ground on which they stand. The singer dreams of the day when they can be as one.
This song is an ode to love and devotion. The color black is associated with mystery, darkness, and sometimes even death. However, in this song, black is used in a different context, representing the beauty of the singer's love interest. The singer's admiration is not just superficial, but they admire the strength and purity of their lover's character as well.
The use of repetition adds to the power of the song's lyrics. Each verse begins and ends with the same lines, highlighting the singer's unwavering love for their partner. The line "I love the ground on where she stands" is particularly powerful because it shows the depth of the love the singer has for their partner. They do not just love the person, but everything about them, including where they stand.
Line by Line Meaning
Black is the colour of my true love's hair
My lover has black hair, which is the true colour of her beauty.
Her face so soft and wonderous fair
She has a soft and beautiful face that fills me with wonder and joy.
The purest eyes and the strongest hands
My lover has eyes that are pure and hands that are strong, which are qualities that I admire in her.
I love the ground on where she stands
I love everything about my lover, including the places where she stands and exists in the world.
I love the ground on where, on where she stands
This sentiment is so strong that I must reiterate it, that I love the very earth that supports her.
Oh, I love my lover, and well she knows
I passionately love my partner, and she is well aware of my feelings for her.
Yes, I love the ground on where she goes
Not only where she stands, but I also love wherever she goes or travels to.
And still I hope that the time will come
Despite my deep affection for her, I still hold onto the hope that we will eventually be together in a more intimate way.
When she and I will be, will be as one
I long for the day when we can be together as one entity, united in love and closeness.
To be oh (?)
The meaning of this line is unclear and requires more context to accurately interpret.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NINA SIMONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hilayda
How this is so beautiful and nobody is listening this masterpiece?! Like how !!?!?!
Leslie Fadlon
In love with this song.
Afterangie Agnese
+Leslie Fadlon
Perdutamente innamorata....anch'io!!!!!!
Christie Paterson
doesn't get any better than this
A5 SMP GAMERS
Christie Paterson
Rayden30
Never herd of tgis band before but this tune is a belter!!! Soo good
Stephen Barrett
exciting take on one of my all time favourite songs. Well-done
KostazK
what a genius this guy was
ippolit kavarzin
Да, Вы правы, человек ануса иметь не должен. Ибо он не сочетается с высоким полетом души, с вечной любовью...И в этом наше раздвоение, и в этом наша трагедия!
Ayşe Nur Baran
This song beatiful