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/
Bonnie Brae
The Twilight Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I can never see you anymore
Nightmare's believable
Walking into sweet oblivion
Not saying it's easy, no no
To feel it all or not at all
Somebody say, lay down your gun
Situation dire
It's gone away, it's not goin' away
Since you're wasting time again, my friend
On Bonnie Brae, on Bonnie Brae, on Bonnie Brae
If she's your master
Then get down on your knees and beg for more
Not saying it's easier
To live your life like a little whore
'Cause when you play with fire
Take your fate, it's not going away
Situation dire
On Bonnie Brae, on Bonnie Brae, on Bonnie Brae
The soul, the screen, the smoke in between
The rise, the fall, the thrill of
The first, the last, the sins of the past
The burn, the fade, the skin that you flayed
Come see the sun kill everyone
But me, I'm free
And you'd better bleed again
There was a rapture
So I can never see you anymore
Not saying it's easier
Not saying it's easier
The lyrics to Bonnie Brae by The Twilight Singers are open to interpretation, but it seems to explore themes relating to addiction, self-destruction, and the desire to escape. The opening lines "There was a rapture, so I can never see you anymore" could suggest a pinnacle moment of pleasure or ecstasy, but the aftermath is so devastating that the singer can never return to normal life again. The line "nightmare's believable, walking into sweet oblivion" emphasizes this. It seems to imply that addiction, whatever the substance or behavior, can seem like a dream world of release and pleasure, but it is ultimately a slippery slope that leads to destruction.
The second verse starts with the line "situation dire," suggesting a feeling of hopelessness and that the singer has lost control. The repeated line "on Bonnie Brae" could be a reference to a specific place or symbolize being trapped in a cycle. The mention of "living your life like a little whore" could be a harsh way of describing someone who is addicted and engaging in self-destructive behaviors. The chorus "not saying it's easy" repeats, as if acknowledging that nothing about the situation is simple or straightforward.
The final verse of the song jumps around with a variety of images and ideas that seem to relate to the theme of the song. The line "come see the sun kill everyone, but me, I'm free" could be a reference to death and how addiction can be a way of slowly killing oneself. The last line, "not saying it's easier, not saying it's easier," implies that the singer is aware that they are stuck in a difficult situation, but they don't know how to get out.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a rapture
There was a moment of intense pleasure or joy.
So I can never see you anymore
As a result of that moment, I can't see you anymore.
Nightmare's believable
The fear and anxiety caused by a bad dream seems real.
Walking into sweet oblivion
Going towards a pleasant state of unconsciousness or unawareness.
Not saying it's easy, no no
It's not simple or effortless, it's difficult.
To feel it all or not at all
Either experiencing everything or nothing at all.
Somebody say, lay down your gun
Someone is asking you to surrender or give up your weapon.
And when you lay it down get ready to run
Be prepared to flee once you have surrendered your weapon.
Situation dire
The circumstances are extremely serious or urgent.
It's gone away, it's not goin' away
The problem has disappeared but may return.
Since you're wasting time again, my friend
Because you're procrastinating once more, my friend.
On Bonnie Brae, on Bonnie Brae, on Bonnie Brae
In the area called Bonnie Brae, in Bonnie Brae, in Bonnie Brae.
If she's your master
If she has complete control over you.
Then get down on your knees and beg for more
You should kneel and plead for more if she's your master.
Not saying it's easier
It's just as challenging, it's not simpler.
To live your life like a little whore
To exist like a prostitute or a promiscuous person.
'Cause when you play with fire
Because when you take risks or act recklessly.
Take your fate, it's not going away
Accept your destiny, it will not disappear.
The soul, the screen, the smoke in between
The spiritual essence, the display, and the mist in the middle.
The rise, the fall, the thrill of
The ascension, the descent, and the excitement of.
The first, the last, the sins of the past
The initial, the final, and the wrongs committed previously.
The burn, the fade, the skin that you flayed
The blister, the loss of colour, and removing strips of flesh.
Come see the sun kill everyone
Observe the sun annihilating everyone.
But me, I'm free
Except for me, I'm not bound to anything.
And you'd better bleed again
And you will surely experience agony once more.
Not saying it's easier
It's just as challenging, it's not simpler.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GREGORY E DULLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JohnK-ph3vw
Oddly, I discovered this song 10 years ago and was already a fan of the Whigs.
Was going through a divorce from my 1st wife, and saw the video from Rescue Me and it described visually and musically how I felt.
Finding out (after months of suspecting) your wife of 12 years is cheating on you with a common friend, well, yeah.
I almost went Tommy Gavin on them both.
Music is life, excellent music is therapy.
@Douchebigelow666
Tommy beating the fuck out of Johnny ..... Rescue Me needs a movie
@personale-mail1393
D. bigelow The pilot was originally going to be a movie. That was Leary's vision.
@SamuelHerrera
If it wasn't for Rescue Me I wouldn't of never found my favorite band.
@MyEnemy
Welcome to the fold.
@lilredpothead
Same for me samuel.so happy I heard this. Its actually my fave episode of rescue me....plus I love johnny( dean winters)
@murphykenji
You know about the Afghan Whigs, right?
@SamuelHerrera
@@murphykenji of course, it’s where Greg stem from. They have great music as well.
@fabianschaberl1795
Same here
@TheRedman790
Never forget flipping to fx and seeing the scene this song was playing on Rescue Me. Bought the two first seasons. Caught up. Fan for life. Tommy Gavin forever.
@user-dh8tj1tk4n
WWTGD