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/
Martin Eden
The Twilight Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's party time
You know how I love stormy weather
So, let's all play suicide
The crowd wants you bleeding
The eyes from your head
Get off your knees
How wide?
How deep the river?
Black-as dark as night
How long?
How far?
I'll know when I get to the other side
Whatever it is you've stolen
I'll recognize
I'll sympathize
I reckon that I've seen it all
And start falling
I breathe in
Unchain myself
Tonight's the night
No wind, rain, conversation
Brings me back alive tonight
How wide?
How deep the river black as night?
Black out the windows
It's party time
I see a light
That I recognize
“Martin Eden” is a song by The Twilight Singers, led by former Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli. The song's lyrics create a haunting atmosphere, as Dulli creates a portrait of a world that has become too much for the singer. He suggests that the only way to survive such a dark reality is to numb oneself to it. The line, “Black out the windows, it’s party time” suggests that the singer is throwing a party, but he does not want anyone to see inside. He chooses to shut out any light or visibility, further emphasizing his withdrawal from the world.
Greg Dulli then shifts to singing about suicide, implying he wants to take his own life. The singer feels like the crowd wants him to bleed and pluck his eyes out. However, he encourages himself to get off his knees and says it will be all right. He contemplates the blackness of the river, which indicates the severe mood he is in. The singer has a sense of finality as he talks about the other side, perhaps suggesting he might be suicidal or feels like he’s about to die.
The chorus acts as a center-point where the singer sings about recognizing whatever it is he has stolen, and he sympathizes with it. He feels like he's seen it all and has started falling. He then unchains himself and breathes in some life before the final chorus of "black out the windows" repeats. The song concludes with a sense of relief as he finally sees the light he recognizes.
Line by Line Meaning
Black out the windows
Let's turn off all the lights
It's party time
We're going to have fun
You know how I love stormy weather
I like it when things are intense and dramatic
So, let's all play suicide
Let's take risks and live dangerously
The crowd wants you bleeding
People want to see you hurt
The eyes from your head
They want to take away your vision
Get off your knees
Don't be subservient
You'll be fine
You can handle it
How wide?
How much space do I need?
How deep the river?
How difficult will the challenge be?
Black-as dark as night
The challenge will be intense
How long?
How much time will it take?
How far?
What's the distance ahead?
I'll know when I get to the other side
I'll realize how significant the journey was when I finish it
Whatever it is you've stolen
I know you've taken something
I'll recognize
I'll know what you've taken
I'll sympathize
I'll understand why you took it
I reckon that I've seen it all
I feel as though I've experienced everything
And start falling
But I'm not done yet and I'll keep taking risks
I breathe in
I'm taking a deep breath to focus
Unchain myself
I'm freeing myself from doubt and uncertainty
Tonight's the night
I'm ready to take on anything
No wind, rain, conversation
Nothing can distract me
Brings me back alive tonight
I feel alive when I'm testing myself
I see a light
There's a glimmer of hope
That I recognize
I know what it means
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: D. SCOTT JOHNSON, JESSE M. VALENZUELA, PHILLIP RHODES, PHILLIP N. RHODES, ROBIN WILSON, WILLIAM LEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@redefire1774
Black out the windows
It’s party time
You know how I love stormy weather
So let’s all play suicide
The crowd wants you bleeding
The eyes from your head
Get off your knees
You’ll be fine
How wide?
How deep?
The river black
As dark as night
How long?
How far?
I’ll know when I get to the other side
Whatever it is you’ve stolen
I recognize
I sympathize
I reckon that I’ve seen it all
And start falling
I breathe in
Unchain myself
Tonight’s the night
No wind, rain, conversation
Brings me back alive tonight
How wide?
How deep?
The river black as night
Black out the windows
It’s party time
I see a light
That I recognize
@sympathyforthedevil1553
Amazing 🌴🌴🌴
@kevinlydon5064
what a classic from an underrated album
@emilystock3732
A friend brought me here. I’m in love!
@koltunzbuszu9905
yes. I am rastaman but this whole album is one of the most important in my life.
@andrewvictor881
The last comment left on this song was posted one year ago! (With the exception of this one) I hope someone discovers this song and loves it as much as I.
@fleskel
2 years later but I wandered onto this song and it just speaks to me on another level.
@edebioyunlar3515
@@fleskel me too
@TheManuFace
Amazing... it's such a warm rain that it fall down on the body!
@OtrusEncide
Momblano brought me here. What a song!
@emily54215
Masterpiece