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/
There's Been an Accident
The Twilight Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't sleep here no more, so, my shadow walks in place of me
Like candy, your eyes, seetly, roll out of control
Like the singer, alive, but just barely holding on
far away, where you run, when it all becam undone
You'll be dust, realize, you were taken for a ride
But still you call that number, til you're crawling under
I'm alive, it kinda took me by surprise
But everytime I look away, there's no light
There's no sentry at the gate
far away, where you run, when it all becam undone
You'll be dust, realize, you were taken for a ride
But still you call that number
'til you're crawling under
'til you're crawling under
'til you're crawling under
'til you're crawling under
Them stones, assorted jones, and picked over bones
daylight is creeping, I feel it burn my face
I don't sleep here no more, so, my shadow walks in place of m
e
The Twilight Singers's song "There" seems to be about loss, regret, and the haunting memories of a past relationship. The opening lyrics set the scene with the singer waking up to the creeping daylight, feeling the burn of the sun on his face. He no longer sleeps in his old bed, and his shadow now walks in his place as a physical representation of his absence.
The next lines describe the irresistible allure of the person he used to be with, as her sweet eyes roll out of control like candy. The comparison to a barely alive singer holding on suggests a relationship that was once vibrant but is now barely hanging on. The chorus features the repeated description of a place far away where the character runs to escape the pain of their relationship. However, despite being taken for a ride, the character still can't resist the temptation to call that number and crawl back under the stones and picked over bones of their past relationship.
The bridge features a moment of realization that the character is alive and unexpectedly thriving, but the light and the gate were not there to guide them along the way. The song ends with a final repetition of the chorus and the haunting reminder that the character is alone despite their efforts to rekindle what was lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Daylight is creeping, I feel it burn my face
The sun is rising and it hurts my eyes, showing that time moves forward and takes its toll.
I don't sleep here no more, so, my shadow walks in place of me
The singer is not present in his own life but his shadow remains, showcasing how disconnected he feels.
Like candy, your eyes, sweetly, roll out of control
Someone's eyes are intoxicating and addictive to the singer, as if they were candy. They have a powerful hold on him.
Like the singer, alive, but just barely holding on
The singer is barely holding on to life just like how his music could be described, being emotionally raw and painful.
far away, where you run, when it all became undone
Escaping and distancing yourself from painful situations is understandable, but it does not always solve the problem, and sometimes it just delays it.
You'll be dust, realize, you were taken for a ride
When it is all said and done, we are left with nothing, not even memories. We may realize we were misled and taken advantage of during life.
But still you call that number, till you're crawling under, Them stones, assorted jones, and all alone
Even though someone has betrayed and hurt us, it is common to still reach out to them. But in the end, you will end up alone with nothing left to show.
I'm alive, it kinda took me by surprise
The singer is caught off guard that they are still alive despite all the pain they have endured. Life can be surprising and unexpected.
But everytime I look away, there's no light
The darkness is overwhelming and consumes the singer whenever they aren't looking straight at it, showing how hard it is to escape the negative aspects of life.
There's no sentry at the gate
No one or nothing is guarding or protecting the singer, they are left to fend for themselves in this unforgiving world.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GREGORY E DULLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
brendonwife (Rena Sumeragi)
Yes! Finally I found it! Been looking for this song since ages. Heard it many years ago on the radio, then recently in the awesome movie Choke, and bingo!
MustardSeedFaith 0000
Understated perfection
Victoria Ordin
First album I heard or bought of Dulli's (Whigs or TS) I love this song. Opening keyboards....
sistasaturn
Thanks Choke for this awesome song!
conjured_up_skeletons
Neat fkg picture bros.!
Eric Sand
music
qu1xotic
Choke
Jack Arlington
Howdy!