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/
Twilight
The Twilight Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Summer's end
So in your absence
I shall begin
When Darkness falls the race is done
And Love lives not
When Hope is gone
Goodbye, sufer
Everything's gonna be alright
The longest night of every year
I spent beside you, baby
Do you remember anything about me?
I was the one when Hope was gone
Who took too long to sing this song
Everything's gonna be alright
When darkness falls
On Summer's end
So in your absence
I shall begin
When Darkness falls
The race is through
Everything's gonna be alright
The lyrics to the song "Twilight" by The Twilight Singers are quite powerful, as they speak to a sense of hopelessness and loss that can come with the end of summer and the onset of darkness. The opening line sets the tone, as the singer notes that when darkness falls on summer's end, he will begin to feel the absence of someone who has left his life. The imagery of darkness further emphasizes this sense of loss, as the brightness and warmth of summer gives way to the colder, darker months of the year.
As the song continues, the singer notes that when darkness falls, the race is done and love no longer exists. This suggests that the absence of the person he is mourning has left him feeling defeated and without hope for the future. He bids them goodbye and acknowledges the pain that he is feeling. However, in the midst of this sadness, there is a note of optimism: "Everything's gonna be alright." This line is repeated throughout the song and serves as a refrain that gives some sense of comfort and reassurance.
The second verse of the song takes a more specific turn, as the singer remembers spending the longest night of the year with the person who has left him. He asks if they remember anything about him and reflects on the fact that he was the one who held out hope even when it seemed impossible. The repetition of the opening lines and the refrain underscore the idea that even in the darkest moments, there is some glimmer of hope to hold onto.
Line by Line Meaning
When darkness falls
When all hope is gone and the future looks bleak,
On Summer's end
At the end of a period of happiness and warmth, when the days grow shorter and colder,
So in your absence
During the time when you are not here with me,
I shall begin
I will start to move forward and make a new beginning on my own,
When Darkness falls the race is done
When all options are exhausted and there is nothing left to do,
And Love lives not
When love has faded or died,
When Hope is gone
When there is no more optimism or expectation for the future,
Goodbye, sufer
Farewell to suffering and pain,
Everything's gonna be alright
Despite the hardships and challenges, everything will eventually work out for the better,
The longest night of every year
The darkest and coldest night that lasts the longest,
I spent beside you, baby
I was with you during our darkest moments,
Do you remember anything about me?
Do you still think about me and the time we spent together?
I was the one when Hope was gone
I was the one who stayed strong and optimistic when there was no hope left,
Who took too long to sing this song
I waited too long to express my feelings and thoughts,
When Darkness falls
When all hope is gone and the future looks bleak,
The race is through
There is nothing left to do or fight for,
Everything's gonna be alright
Despite the hardships and challenges, everything will eventually work out for the better,
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GREG DULLI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind