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/
Underneath the Waves
The Twilight Singers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underneath the waves, where I can come inside
A reveille, told in fractured time
Only in this way, will I become alive
fill me with your love, I'm standing by
You and you alone, don't ask me why
There's an inner place, I cannot find
so s-o-l, and petrified
So, everytime, you blow your mind
I wait for you, you never come
You're bleeding through, I must be numb
And you are just a dream, I cannot find
From under what you see, don't ask me why
don't leave it alone, my love, my wreckage
I ain't to weak to run, tho slow, I'm coming
once I count the numbers down, to the end or there around
Free or thus, forever bound, for forever's coming down
And finally...
fill me with your love, I'm by your side
You and you alone, don't ask me why
For you I will be there, I just can't hide
From way beyond the glare, I'll tell you why
The Twilight Singers’ song “Underneath the Waves” appears to be the tale of a person longing to escape from the reality they’re living in. The opening line, “Take me to a place, high above the tide,” suggests that the singer is seeking respite from the everyday world. They want to retreat from their troubles and find solace under the waves, a place where they can find peace and be free from their worries.
The second verse continues the theme of escapism, as the singer seeks to be “filled with love,” but only by one specific person. They’re on the verge of giving up hope when they say, “You never come,” implying that they’re waiting for someone who isn’t showing up. The singer conveys a sense of being lost and aimless in their search for love, repeating the line “I cannot find” twice. The bridge serves as a plea for help, with the singer feeling “s-o-l and petrified,” possibly meaning “alone” and “petrified with fear.” The repeated line “Don’t ask me why” appears to be an admission that they don’t know why they’re feeling this way, but they’re still seeking help nonetheless.
In the third verse, the singer seems to have accepted their fate, saying “For you I will be there, I just can’t hide.” The theme of being unable to hide continues, as they’ll be there “from way beyond the glare,” or out of sight but still present. This could suggest that they’ve given up on finding love or escaping their reality, but they’re still willing to be there for others.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me to a place, high above the tide
Bring me to a place free from the chaos and uncertainty of everyday life.
Underneath the waves, where I can come inside
In a place hidden and deep, where I can find refuge from the world.
A reveille, told in fractured time
A call, a signal, broken and disjointed like my own life.
Only in this way, will I become alive
Only by finding this place of peace, will I truly feel alive again.
fill me with your love, I'm standing by
Please give me your love, as I am open and waiting for it.
You and you alone, don't ask me why
You are the only one I want, and I can't explain why.
There's an inner place, I cannot find
There is a part of myself that I cannot access or understand.
so s-o-l, and petrified
I am alone and afraid.
So, everytime, you blow your mind
Every time you surprise me, shock me, or challenge me, I am both afraid and intrigued.
I wait for you, you never come
I am waiting for you to come and save me, but you never seem to show up.
You're bleeding through, I must be numb
You are hurting, and I feel nothing – I am numb to the world.
And you are just a dream, I cannot find
Sometimes it feels like you aren't real, like you only exist in my dreams.
From under what you see, don't ask me why
I am trapped beneath the surface, and I can't explain why.
don't leave it alone, my love, my wreckage
Please don't abandon me, even though I am damaged and broken.
I ain't to weak to run, tho slow, I'm coming
I may be slow and hesitant, but I am not weak – I am still trying to save myself.
once I count the numbers down, to the end or there around
As I grow closer to the end of my life, I am counting down the days until I find peace.
Free or thus, forever bound, for forever's coming down
Whether I am free or trapped, I know that time is running out for me.
fill me with your love, I'm by your side
Please give me your love, as I am here with you.
You and you alone, don't ask me why
You are the only one I want, and I can't explain why.
For you I will be there, I just can't hide
I will always be here for you, even if I try to hide it.
From way beyond the glare, I'll tell you why
Even from afar, I will explain why you are the only one for me.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: GREGORY E DULLI, JON SKIBIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind