A registered Communist starts a band called The United States of America and lands a major label record deal before playing a single live gig? Only in the Sixties. After studying with avant-garde legend John Cage in New York City, composer Joseph Byrd moved to Los Angeles in 1967 and decided to form a psychedelic rock band. His first recruit was ex-girlfriend Dorothy Moskowitz, whose icy vocals formed the perfect complement for the trippy sonic experiments Byrd had in mind.
The band recorded only one self-titled album before dissolving, but it was a memorable one."The American Metaphysical Circus" begins the album with a lilting calliope tune upon which Byrd heaps one patriotic marching band tune after another. Just when the whole insane cacaphony is on the verge of collapse, in comes Moskowitz - transmitting from a sinking submarine. "Cloud Song" features delicate plucked bass and an ever-haunting melody. Like an LSD flashback, the final minutes of closing track "The American Way of Love" features snippets of all the preceding songs flowing in and out of consciousness. "The United States of America" sold poorly upon release, thanks to Columbia's near total lack of faith. As Byrd puts it, "There was scant enthusiasm from the executives for a band whose name they hated, whose music they didn't understand, and whose politics they thought treasonous." But over the years, the group has developed a devoted cult following and influenced numerous modern bands, most notably Broadcast.
Despite releasing only one album, The United States of America was among the most revolutionary bands of the late '60s -- grounded equally in psychedelia and the avant-garde, their music eschewed guitars in favor of strings, keyboards and haunting electronics, predating the ambient pop of the modern era by several decades. Leader Joseph Byrd had studied with contemporary classical composers including John Cage (together with Yoko Ono); after the USA's single record he went on to form the equally short-lived Joe Byrd and the Field Hippies.
Coming Down
The United States of America Lyrics
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I think it's over now, I think it's ending.
There is sometimes a single secondary phase.
It's not unusual for it to last for days.
And everything is magnified when it is gone.
Reality is only temporary,
Reality is only temporary,
Without a satisfying answer anymore.
The present just repeats the future and the past.
I think it's over now, I think it's ending.
I think it's over now, I think it's ending.
There is no time for second answer to the past
If yesterday is gone don't try to make it last,
And summer winds have come and gone without a flood.
I think it's over now, I think it's ending.
I think it's over now, I think it's ending.
A thought of coloured clouds all high above my head,
A trip that doesn't need a ticket or a bed,
And everything is smelling sweeter then a rose.
The United States of America's song "Coming Down" is a psychedelic and introspective tune that delves into the fleeting nature of reality and the passage of time. The first verse speaks to the sense of finality that often accompanies the end of a relationship or a significant life event. The repetition of the phrase "I think it's over now, I think it's ending" reinforces a feeling of closure, even as the singer acknowledges that there may be a secondary phase to come. This secondary phase is often characterized by a heightened emotional state, as everything that was once present is now gone, making what remains all the more precious.
The second verse explores the concept of reality as a temporary construct, highlighting the idea that our understanding of the world is constantly shifting and evolving. The process of imitating things that went before creates a sense of repetition, where the present simply repeats the future and the past. This repetition is unsatisfying because it does not offer a new or satisfying answer to life's big questions.
The final verse of the song is perhaps the most optimistic, offering a vision of a world that is not bound by the constraints of time and space. The image of the coloured clouds and the trip that doesn't need a ticket or a bed suggests a spiritual or transcendental experience, one that is not tied to the physical world. The idea that everything is smelling sweeter than a rose reinforces a sense of peace and contentment, even as the singer acknowledges that this experience is temporary and fleeting.
Line by Line Meaning
I think it's over now, I think it's ending.
The singer believes that a certain phase or situation is coming to a close or ending.
There is sometimes a single secondary phase.
After the main phase comes to an end, there may be a follow-up phase that occurs.
It's not unusual for it to last for days.
This secondary phase could last for an extended period of time.
And everything is magnified when it is gone.
The absence or ending of something can make it seem more significant or noticeable.
Reality is only temporary,
Our perception of reality is fleeting and constantly changing.
A process imitating things that went before
Our experiences and perceptions of reality are often based on patterns that have occurred in the past.
Without a satisfying answer anymore.
Despite these patterns, there may not be a clear or satisfactory explanation for current events or situations.
The present just repeats the future and the past.
Our current situation is often just a repetition of what has already happened in the past or what may happen in the future.
There is no time for second answer to the past
We can't change what has already happened and shouldn't dwell on it.
If yesterday is gone don't try to make it last,
We can't hold onto the past and should live in the present.
And summer winds have come and gone without a flood.
Seasons change and things may come and go without causing any significant impact.
A thought of coloured clouds all high above my head,
The artist reflects on a pleasant and peaceful thought or memory of colorful clouds in the sky.
A trip that doesn't need a ticket or a bed,
This thought or memory is something that can be enjoyed without any external resources or assistance.
And everything is smelling sweeter then a rose.
The singer is experiencing a heightened sense of pleasure or enjoyment that is far greater than usual.
Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.