The group takes its name from Shakespeare. In particular Hamlet's soliloquy To be, or not to be, where it refers to dying; "coil" is used in its archaic sense of "disturbance, trouble":
"What dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause."
Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1, line 67.
'Til I Gain Control Again
This Mortal Coil Lyrics
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You know I'll always come again
You know I love to spend my morning times
Like sunlight dancing on your skin
What you see is what I've been
There is nothing I could hide from you
You see me better than I can
Out on the roads that lies before me now
There are some turns where I will spin
I only hope that you can hold me now
'til I can gain control again
Like a lighthouse you must stand alone
And mark a sailor's journey's end
Nno matter what seas I have been sailing on
I'll always row this way again
Out on the roads that lie before me now
There are some turns where I will spin
I only hope that you can hold me now
'til I can gain control again
I only hope that you can hold me now
'til I can gain control again
In "Til I Gain Control Again," This Mortal Coil captures the deep devotion that exists between two people. The song expresses gratitude for the love and loyalty shown by one partner, who is always there as a source of strength and light, even in dark times. The lyrics reflect on the issues of vulnerability, trust, and the need for support, as they speak of the fear of losing control, the knowledge that all journeys have their ups and downs, and the assurance that one thing never alters - the love between them.
The opening lines, "Just like the sun over the mountain top/You know I'll always come again," evoke an image of a force of nature that will repeat itself consistently, a metaphor for the singer's unwavering commitment to their partner. The comparison between the light of the sun and the glow of affection on a lover's skin draws attention to the power of their love. Similarly, the metaphor of the lighthouse signifies guidance in dark times, the hope that the partner will always stand strong, lighting the way to a safe harbor. The lyrics also suggest that the singer does not take their partner's trust and support for granted, stating that they "see me better than I can." The theme of control, which appears throughout the song, symbolizes the restoring of balance and finding security in one another, almost like a rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
Just like the sun over the mountain top
Just like the sun that rises over the mountain top every day, I will always return to you
You know I'll always come again
You know that no matter what happens, I will always come back to you
You know I love to spend my morning times
You know how much I enjoy spending my mornings with you
Like sunlight dancing on your skin
Your beauty is like sunlight dancing on your skin; it is captivating and mesmerizing
What you see is what I've been
You know me better than anyone else and understand everything I've been through
There is nothing I could hide from you
There is no part of me that I could keep from you, you know everything about me
You see me better than I can
You understand me better than I understand myself; you see things in me that I cannot
Out on the roads that lies before me now
As I face the uncertain journey ahead, I do not know what lies on the road before me
There are some turns where I will spin
The road may take unexpected turns that may leave me feeling lost and unsure
I only hope that you can hold me now
In moments of uncertainty, I hope that you will be there to hold me, to provide comfort and assurance
'til I can gain control again
Until I find my footing and am able to navigate the challenges ahead with confidence, I need your support and guidance
Like a lighthouse you must stand alone
Just as a lighthouse stands alone to guide ships safely to shore, you must be a source of light and guidance for me
And mark a sailor's journey's end
You are the beacon that marks the end of my long journey and brings me safely home
No matter what seas I have been sailing on
Regardless of the challenges I have faced or the experiences I have had, I will always return to you
I'll always row this way again
I will always find my way back to you, no matter where life takes me
I only hope that you can hold me now
I need your support and comfort in this difficult time
'til I can gain control again
Until I am able to regain my strength and direction, I need you to be my anchor and guide
I only hope that you can hold me now
I am relying on you to be there for me in this moment of vulnerability
'til I can gain control again
Until I am able to stand on my own two feet, I need your unwavering support and encouragement
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RODNEY J. CROWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dave
I'm here because I heard this beautiful cover version on an Adam Curtis documentary
pr9xx
@Tom Byrne you need to watch his other one : Bitter Lake !
William Ramos
Which doc by adam curtis?
Mark Lynch
@Tom Byrne I've just watched it as well. It's like I've just woken up into something I already knew. Superb documentary. This music is a perfect fit for the documentary and also my life as I turn 50 tomorrow.
Tom Byrne
Just watched the Adam Curtis documentary..... mindfuck
The music to it was amazing, has taken me on a journey.
Has she not got a beautiful voice...
Bless to all the good ones out there.
Bill Wolfe
me too - and these words are mine, too:
Out on the road that lies before me now
There are some turns where I will spin
I only hope that you can hold me now
Till I can gain control again
patbirder
Beautiful. Odd times in my life associated with this and other This Mortal Coil songs. June, 1992-Someone tried to burn down our house. Dog died but we all escaped and eventually rebuilt. During that pseudo-homeless time, I stayed with friends, neighbors, and just stayed up all night. On some of those nights, I would go to a friend's backyard and read Anne Rice books in his well lit backyard- always listening to this and other songs by This Mortal Coil.
Oloff
How are things now?
Ty
This gave me the feels. Hope you're well.
S
hey, I came across this song today and I'm so touched. I like that you put your story here. I'm alone in a foreign country away from home. there is a terrible disease outbreak going on these days. this song is like a relief appearing in the ocean of helplessness i've felt.