This Mortal Coil was a project of Ivo Watts-Russell (from Northamptonshire,… Read Full Bio ↴This Mortal Coil was a project of Ivo Watts-Russell (from Northamptonshire, England), president of the British 4AD record label, which began in 1983 and lasted until 1991. This Mortal Coil (TMC) is an example of a supergroup, and performers include members from bands on 4AD's roster, such as Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Colourbox, The Wolfgang Press, Dif Juz, X Mal Deutschland and Modern English. The records consist mostly of dark and moody interpretative cover versions of a wide variety of artists ranging from Big Star and Talking Heads to The Apartments and Tim Buckley. The group recorded three albums; It'll End In Tears, Filigree & Shadow and Blood.

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.

Bitter
This Mortal Coil Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

????
????
????
????
How many ways can you say goodbye
That was nothing
?? something
How many days were in dreaming

In many ways just a lie
In better days I'd be dreaming
As my life passed me by
Now pardon me for trying
Trying to tear apart

And pardon me for lying
It's just easy, so easy, to start

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to This Mortal Coil's "Bitter" may seem vague and open to interpretation, but upon closer inspection, they reveal a glimpse into the struggle of letting go of someone or something that was once a significant part of our lives. The first four lines, with their repeated question of "how many ways can you say goodbye," illustrate the painful process of trying to move on and say farewell. The following line, "That was nothing, ?? something," could be interpreted as acknowledging that the relationship or situation may have had some significance, but ultimately was not enough to sustain it.

The next two lines, "How many days were in dreaming, in many ways just a lie," further emphasize the idea of holding onto an idealized version of the relationship or situation, even though it may not have been entirely truthful or attainable. The next two lines, "In better days I'd be dreaming, as my life passed me by," suggest a sense of regret and longing for a different outcome or past.

Line by Line Meaning

????
Unknown/Unable to interpret without context

How many ways can you say goodbye
The multitude of ways in which one can express the sentiment of farewell

That was nothing
The previous statement held no real value or significance

?? something
Unknown/Unable to interpret without context

How many days were in dreaming
The number of days spent lost in thought or fantasy

In many ways just a lie
Despite the numerous perspectives, the situation or idea remains untrue

In better days I'd be dreaming
In happier or more prosperous times, one would have the luxury of dreaming

As my life passed me by
Observing the swift passage of one's existence

Now pardon me for trying
Requesting forgiveness for making an effort

Trying to tear apart
Making an attempt to dismantle or ruin

And pardon me for lying
Asking to be excused for deceit