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.

D.D. and E
This Mortal Coil Lyrics

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daylight, dreams, and echoes
daylight, dreams, and echoes
daylight, dreams, and echoes

Overall Meaning

The repetition of "daylight, dreams, and echoes" in This Mortal Coil's song D.D. and E. creates a haunting and mesmerizing effect. The lyrics seem to hint at the ephemeral and elusive nature of life and existence. Daylight represents the tangible and present, dreams symbolize the intangible and future, and echoes evoke the past and memories. Together, the three elements encapsulate the essence of human experience - the things that are real, the things we aspire to, and the things we hold on to.

At the same time, the repeating phrase also serves to emphasize the cyclical nature of life. Daylight turns into dreams, dreams turn into echoes, and echoes eventually lead back to daylight. The passage of time and the constant flux of reality and perception are mirrored in the lyrics, drawing attention to the transitory and fleeting nature of human life.

Overall, D.D. and E. is a remarkably poetic and evocative song, with lyrics that leave a lasting impression on the listener. The way the words are arranged and repeated underscores the theme of impermanence, and creates a sense of mysticism and wonder.

Line by Line Meaning

daylight, dreams, and echoes
The intersection between reality (daylight), imagination (dreams), and remnants of past experiences (echoes).

daylight, dreams, and echoes
The way our perceptions are shaped by the fleeting moments of waking life, as well as the lasting reverberations of moments past.

daylight, dreams, and echoes
The way our consciousness is formed by a balance between external stimuli, internal creativity, and emotional residues.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN FRYER, NICHOLAS JOHN FRYER, RUSSELL IVO WATTS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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