His musical career began in the early 80’s playing drums and bass for two bands, The Mob and Zounds, on the anarchist punk label Crass Records, and touring Europe and UK several times over.
A burgeoning fascination for funk led to him striking out on his own, which led to signing to EMI and recording an album as The Neighbourhood, which was a seven piece band (including Dexy’s original horn section) he subsequently put together. More touring followed, and a spot featuring as a singer on Afrika Bambaataa’s album The Light.
Two more solo albums followed, and stints working with the Horny Horns, Lee Perry and reggae singer Bob Andy amongst others, before the Acid House boom took him, along with many others, in a different musical direction.
What followed was several albums, twelves and ep’s, under various guises on labels such as Reflex, Germany’s Source and San Francisco’s Reflective. This was purely electronic music, with no involvement of any instrumental playing or singing; as a long time singer and player of guitar, bass, drums, brass and keyboards, this was a period of stripping back, influenced by the “faceless techno bollocks” represented by artists and labels such as Aphex Twin and Basic Channel.
It was followed after a while by two albums of more pronounced musicality welded to the electronic and dance music values he had explored in the previous few years. These were his solo album Everything on PIAS Recordings (an album of songs taking in lo-fi, jazz standard and electronic-tinged folk influences) and Variations under the moniker Soul Ascendants (along with DJ Nick the Record) on Nuphonic. The latter was a mixture of house, jazz and afro-beat, featuring collaborations with Fela Kuti’s bandleader and drummer from the Africa 70, Tony Allen.
Both these albums were released in 2000, and it was at this time that he was asked to contribute as writer and vocalist to Groove Armada’s third album Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub). This preceded a period of touring with the band during 2001 – 2002 as vocalist, also helping on trumpet, guitar and keyboard duties, and featuring as vocalist on their next album Lovebox.
Moving on once again, at the end of 2002 he toured with Paul Oakenfold in the States as lead and bass guitarist and vocalist to promote the Oakenfold's album Bunkka, and then as bass player with the breaks-based outfit Hybrid, providing live the bass parts Peter Hook had played on record.
In late 2003 he started working with Tom Findlay from Groove Armada, leading to a remix album Launchpad Remixes.
In 2004 Tim provided horns on several songs on Ian Brown’s album Solarized. He also co-wrote and played guitars and bass on song Time Is My Everything.
Eugene
Tim Hutton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your words go deep to the heart of me
In being things i don't wanna be
Your dark side gets a good grip on me
How can you be so beautifully insane, Eugene
And be so completely free of pain
How can you fly so close to the flame, Eugene
Barefoot in the muddy rain
So beautifully insane
Feelings cast in the ring of steel
In any case i don't wanna feel
My heart is cold and my brain is numb
My heaven's fake and the devil's more fun
How can you be so beautifully insane, Eugene
And be so completely free of pain, Eugene
How can you fly so close to the flame, Eugene
And never feel the slightest pain, Eugene
Barefoot in the muddy rain
So beautifully insane
Eugene...Eugene...
Barefoot in the muddy rain
So beautifully insane
Eugene...Eugene...
The song "Eugene" by Tim Hutton speaks about a person named Eugene who is beautifully insane and lives life without any fears or emotions. The opening lines "Oh Eugene, you're just killing me, Your words go deep to the heart of me" express the emotional agony that the persona is feeling due to Eugene's words. Although the persona wants to be different from Eugene and not have the same mindset, Eugene's dark side gets a good grip on him. Eugene is portrayed as being free of pain even though he flies close to the flame.
The persona, on the other hand, is trying to avoid pain and darkness. The lines "Feelings cast in the ring of steel, In any case I don't wanna feel, My heart is cold and my brain is numb" convey the persona's desire to not feel anything, perhaps because of the fear of getting hurt. However, he also realizes that the devil seems more fun than heaven, perhaps suggesting he wants to experience things but is too afraid to do so. The song is a tribute to people who dare to live life on their own terms, no matter how unconventional or dangerous it may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Eugene, you're just killing me
The subject, Eugene, is causing the singer significant emotional distress
Your words go deep to the heart of me
Eugene's words have a significant emotional impact on the singer
In being things i don't wanna be
Eugene possesses traits or qualities that the singer wishes to avoid or reject
Your dark side gets a good grip on me
Eugene's undesirable characteristics or actions have a powerful influence on the artist's emotions or behavior
How can you be so beautifully insane, Eugene
The artist is marveling at Eugene's puzzling ability to appear insane and also live without pain
And be so completely free of pain
Despite appearing insane, Eugene does not experience any pain
How can you fly so close to the flame, Eugene
The singer is commenting on Eugene's ability to take risks despite potential negative consequences
And never feel the slightest pain
Eugene is able to take risks without experiencing any negative consequences
Feelings cast in the ring of steel
The artist feels trapped and unable to express their emotions
In any case i don't wanna feel
The artist is avoiding or suppressing their emotions, even though they recognize the negative consequences of doing so
My heart is cold and my brain is numb
The singer feels emotionally and mentally disconnected from themselves and others
My heaven's fake and the devil's more fun
The artist cannot find fulfillment in positive experiences, so they are drawn to negative ones instead
Eugene...
The singer repeats Eugene's name, suggesting that they are fixating on this person or their qualities
Barefoot in the muddy rain
The singer is describing a situation or emotional state that feels raw, vulnerable, and uncomfortable
So beautifully insane
The singer feels a certain admiration or fascination with Eugene's insanity, even though it also causes them pain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TIM HUTTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind