Rundgren is well known among his fans as being an electronic music revolutionary. His skilled production techniques, matched by his belief that he has ability to play just about any instrument at a mastery level, has allowed him to release some of the most honest and personal music of his time. Many of his solo albums, including Something/Anything?]' were made completely by himself. That is, he played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, did all of the recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.
Website: http://www.tr-i.com/
Core discography:
With Nazz:
1968 - Nazz
1969 - Nazz Nazz
1970 - Nazz III
Solo:
1970 - Runt
1971 - Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
1972 - Something/Anything?
1973 - A Wizard, a True Star
1974 - Todd
1975 - Initiation
1976 - Faithful
1978 - Hermit of Mink Hollow
1978 - Back to the Bars (live)
1981 - Healing
1983 - The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect
1985 - A Cappella
1989 - Nearly Human
1991 - 2nd Wind
1993 - No World Order
1995 - The Individualist
1997 - With a Twist
1998 - Up Against It
2000 - One Long Year
2003 - Can't Stop Running (live box set)
2004 - Liars
2008 - Arena
2011 - Todd Rundgren's Johnson
2011 - (re)Production
2013 - State
2015 - Global
2015 - Runddans (collaboration with Emil Nikolaisen and Hans-Peter Lindstrøm)
2017 - White Knight
With Utopia:
1974 - Todd Rundgren's Utopia
1975 - Another Live
1976 (released 2001) - Disco Jets
1977 - Ra
1977 - Oops! Wrong Planet
1980 - Adventures in Utopia
1980 - Deface the Music
1982 - Swing to the Right
1982 - Utopia
1984 - Oblivion
1985 - P.O.V.
2003 - Last of the New Wave Riders (live box set)
Cold Morning Light
Todd Rundgren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would be better off in a world my own
I'd forget I ever knew of you, and this dream every
Night that you put me through
We walk along a Hollywood sea
And you dance once again with me
And our love never ends
But in the cold morning light I see
That you won't be back for me
The wound you left is healing and then
It starts itching and I scratch it open again
So the pain comes out and I give in
And indulge my
Imaginations, whims
We sit and drink Victorian tea
And your face wears a smile for me
I was yours, you were mine
Our hearts bound, lost in time
But in the cold morning light I see
That you won`t be back
For me there can be no peace
For me there can be no rest
I believe though I've tried my best
I'm condemned it seems to a life of
Restlessness and broken dreams
The lyrics of Todd Rundgren's song, Cold Morning Light, speak of a deeply troubled individual. The song begins with the artist lamenting how, if he was all alone, he may find peace in a world of his own. The artist talks about how he would forget everything about the person he is longing for and the dreams that haunt him every night. In the second verse, the artist paints a picture of them walking along Hollywood sea and dancing like old friends, without a worry in the world. The artist then brings into focus the harsh reality of the present, that this person who he longs for, will not be coming back for him.
As the artist continues to express his pain, he talks about how the wound left behind by the person he yearned for was healing, but it keeps itching, and he irritates the pain point and indulges in his imaginations and whims. The artist goes on to describe how they sat and drank Victorian tea, and her face used to wear a smile for him. In the last verse, the artist pours his heart out and says that for him, there can be no peace or rest. The closing verse speaks of how the artist is forever condemned to a life of restlessness and broken dreams, despite trying his best. The song ends on a bleak note, and the lyrics are hauntingly beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe if I was all alone,
I would be better off in a world my own
The singer thinks they would be happier in a world where they are alone and not affected by others.
I'd forget I ever knew of you, and this dream every
Night that you put me through
The singer wishes they could forget about a particular person and the recurring dream they have about them.
We walk along a Hollywood sea
And you dance once again with me
In the dream, the singer and the person they wish to forget are together and happy.
We are close, we are friends
And our love never ends
The people in the dream have a strong bond that lasts forever.
But in the cold morning light I see
That you won't be back for me
Upon waking up, the artist realizes that the person they dreamt about will never return to them.
The wound you left is healing and then
It starts itching and I scratch it open again
The singer is trying to move on from the individual in question, but cannot help but revisit their pain.
So the pain comes out and I give in
And indulge my
Imaginations, whims
The singer allows themselves to wallow in their sadness and revisit their fantasies, rather than accepting the reality of the situation.
We sit and drink Victorian tea
And your face wears a smile for me
In their daydreams, the person they wish to forget appears happy and content with them.
I was yours, you were mine
Our hearts bound, lost in time
The people in the dream share a deep romantic connection that transcends time.
For me there can be no peace
For me there can be no rest
The artist's pain prevents them from finding peace or rest in their life.
I believe though I've tried my best
I'm condemned it seems to a life of
Restlessness and broken dreams
Despite the singer's efforts to move on, they remain stuck in a cycle of restlessness and unfulfilled dreams.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TODD RUNDGREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Emily Freed
My vote for the most underrated musician of ALL TIME....
Robert Longfield
@James Berman the beauty of this album is that Todd played all the instruments and did all the vocals! The guy is an immense talent!
James Berman
And his backup band, the most underrated band that didn’t need their gimmick. Yes, I talk about The Hello People. It always got to me how a group who was so steeped in Jazz and R&B and Prog wanted to dress like mimes.
Aditya Roy
I'm in love with this song and your comment. Maybe you...
Gail Flora
For sure. I listened to this in the 70s and just rediscovered in 202!
Pookie Pookie
2021 and still Todd has never been acknowledged for the massive body of magnificent work he has created.
James Clary
Maybe the best album never. At age 59 listening with headphones. The memories flooding back from 1976. The girls. The love that was too intense to describe. But Todd found a way. God. What a talent.
J Gator
@Grant Busse LOL
Grant Busse
@J Gator describe this weekend 🤣
J Gator
Me too. This album has STRONG memories for me of one particular weekend in the mid 70’s. I am 62. The music brings everything back SO vividly - oh to be young again