Verlaine was often considered as one of the most talented performers of the early punk rock era. Verlaine's poetic lyrics, and his accomplished guitar playing technique were highly influential and widely praised in the music media. He, and Television bandmate, Richard Lloyd were one of rock music's most acclaimed and inventive guitar duos.
Verlaine's stage name is a reference to French symbolist poet Paul Verlaine.
Famed for his trailblazing work as the singer and guitarist for the seminal New York punk band Television, Verlaine also carved out an acclaimed and eclectic solo career. Verlaine trained as a classical pianist but gravitated toward rock music after an encounter with Rolling Stones' song"19th Nervous Breakdown." In 1968, he and bassist Richard Meyers (later Richard Hell) moved to New York's Lower East Side, where they and drummer Billy Ficca formed the group The Neon Boys. The Neon Boys quickly disbanded after failing to recruit a second guitarist (despite auditions by Dee Dee Ramone and Chris Stein). They reformed as Television a few months later, finding a guitarist in Richard Lloyd, and began playing at seminal punk clubs like CBGB and Max's Kansas City. In 1975, Verlaine kicked Hell out of the band for his erratic playing and behavior, and, with Fred Smith replacing Hell, they released their first single.
Beginning with their landmark 1975 debut single "Little Johnny Jewel," Television became one of the most renowned groups on the burgeoning New York underground scene; though lumped together with the punk phenomenon, the band's complex songcraft -- powered by Verlaine's strangled vocals, oblique lyrics and finely-honed guitar work -- clearly set them apart from their peers. However, after only two albums, 1977's classic Marquee Moon and the more subdued 1978 follow-up Adventure, Television disbanded, and Verlaine started a solo career.
He resurfaced in 1979 with a self-titled debut which featured the song "Kingdom Come," later covered by avowed fan David Bowie. 1981's dense Dreamtime earned significant acclaim, and even hit the U.S. album charts. Both 1982's diverse Words From the Front and 1984's Cover drew raves from the British press, spurring Verlaine to take up residency in London. After a three-year hiatus, he returned with Flash Light, regarded as one of his best solo efforts.
Following 1990's The Wonder, Television briefly reformed for a self-titled album and tour; the group again broke up.
In 1992 Verlaine issued his first instrumental LP, Warm and Cool. In 1994, he composed the score for the film Love and a .45. Currently, he and his jazz-influenced punk guitar are touring. He is responsible in part for popularizing the Fender Jazzmaster, along with Elvis Costello. In 1997 he was asked by Jeff Buckley to produce his follow-up album to "Grace", "Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk", before Buckley's death by drowning that year.
During the 1990s he collaborated with different artists, including Patti Smith, and composed a film score.
Verlaine was part of The Million Dollar Bashers, a supergroup also featuring Sonic Youth musicians Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, Bob Dylan bassist Tony Garnier, guitarist Smokey Hormel, and keyboardist John Medeski. Their work appears on the original soundtrack to "I'm Not There", a biographical film reflecting on the life of Bob Dylan.
In 2012, Verlaine collaborated with former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha on his second solo album Look to the Sky.
Anna
Tom Verlaine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kept her awake
But not aware of things
That easily break
The darkness determined
To burn and to free
Anna wonders
A serious song, she said
Of my heart and in my head
Sometimes I think to let this go
This serious song I hear
Telling me my love is near
I must lay down but I'm not tired
The passion of Anna
So full of doubt
Watches her lead her love
From drink to drought
Makes it her fellow
Some kind of goat
The passion of Anna
Must remain remote
A serious song, she said
Of my heart and in my head
Sometimes I think to let this go
This serious song I hear
Telling me my love is near
I must lay down but I'm not tired
She makes up schedule
From five till five till five till five
Somehow the train never arrives
The passion of Anna
That statue will fall
And reappear with shadows
As they call
And take it to dry out
Like rules or a lie
They lay up on a hill
Where no sun shines
A serious song, she said
Of my heart and in my head
Sometimes I think to let this go
This serious song I hear
Telling me my love is near
I must lay down but I'm not tired
Just the rhythm
The rhythm of the rain on the roofs tonight
It's got me seeing funny things
Thinking all kinds of things
Tonight I'm thinking of petrified wood
It's funny,
It's funny, isn't it?
“Anna” by Tom Verlaine is a song about a woman named Anna who is filled with doubt and uncertainty about her relationship. The passion of Anna keeps her awake at night, but she is not aware of things that can easily break. She wonders if leaving her relationship would be the best exit for her. She makes up a schedule from five to five to five, waiting for a train that never arrives. Her love life is like a serious song that she hears, telling her that her love is near, but she must lay down even if she is not tired.
Anna sees herself leading her love from drink to drought, making him her fellow and some kind of goat. She knows that the passion of Anna must remain remote. However, she knows that the statue of her passion will fall and reappear with shadows as they call. She takes her love to dry out, like rules or a lie, and lays it up on a hill where no sunshine can find it. The song ends with the rhythm of the rain on the roofs tonight, causing the singer to think of funny things, such as petrified wood.
Line by Line Meaning
The passion of Anna
Anna's intense emotions
Kept her awake
Prevented her from sleeping
But not aware of things
Unaware of her surroundings
That easily break
Things that are fragile or weak
The darkness determined
Strong, invincible darkness
To burn and to free
To destroy and liberate
Anna wonders
Anna questions
Will this exit please
Will this escape be satisfactory
A serious song, she said
The song is profound and important
Of my heart and in my head
It reflects her deep emotions and thoughts
Sometimes I think to let this go
Sometimes she considers giving up
This serious song I hear
The song that she is listening to
Telling me my love is near
Assuring her that her love is close
I must lay down but I'm not tired
She needs rest, but she is not sleepy
So full of doubt
Filled with skepticism
Watches her lead her love
She observes her love's actions
From drink to drought
From indulgence to deprivation
Makes it her fellow
Considers it as her companion
Some kind of goat
Some sort of scapegoat
Must remain remote
Must remain distant
She makes up schedule
She creates a routine
From five till five till five till five
A strict schedule from early morning to late evening
Somehow the train never arrives
The expected arrival is delayed or never happens
That statue will fall
The symbol of her love will crumble
And reappear with shadows
And resurface with darker aspects
As they call
As they beckon or invite
And take it to dry out
And remove all the moisture
Like rules or a lie
Similar to an imposed restriction or an untruth
They lay up on a hill
They are placed on top of a hill
Where no sun shines
In a place where there is no light or warmth
Just the rhythm
Only the beat
The rhythm of the rain on the roofs tonight
The sound of the raindrops falling on the rooftops tonight
It's got me seeing funny things
It makes me hallucinate or see unusual things
Thinking all kinds of things
Generating various thoughts
Tonight I'm thinking of petrified wood
Right now, she's envisioning fossilized wood
It's funny,
It's amusing,
It's funny, isn't it?
Isn't it amusing?
Lyrics © Rocking Gorillas Music Ltda, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOM VERLAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Perkins
I like how the "a serious song, she said" section shifts to a reggae beat, but without bringing in all the other signifiers associated with reggae. The lyrics are full of detail, yet mysterious, the guitar work is of course lovely, and the vocal is warm and (as almost never happened in Television) unforced.
rimbaud100
One of his best; just a superb and beautiful song.
davey dudely
one of my favorite albums thanks for the bonus
Rogerio alves
musica boa de tom Verlaine 😎
edmund184
The production is flawless, it couldn't be improved.
edmund184
A pity only I think this. He got into Heaven just on this song alone.
Houl23
Just superb
Giuseppe Plaitano
R.I.P. forever in my heart.
BayoandMojo
lo amo
Craig Beasley
When are persons going to let me talk about it? All I have are acquaints. A bit of fluff and feather....so to speak. When will my sentiments find their way into such a broad swathe of humanity? All I know is love. Guitars standing alone so brilliantly. Lyrics making sense years later. What's up with this guy? Is he .....