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.
Fragile
Tom Verlaine Lyrics
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Rubbing your arms and shaking your head
You say, "Oh, I just don't know, it's not so safe
And it gets so tiresome playing dead."
They've stolen your keys, they lifted your watch
But you know too well, all too well
What it's like to be caught
I've got to face what's never there
Influences I think I am under
They are so discouraging it seems to me
They've stolen my secret longings for you
Please, can't you tell me
Is that the worst they can do?
Fragile
She said, "Oh no, I guess it is my fate
To live a life; I can't communicate
How painful, painful, but giving up is okay."
I go for your check; I see your check has been paid
The song "Fragile" by Tom Verlaine talks about a woman who is coming home scared because she has been robbed. Despite the traumatic experience, she is more concerned about the fact that she feels fragile and vulnerable. She is tired of pretending to be strong and feels discouraged by the negative influences that surround her. She says that she is aware that her desires have been stolen and wonders if that is the worst thing that can happen. In the chorus, the singer acknowledges that she needs to handle her fragility with care and face the uncertainty of her life.
The song is likely referring to the fragility of the human condition and how it can cause us to feel powerless, lonely, and scared. The woman in the song is afraid of being robbed again, but she is also worried about deeper issues like a lack of communication, an inability to pursue her desires, and the influence of negative people in her life. She feels like giving up is a viable option, but the singer reminds her to handle her fragility with care and keep pushing forward.
Overall, the song "Fragile" by Tom Verlaine is a poignant reminder of how humans can be fragile and how easily we can feel broken by the world around us. It's a call to handle ourselves with care and face our uncertainties head-on.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw you coming in the headlights
I noticed you arriving in the darkness while the light shone on you
Rubbing your arms and shaking your head
You were struggling with distress and discomfort visible through your body language
You say, "Oh, I just don't know, it's not so safe
And it gets so tiresome playing dead."
You express your doubts and fears about the safety of your surroundings and the exhaustion of feeling lifeless
They've stolen your keys, they lifted your watch
But you know too well, all too well
What it's like to be caught
You have experienced theft and capture before, and therefore are familiar with the negative emotions that come with it
Fragile - handle with care
I've got to face what's never there
The artist is indicating how delicate they are and need to be treated with care while declaring their intent to confront the unknown
Influences I think I am under
They are so discouraging it seems to me
They've stolen my secret longings for you
Please, can't you tell me
Is that the worst they can do?
The singer implies feeling oppressed by external factors while lamenting the loss of their desire for the addressee, questioning whether this is the most severe consequence they will face
Fragile
Reiterating the singer's delicacy
She said, "Oh no, I guess it is my fate
To live a life; I can't communicate
How painful, painful, but giving up is okay."
The addressee indicates her resignation to a life without proper communication and how she feels it is better to give up than to face this pain
I go for your check; I see your check has been paid
The artist seems to have looked at the addressee's check and found that it has already been paid
Lyrics © Rocking Gorillas Music Ltda
Written by: TOM VERLAINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind