Formed in Los Angeles in 1979, the band relocated to San Francisco and were swiftly signed to Howie Klein's independent label, 415 Records, on the strength of their demo version of "Everywhere That I'm Not," the song that would remain the band's signature tune.
Heartbeats and Triggers (415/Columbia 1982), produced by David Kahne, was a college-radio hit and contained the hit single "Everywhere That I'm Not". The second album, 1983's No Time Like Now featured the hit "Un-Alone". The band was struggling to break away from the tight new wave formula and started to on their lush, third album from 1985 produced by Ed Stasium, simply titled Translator. As the decade wore on, the band became increasingly interested in exploring psychedelia, and their live shows were often three-hour affairs. Their final album (also produced by Stasium), Evening of the Harvest (1986), was the sound of a band that had matured and was their most realized statement. Everywhere That I'm Not -- A Retrospective was released by Columbia in 1986. Two more CD retrospectives were released on the band, Translation on Oglio and Everywhere That We Were -- The Best of Translator by Columbia Legacy in 1995 and 1996, respectively. All four of the band's original albums are available on CD and on iTunes. The band reunited at the South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin in 2006 for three very well-received shows. More reunion shows are being planned for 2009 & 2010.
Steve Barton now has a band called Steve Barton And The Oblivion Click. It is a trio with Steve, Robbie Rist (Cousin Oliver from The Brady Bunch) and Derrick Anderson (current Bangles bassist). Their new 20-song CD called "Gallery" is out on Spectra Records. All of the former Translator members still play music. Drummer Dave Scheff recently toured the U.S. and UK with Dead Kennedys. Robert Darlington is a published poet, whose collection "Ether" is now available. Larry Dekker continues to add his melodic solid bass playing to a variety of bands.
Gravity
Translator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
lost on streets that no one travels
In my dream I see this meeting,
we're a knot that fate unravels
But beyond our shameless sorrow,
catch me if I'm with the wind
We may be the sky tomorrow,
The world is spinning through my head
Your gravity won't let me go,
You're holding me together,
No one ever has to know
I'm a dream and you're fading away,
I'm a dream and you're fading away
In your face there's someone sleeping,
lost in years that no one's counting
The only way to hear the weeping,
suffering is like a fountain
Everything is far away now,
held beyond our nameless sorrow
Shifting streets that no one wanders,
lose the days, we only borrow
The lyrics to Translator’s song Gravity can be interpreted in many ways, but one interpretation suggests that the song is about finding meaning and connection in a world that can often seem cold and uncaring. The first stanza suggests that the singer believes there is someone out there waiting for them, lost and alone on forgotten streets. The singer dreams of this meeting, as if it is fated to happen. The second stanza suggests that the singer and this person may rise above their sorrows and become something greater, something eternal like the sky or a sturdy branch. Yet, the chorus implies that this connection, this gravity, is something that the singer cannot escape, but rather, it holds them together.
The second half of the song further dissects the themes of loneliness and suffering. The singer sees someone sleeping in the face of the other, someone who is also lost in a world that does not seem to care. The only way to hear this pain is through suffering, which is like a fountain that never stops. The song ends on a somber note, suggesting that the world is spinning out of control and everything that matters is slipping away.
Overall, Translator’s Gravity is a melancholy reflection on the profound ache of human connection and how it can be hard to find and maintain in a world full of pain and sorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
In your life there's someone waiting, lost on streets that no one travels
There is someone in your life who is waiting for you, wandering alone on the deserted streets that no one dares to navigate
In my dream I see this meeting, we're a knot that fate unravels
I dream about our meeting, where we are tied in a knot that our destiny will soon unravel
But beyond our shameless sorrow, catch me if I'm with the wind
Despite our sadness and despair, try to hold on to me when I'm moving fast like the wind
We may be the sky tomorrow, we're a branch that will not bend
Tomorrow we may soar in the sky, as we are like branches that are strong and resilient
The world is spinning through my head
My thoughts are spinning around in my head, as I try to make sense of the chaos around me
Your gravity won't let me go, You're holding me together, No one ever has to know
I am drawn towards you and cannot escape the force of your gravity, you hold me together and keep me stable, and we can keep our love a secret from the rest of the world
I'm a dream and you're fading away, I'm a dream and you're fading away
I feel like I am only a figment of your imagination and that you are slipping away from me, like a dream that is slowly disappearing
In your face there's someone sleeping, lost in years that no one's counting
I see someone sleeping in your face, lost in the passing of time which seems to be ignored by everyone else
The only way to hear the weeping, suffering is like a fountain
We can only experience sorrow and pain by listening to the cries of those who are suffering, as it flows out like a never-ending fountain
Everything is far away now, held beyond our nameless sorrow
Everything seems distant and out of reach now, as if it is beyond our grasp due to the unbearable pain we are enduring
Shifting streets that no one wanders, lose the days, we only borrow
The streets are constantly changing and no one walks on them, as if time is fleeting and passing us by. We can only borrow moments of happiness before they are gone forever
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@normandeleon7672
In your life there's someone waiting
Lost on streets that no one travels
In my dream I see this meeting
We're a knot that fate unravels
But beyond our shameless sorrow
Catch me if I'm with the wind
We may be the sky tomorrow
We're a branch that will not bend
Your world is spinning through my head
Your gravity won't let me go
You're holding me together
No one ever has to know
I'm a dream and you're fading away
I'm a dream and you're fading away
In your face there's someone sleeping
Lost in years that no one's counting
The only way to hear the weeping
Suffering is like a fountain
Everything is far away now
Held beyond our nameless sorrow
Shifting streets that no one wanders
Lose the days, we only borrow
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Your world is spinning through my head
Your gravity won't let me go
You're holding me together
No one ever has to know
I'm a dream and you're fading away
I'm a dream and you're fading away
You're holding me together, oh
Your world is spinning through my head
Your gravity won't let me go
You're holding me together
No one ever has to know
I'm a dream and you're fading away
I'm a dream and you're fading away
You're holding me together
No one ever has to know
@rdarlingtonmusic
reggieclash--Thank you for posting my song. Gravity would have made a great video in 1985 for us. Translator is very fortunate to have great friends and fans who refused to let our music die over the years our music was not available. Suddenly there seems to be more interest in us than ever, and it wouldn't have stayed alive without the help of so many great people, like yourself. Thanks again -- never underestimate how much we appreciate this. Cheers, Robert Darlington
@marygracemendiola3217
Robert Darlington i love translator
@LeonardReyes88
Same here! Since the 80s!
@gglyn8
Gravity and Come With Me were so popular songs played by a new wave station in the 80's here in the Philippines. I got the album (cassette tape back then).
@HolidayInGuantanamo
Wow, it gives me such a rush to hear this song again. I probably heard it a few times on WXB102 back in the mid-80s, but it's stuck in my head. I mistakenly remembered the band as "Transformer" so all my Google searches were turning up dead ends! Searching on the few lyrics I remember got more results. Thanks so much for posting this!!
@teresateves5644
What a great song!!! The Translator is o one of best new wave bands! Their songs were all very inspiring. New wave lives on!
@dirtbag3321
the best new wave band...newwave days still lingers on my mind...
@LeonardReyes88
way too few viewers of this song. a classic!
@briyan4u
Just like the old timez..... wish there was time machine to go back.
@randyocampo6097
the best of the 80's