The release of their second album "Replicas" in 1979 finally gave Numan the success he had been trying to achieve from the start with the single "Are Friends Electric?", the song topping the British charts for four weeks. The band's cold electronic take on minimalistic pop took a little while to catch on with the music audience at large, but proved to be of lasting influence. Combining the artistic and poetic tendencies of David Bowie (especially the Berlin years) with sequenced synthesizers along the lines of Kraftwerk presaged the whole genre of techno-pop in the 1980s.
In late 1979, after the success of "Replicas", Numan dropped Tubeway Army and went on to record as a solo artist.
It's also worthy of note that during 1979, while his band "Ultravox" were on hiatus, Billy Currie collaborated with Gary on material for both "Replicas" and Gary's first solo album "The Pleasure Principle".
The official website can be found here: www.garynuman.co.uk
My Shadow in Vain
Tubeway Army Lyrics
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And I close up my brain
another friend dies
And me I'm just the same
Soaking up Broadway
Nightlife in Detroit
And I'd buy these New York ladies If these light weren't so bright
Stagger down main street
A knife in my side
And I fall to the gutter In tears but with pride
And me I'm feeling okay
Moving out of Central this villain knows me well
Says he'll spill the whole story
He might be lying, I can't tell
And me I'm not that kind
I've been searching for my shadow in vain
How can I be still while my lifeline remains
I've been searching for my shadow in vain
How can I be still while my lifeline remains with him
Try to steal a needle Bring peace to my head
And I'm stumbling down the alleys I find killers instead
And me I'm the cause of it all
Street corner women are taking their toll
Now they look at me, I'm dying
And I'm growing old
And me I'm loving it all
I've been searching for my shadow in vain
How can I be still while my lifeline remains
I've been searching for my shadow in vain
How can I be still while my lifeline remains with him
The lyrics of Tubeway Army's song "My Shadow in Vain" express a sense of despair and desperation felt by the singer, who seems to be leading a aimless and self-destructive life. The song conjures up a vivid picture of a late-night city atmosphere, with the singer wandering alone through the streets, lost in his own thoughts and troubled by the passing of yet another friend. The use of the phrase "Soaking up Broadway nightlife in Detroit" expresses a sense of dislocation and confusion and is a poignant example of the singer's feeling of being disconnected.
The introspection and self-reflection are interwoven with gritty scenes of urban violence and drug use, adding a layer of menace to the lyrics. The singer seems to take a nihilistic pleasure in the chaos around him, almost revelling in his own downfall. The lines "Street corner women are taking their toll / Now they look at me, I'm dying," suggest a sense of resignation and fatalism, as if the singer has come to accept his fate, no longer struggling against the forces that are consuming him.
Overall, "My Shadow in Vain" is a bleak and uncompromising vision of city life, expressed with raw emotion and vivid imagery. The themes of both personal and societal decay are explored through the lens of the singer's experiences, leading the listener to question the darker aspects of urban existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Stroll to the café my God how time flies
I casually walk towards the café, but I can't help but notice how fast time is passing by.
And I close up my brain
another friend dies
Upon hearing the news of yet another friend's death, I shut down emotionally to cope with the pain.
And me I'm just the same
Soaking up Broadway
Nightlife in Detroit
And I'd buy these New York ladies If these light weren't so bright
And me I wasn't there
Despite the tragedy and turmoil, I continue to distract myself with nightlife and women while feeling disconnected from my own life.
Stagger down main street
A knife in my side
And I fall to the gutter
In tears but with pride
And me I'm feeling okay
Despite getting stabbed and collapsing on the street, I feel a sense of pride in my resilience and ability to keep going.
Moving out of Central this villain knows me well
Says he'll spill the whole story
He might be lying, I can't tell
And me I'm not that kind
As I try to escape from my past, someone aware of my history threatens to expose me. I am skeptical of his intentions and have no desire to be associated with that kind of person.
I've been searching for my shadow in vain
How can I be still while my lifeline remains
I've been searching for my shadow in vain
How can I be still while my lifeline remains with him
I am struggling to find meaning and purpose in my life, but I can't ignore how important my connection to 'him' continues to be.
Try to steal a needle
Bring peace to my head
And I'm stumbling down the alleys
I find killers instead
And me I'm the cause of it all
In an attempt to numb my pain and find peace, I turn to drugs and wander into dangerous territory, ultimately blaming myself for the consequences.
Street corner women are taking their toll
Now they look at me, I'm dying
And I'm growing old
And me I'm loving it all
My past decisions and lifestyle are catching up to me, causing me to age rapidly and decline physically. Despite this, I continue to embrace the lifestyle and all its consequences.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY ANTHONY JAMES WEBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind