From the sleeve notes for the latest release End Titles...Stories For Film released in July 2008, the current line-up is stated as James Lavelle and Pablo Clements, also a member of the Psychonauts.
The original line-up was James Lavelle, Tim Goldsworthy (now a member of DFA) and Kudo (Major Force West, Skylab). This incarnation released several EPs and singles, usually involving collaborations with other Mo'Wax affiliated artists.
In 1998, after the departure of Goldsworthy and Kudo, Lavelle enlisted US producer DJ Shadow to help complete UNKLE's debut album, "Psyence Fiction". On this album they collaborated with a variety of guest artists including Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mike D (Beastie Boys), Badly Drawn Boy and Richard Ashcroft (The Verve). The album contained songs which merged indie-rock with hip hop.
In 2003 UNKLE released "Never, Never, Land". At this time UNKLE consisted of Lavelle and new collaborator Richard File, and the album also featured Ian Brown (The Stone Roses), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), Mani (The Stone Roses, Primal Scream) and others.
A third album entitled "War Stories" was released in July 2007. It features collaborations with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Ian Astbury (The Cult), Autolux, Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), The Duke Spirit, and Gavin Clark, and is far more strongly rock-influenced than previous releases. The album was preceded by an EP, Nights Temper, of which a limited pressing was released in May 2007.
Lavelle has also released several mix albums and remixes under his own name and under the name UNKLEsounds (together with Richard File).
UNKLE is known for remixing music from artists such as Explosions in the Sky, Massive Attack, and Oasis.
when things explode
UNKLE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In shadows where you hide
A life that was designed
You've been cheated oh so blind
You laid it on the line
These twisted words of time
And how your spirit shines
Yeah lately I know that I've been crawling
I know that I've been falling
Into your dream
Imagine no more tears
Dissolving all your fears
With tooth and claw we fight
Into this endless night
Yeah lately I know that I've been crawling
I know that I've been falling
Into your dream
I saw my tears in your eyes
You saw your fears in mine
We watched it burn together
Watched it burn together
Burn yeah, burn watched it burn burn yeah burn
Watched it burn, burn watched it burn
Watched it burn, burn watched it burn
All is forgiven.
The opening lines of "When Things Explode" by UNKLE express a deep sense of despair and lack of fulfillment in life. The singer refers to other people's lives as "skull-fucked little lives" and describes them as living in shadows where they hide. It's as if the singer sees people living their lives by following a predetermined script or a life that was "designed" for them. The singer believes that people have been cheated but they are too blind to see it. The second verse continues in a melancholic tone with the singer expressing a desire to possess the same resilience and perhaps even spirit that he sees in others. The chorus expresses the singer's realization of his own flaws and his desire to be a part of someone else's world or dream.
The last verse of the song 'When Things Explode' presents a hopeful note. The singer imagines a world where there are no more tears and where all fears dissolve. The singer is ready to fight to attain this world, even if it is into an endless night. The final lines of the song, "All is forgiven" implies that the singer has come to a place of acceptance and forgiveness, perhaps towards others or himself. The lyrics convey deep emotions of pain, longing, and a desire for something more in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Your skull-fucked little lives
Your mundane and meaningless lives
In shadows where you hide
In the darkness and secrecy where you conceal yourself
A life that was designed
A life that has been predetermined and orchestrated for you by someone else
You've been cheated oh so blind
You've been deceived without even being aware of it
You laid it on the line
You spoke truthfully and directly about your feelings
These twisted words of time
These complicated and difficult-to-understand messages
And how your spirit shines
And how your personality and character stand out in a positive way
I wish that you were mine
I long for a deeper connection with you
Yeah lately I know that I've been crawling
Lately, I feel like I've been moving forward very slowly and cautiously
I know that I've been falling
I understand that I've also been losing ground and failing
Into your dream
Becoming a part of your vision and aspirations
Imagine no more tears
Picturing a world where there is no sorrow or grief
Dissolving all your fears
Melting away all the fears and worries that haunt you
With tooth and claw we fight
Using all of our physical and mental strength to persevere through a difficult situation
Into this endless night
Navigating through an eternal darkness or struggle
I saw my tears in your eyes
I empathized with your sadness by recognizing it in myself
You saw your fears in mine
You could relate to my anxiety and apprehension
We watched it burn together
We watched a situation or relationship deteriorate and fall apart in unison
Burn yeah, burn watched it burn burn yeah burn
Expressing the intense, fiery emotion felt during this mutual destruction
Watched it burn, burn watched it burn
Continuing to watch the situation fall apart
Burn, burn watched it burn
Reflecting on the experience of witnessing something burn
All is forgiven.
Letting go of any resentment or hostility that may have been built up
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ian Robert Astbury, David Bowie, Richard Leigh File, Christopher Allen Goss, James Gabriel Leo Lavelle, Adam Weissman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annacampos2524
Your skull-fucked little lifes
In shadows where you hide
A life that was designed
You've been cheated, oh, so blind
You laid it on the line
These twisted words of time
And how your spirit shines
I wish that you were mine
Yeah, lately
I know that I've been crawling
I know that I've been falling
Into your dream
Imagine no more tears
Dissolving all your fears
With tooth and claw we fight
Into this endless night
Yeah, lately
I know that I've been crawling
I know that I've been falling
Into your dream
I saw my tears in your eyes
You saw your tears in mine
We watched it burn together
I saw my fears in your eyes
You saw your fear in mine
We watched it burn together
Watched it burn
Burn, yeah, burn
Watched it burn
Burn, yeah, burn
Watched it burn
Burn
Watched it burn
Watched it burn
Burn
Watched it burn
All is forgiven
@marct4911
I'll be forever a Person Of Interest fan. Never felt so much emotion because of a show.
I love you, POI.
@vsmaster6162
Same
@leandro0rsantos
me too. A great show, certainly a masterpiece
@marct4911
@@leandro0rsantos Definitely, it is !
@Endru85x
When Things Explode, Welcome to the Machine, Burn my Shadow - all of these songs were perfect choices for scenes they were used in.
@mj6866
Same!
@CrzyCanuck76
Person Of Interest is one of the most underrated shows ever.
@PapunaOfficial
well it felt low budget from time to time but watched in 1 breath
@wahidahmed2525
& one of the best
@shyamnagarajan4294
I could like this message all day!!!💚