Wire's debut album, Pink Flag (1977), contains songs which are diverse in mood and style, but most use a minimalist punk approach, unorthodox structures, and several songs are under a minute in length; "Field Day For The Sundays" is only 28 seconds long.
Chairs Missing followed in 1978, and found Wire stepping back from the stark minimalism of Pink Flag, with longer, more atmospheric songs and synthesizer parts added by producer Mike Thorne. The experimentation was even more prominent on 154 (1979). Many of the songs had bassist Graham Lewis on lead vocals.
In 1979, creative differences pulled the band in different directions, leading to the Document and Eyewitness LP (1981), a recording of a performance that featured, almost exclusively, new material. The LP came packaged with an EP of a different performance of more new material. Some of these songs, along with others performed but not included on the album, were included on Colin Newman's post-Wire solo albums ("5/10", "We Meet Under Tables"), while others were released by Gilbert and Lewis' primary post-Wire outlet Dome ("And Then...", "Ritual View"). The band disbanded for the first time in 1980
Between 1981-85 Wire ceased recording and performing in favour of solo and non-Wire collaborative projects such as Dome, Cupol, Duet Emmo, and several Colin Newman solo efforts. In 1985, the group reformed as a "beat combo" (a joking reference to early 1960s beat music or even possibly beatniks), with greater use of electronic musical instruments. It released It's Beginning To And Back Again (IBTABA) in 1989, a "live" album of mostly re-worked versions of songs from The Ideal Copy and A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck, heavily re-arranged, edited, and remixed. A new song from the album, "Eardrum Buzz", became the band's biggest charting single.
Gotobed left the band in 1990, after the release of the album Manscape. After his departure, the band dropped one letter from its name, becoming "Wir" (still pronounced "wire"), and released The First Letter in 1991. Once again, the band disbanded in 1992 There followed a further period of solo recordings, during which Newman founded the Swim ~ label, and later Githead with his wife (ex-Minimal Compact bassist Malka Spigel), while Wire remained an occasional collaboration. It was not until 1999 that Wire again became a full-time entity.
With Gotobed back in the line-up (now using his birth name, Robert Grey), the group initially reworked much of their back catalogue for a performance at Royal Festival Hall on 26 February 2000. Wire's reception during a short tour of the US, and a number of UK gigs, convinced the band to continue. Two EPs and an album Send (2003) followed, as well as collaborations with stage designer Es Devlin and artists Jake and Dinos Chapman. In 2004 the band split once more.
In 2006, Wire's 1970s albums were re-released with original vinyl track listings. Rumours abounded of a renewal of activity to mark the 30th anniversary of the band's debut as a 4 piece and the re-release of Pink Flag in 2007. A third Read & Burn EP was released in November, 2007.
A full-length album of new material entitled Object 47 was released in July 2008. Bruce Gilbert was not involved in this recording, although according to Colin Newman, he did feature in a minimal capacity on the third Read and Burn EP. 2011 saw the release of the band's twelfth studio album Red Barked Tree.
I Feel Mysterious Today
Wire Lyrics
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When you're feeling quite bright (bright)
And your filament burns
I feel mysterious today
Everything is humming loudly
I feel mysterious today
Everyone is coming this way
To stand on the ceiling? (watch out!)
Observe the tension grow (grow, grow, grow)
I feel mysterious today
Everything is humming loudly
I feel mysterious today
Everyone is coming this way
Going walking abroad (walking)
Minus hat before dawn
Bats in profusion there
I feel mysterious today
Everything is humming loudly
I feel mysterious today
Everyone is coming my way
Did you ever conceive
That you too can leave
Exactly when you like?
The song "I Feel Mysterious Today" by Wire is an abstract and metaphorical depiction of the feeling of being alive and vibrant, with a sense of mystery constantly enveloping one's surroundings. The first verse of the song, "Always cause for concern when you're feeling quite bright and your filament burns," seems to suggest that the feeling of being bright or shining too brightly may invite unwanted attention, and that this can be concerning. The chorus, "I feel mysterious today, everything is humming loudly, everyone is coming this way," further reinforces the idea that the subject of the song feels like they are radiating energy and that others are drawn to them.
In the second verse, the lyrics shift to a more surreal and dreamlike depiction of the feeling of mystery and wonder: "Is it ever appealing to stand on the ceiling? Observe the tension grow, I feel mysterious today." The image of standing on the ceiling, defying gravity, and observing the tension grow speaks to a sense of detachment from conventional reality and a feeling of being able to observe events from a removed perspective. The chorus repeats, "Everything is humming loudly, everyone is coming this way," once again emphasizing the idea that the subject of the song is pulling attention and energy toward them.
The final verse of the song introduces a more concrete image, that of walking in the predawn hours without a hat and observing bats in flight. This verse shifts from the surreal imagery of the preceding verses to a more grounded, earthbound depiction of the world. However, the chorus then returns, once again expressing the idea that the world is humming and alive with energy, and that the subject of the song is at the center of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Always cause for concern
It's alarming when you always feel like something isn't right.
When you're feeling quite bright
When you feel unusually happy and energetic.
And your filament burns
When you're burning bright and giving off intense energy.
I feel mysterious today
Today I feel like I have a sense of intrigue about me.
Everything is humming loudly
Everything around me feels loud and lively.
I feel mysterious today
Today is making me feel like an enigma.
Everyone is coming this way
People are drawn to me today.
Is it ever appealing
Does the idea of doing something unconventional ever sound attractive?
To stand on the ceiling? (watch out!)
Is it interesting to be in a situation that is out of the ordinary, or even dangerous?
Observe the tension grow (grow, grow, grow)
You watch as the intensity of the situation escalates.
I feel mysterious today
I'm feeling like a mystery today.
Everything is humming loudly
Everything around me feels loud and lively.
I feel mysterious today
Today is making me feel like an enigma.
Everyone is coming my way
People are drawn to me today.
Going walking abroad (walking)
Going for a walk outside.
Minus hat before dawn
It's very early in the morning and you're not wearing a hat or any other clothing accessory.
Bats in profusion there
There are a lot of bats in the area you're walking in.
I feel mysterious today
I've got a sense of intrigue about me today.
Everything is humming loudly
Everything around me feels loud and lively.
I feel mysterious today
Today is making me feel like an enigma.
Everyone is coming my way
People are drawn to me today.
Did you ever conceive
Did you ever think about the possibility?
That you too can leave
That you can leave a situation anytime you please.
Exactly when you like?
At any given moment of your choosing.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN JOHN NEWMAN, GRAHAM LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pierre Clary
on Champs
i believe this song is about amphetamine abuse, endemic on the punk scene...Speed, "more speed than before ,less time than before (tolerance build up)........
Pierre Clary
on Champs
The song "Champs" by Wire is an intense and fast-paced track that addresses themes of competitiveness, the desire for success, and the sacrifices one must make in order to achieve their goals. The repeated phrases "The taste of champions, the pace, the pace, the speed, the need, the need to seed, the chance to die" suggest that the speaker is wholly dedicated to winning and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. The subsequent line "Another dead don't cry" implies that the speaker has seen others perish in their pursuit of victory and is not phased by it. The stanza "You've still got speed, you'll maybe bleed, there's less time" highlights the idea that time is running out and that one must act quickly if they wish to be successful.
The next stanza begins with the phrase "More speed than before, you've done it before, there is no for, what are you doing it for?" which suggests that the speaker is no longer satisfied with their previous achievements and is compelled to push themselves even harder. The line "Want more, want more" is a clear indication that the speaker is never satisfied with what they have and will always strive for more. The repetition of "Another dead don't cry" throughout the song serves as a haunting reminder that the pursuit of success often has a cost, and that cost can be the lives of others.i think this so,
Pierre Clary
on Champs
YOU'RE RICH NOT POOR