Summer also sings and performs in the medieval/neoclassical duo Mirabilis.
Official Page: www.tmitg.com
Midnight
the Machine in the Garden Lyrics
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The world carries on
Now I find the time has come
The truth I face alone
Tell them they don't love you
Ask them if they care
The coldness of their faces
It finds me
Clouds parting
Invades me
Midnight standing there
The winters they have come
To cast on brighter days
Silver stars in blackness
Slowly find their way
As the nighttime falls
The children they all gasp
Closed up tight for dreaming
You know they are the last
Tonight the silent stillness
Now has come
To put the world in motion
Tonight it must be done
The lyrics of the Machine in the Garden's song "Midnight" capture the melancholic mood of the singer who is facing reality all by himself. The opening line, "Glistening in the snow, the world carries on", shows a stark contrast between the purity of the snow against the harshness of the world. The singer realizes that the time has come for him to face the truth alone. The next lines, "Tell them they don't love you, ask them if they care, the coldness of their faces, the burden they all bear" seem to suggest that the person is experiencing a sense of isolation and detachment from others, perhaps due to personal struggles or disillusionment with society.
The chorus of the song, "It finds me, clouds parting, invades me, midnight standing there" reinforces the sense of loneliness that the singer is experiencing. The imagery of midnight standing there serves as a metaphor for confronting one's fears and facing reality. The next two lines, "The winters they have come, to cast on brighter days, silver stars in blackness, slowly find their way" paint a picture of hope emerging even in the darkest of times. And the last verse of "Tonight the silent stillness, now has come to put the world in motion, tonight it must be done" suggests a form of determination on the part of the singer to take action and put things in motion.
Overall, the song "Midnight" by the Machine in the Garden is a somber reflection on the struggles of the human condition, particularly the feelings of isolation and detachment from others. It also speaks to the need to face our fears and take action to bring about change.
Line by Line Meaning
Glistening in the snow
The snow is glistening in the light, creating a peaceful sight.
The world carries on
Despite the snow and its beauty, the world continues functioning as usual.
Now I find the time has come
The singer has realized that it's time to confront a difficult truth.
The truth I face alone
The artist must confront this truth on their own, without any support or help.
Tell them they don't love you
The artist is encouraging someone to question if the people around them truly care for them or not.
Ask them if they care
The singer wants this person to directly ask others if they truly care about them or not.
The coldness of their faces
The apathy and lack of emotion in the faces of these people are apparent.
The burden they all bear
All of these individuals are carrying their own heavy burdens and struggles.
It finds me
Something has found the artist, something they may not have been looking for.
Clouds parting
The clouds in the sky are moving away, revealing something else.
Invades me
Whatever has found the singer is slowly taking over and affecting them.
Midnight standing there
Something ominous or foreboding is present in the dark of night.
The winters they have come
Winter has arrived and is settling in for some time.
To cast on brighter days
The arrival of winter is inevitable and will inevitably darken the days ahead.
Silver stars in blackness
Amidst the darkness of winter, there are still signs of light and hope in the form of silver stars.
Slowly find their way
The stars are revealing themselves slowly, but steadily.
As the nighttime falls
As night falls, things become more ominous and uncertain.
The children they all gasp
Children, still innocent and naive, are easily taken aback by the darkness of night and the world around them.
Closed up tight for dreaming
In order to escape reality, children retreat into their dreams, a safe space where anything's possible.
You know they are the last
The artist is already aware that the innocence of youth is fleeting, and soon enough, these children will face the same harsh realities as everyone else.
Tonight the silent stillness
The calm and quiet of the night sets the stage for something significant to happen.
Now has come
The moment everything has been leading up to is here.
To put the world in motion
The events of this night will have a profound effect on the world and set it on a new trajectory.
Tonight it must be done
Whatever needs to happen will happen tonight, regardless of the consequences.
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
on Time
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Ben - Moderator
on Dreams of the Absent
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Ben - Moderator
on Suspend
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Ben - Moderator
on Wonderland
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Ben - Moderator
on Final Form
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Ben - Moderator
on Falling Into the Sea
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Ben - Moderator
on Cold
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Ben - Moderator
on Cimmerian
Thanks Summer and I apologise for these errors. Due to inaccuracies such as these we have temporarily removed the "Interesting Facts" section from all songs until they are 100% fact checked.
Summer
on Time
- Machine in the Garden was formed in the mid-1990s by Roger Fracé and Summer Bowman, who have been the core members of the band ever since.
- The band's name comes from a poem by William Blake, which describes a "satanic mill" that functions like a "machine in the garden," disrupting the natural world.
- Machine in the Garden's music is often categorized as "ambient" or "darkwave," and is known for its lush, atmospheric soundscapes.
- The lyrics of "Time" reflect a recurring theme in Machine in the Garden's music, which explores issues of mortality, memory, and the passage of time.
- The band is known for its elaborate live performances, which often feature elaborate costumes, stage sets, and projections.
- Machine in the Garden has released nine albums to date, including "One Winter's Night," "Asphodel," and "Shadow Puppets."
- The band has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including Black Tape for a Blue Girl and Faith and the Muse.
- In addition to her role in Machine in the Garden, Bowman has also worked as a backing vocalist for other bands, including the legendary gothic rock band The Mission.
"Time" was originally from Asphodel only. It was never on "One Winter's Night..." Roger formed the band as a solo project, Summer came later in 1997. The band's name is not from a poem by William Blake. The band has never had an elaborate live performance with costumes and sets. The band has never collaborated with Black Tape or Faith and the Muse. Bowman never did vocals for The Mission.
Summer
on Dreams of the Absent
It was actually released on "Underworld" in 1997.