"Above all, my lyrics talk of values and attitudes. This is a constant line, the only topics on which I can sing with conviction. The word 'Soul Music' has a totally different meaning to 'the music of the soul', but today, I feel close to that, to gospel. You sing from your heart. In that sense, yes, my lyrics are religious but not from a specific religion, only humanitarian. This is where my religion ends. Anyway, my lyrics are about a person who isn't me. He's the one who has the feelings and expresses them. Yet, curiously, when I sing these lyrics, when I close my eyes, I feel exactly the same things as he does." Mark Hollis
Risking Mark's wrath, I have picked some songs for further examination. I know he hated this but I hope you may find this of interest. Clearly I am speculating here, but if these explanations are anywhere near the truth, it is not difficult to understand why Mark would have difficulty articulating this in interviews, since some of the topics are extremely personal for a clearly sensitive and private person..
I Believe In You
Hear it in my spirit
I've seen heroin for myself
On the street so young laying wasted
Enough ain't it enough
Crippled world
I just can't bring myself to see it starting
Tell me how I fear it
I buy prejudice for my health
Is it worth so much when you taste it
Enough there ain't enough hidden hurt
A time to sell yourself
A time for passing
Spirit
How long
Explanation:
It believed to have been written for his brother Ed who died after years of heroin abuse. Mark is desperately trying to understand why Ed needed it & the pain he (Mark) felt when his brother was on drugs. In interviews Mark stated he was often drunk (from alcohol) to enable him to perform live. Various reports claim that the recording sessions of Eden and Laughing Stock were undertaken under the influence of things beyond mere alcohol.
There is speculation that Mark wrote this as Ed was in decline and his brother died betweek the release of the song and the video. Note the extremely raw atmosphere on the video for this song. In my opinion, only live renditions of 'Renee' compete with this level of intensity. Again, my opinion. In any case, it is not a stretch to say this song is very poignant for Mark. And perhaps the emotional depth of the performance a reason for his enduring legacy today...
Happiness Is Easy
(Mark Hollis / Tim Friese-Greene)
Makes you feel much older
Sublime the blind parade
It wrecks me how they justify their acts of war
They assemble, they pray
Take good care of what the priests say
'After death it's so much fun'
Little sheep don't let your feet stray
Happiness is easy
Joy be written upon the earth
And the sky above
Jesus star that shines so bright
Gather us in love
Guilt upon their shoulders
How well the cause evades
Infecting your religions, claiming pacts
It's easy to shoulder the blame
Happiness is easy
Little ships of Galilee
Happiness is easy
Standing on the sea
Happiness is easy
Jesus tried to love us all
Happiness is easy
Be a friend to me
Happiness is easy
Try to teach my children
To recognise excuse before it acts
>From love and conviction to pray
Take good care of what the priests say
'After death it's so much fun'
Little sheep don't let your feet stray
Happiness is easy
Little ships of Galilee
Standing on the sea
Jesus tried to love us all
Be
a friend to me
Joy be written upon the earth
And the sky above
Jesus star that shines so bright
Gather us in love
Explanation:
This song was well before it's time, anticipating modern day religious intolerance. 'Infecting your religions' underlines the point that the song is not anti-religious, rather pointing out that religions can be manipulated for the 'cause.'
Renee
Well baby how the weeks fade
Baby was the best part of your youth a sensation
Yeah that's a change
I never thought I'd end up fooling you
Do you hear what they say?
All these people living up in my street
Well they say
'Out of touch, she lives in faded dreams'
Renee Renee Renee Renee
Baby how the weeks fade
Baby how the streets change
Renee Renee Renee Renee
Baby how the weeks fade
And maybe when the cheat plays
Maybe when the ace falls from his suit
And he tells you
'Yeah that's the game, I didn't want to lose it on the two'
You're playing his way
But the prize that you've been losing was youth
And I say
'Throw the ace and face up to the truth'
Renee Renee Renee Renee
Baby how the weeks fade
Baby how the streets change
Renee Renee Renee Renee
But baby how the weeks fade
Renee Renee Renee Renee
Baby how the weeks fade
Baby how the streets change
Renee Renee Renee Renee
But baby as the weeks change
And we've seen quite a few
I don't know who's fooling who
I'm fooling you
Explanation:
Singer subject girlfriend left him to waste her youth on a 'sensation' living her life in 'faded dreams.' Her 'sensation' was eventually revelaed to be a cheat and in the interim much time had passed. The singer subject reflects on his prodigal girlfriend that he no longer feels what he used to feel and has also been fooling her. Bitter and tragic stuff.
Such a Shame
Explanation:
Why should I do this when you can hear it from Mark himself, as he and Popey serve up a lot of very funny misinformation also:
If you have any questions, you can email me at thosedistantechoes@gmail.com (pls include Talk Talk Mark Hollis in the email heading)