From what I understand, this song's lyrics are about how we are so set in our ways of comfort and luxury and EASINESS ("It's easy, don't mess with me, don't mess with me") that we have turned blind to the destruction and decay that has cropped up over time as a result. There are definitely different way to interpret this, but I like to think it's about how the wealthy and privileged cannot be arsed to do anything about the multiple climate crises (rising temps, microplastics in EVERYTHING, dying ecosystems) because it's soooo much easier to just ignore it and live their comfy lives. And it speaks to even us, the normal people, who don't directly contribute to ecological disaster in such a significant way, but still very much enjoy the luxuries of our modern lives. "Smoke wakes me from my sleep" is sung in such an irregular and cyclical pattern that to me, it elicits the cycle of constantly being woken from your sleep by this smoke created by not just metaphorical fires, but the literal fires of the dead, malformed, scorched earth we will be left with if we continue down this destructive path. But we all keep going back to sleep and ignoring it because that's the life we know and accept. Kind of a doomer analysis of the song, but it's one of the Smile songs that stuck with me most because of that meaning I got from it.
I think it is more specific (at least metaphorically) to the recent era of activism and protest. It is about the challenge of waking up to injustice and asking how far will one go in protest (self-immolation being perhaps the most radical form of protest).
An instant classic for me when they first released it. I'll say it again that I think Thom and Jonny are in another golden age of songwriting. So many great elements in this song. The chorus, the bassline, Jonny's horn arrangement and the dub influenced intro.
I was trying to figure out the timing of "Wakes me from my sleep..." in the chorus for MONTHS when this first came out. Then i realized to understand it, you had to just listen to it enough to FEEL it rather than count it out and drive yourself nuts.
This is one of my favorite songs from them. I love the way the riff often seems to start a count early, throwing you off, leaving you feeling unsteady, maybe anxious. Maybe like you woke up and there's a fire. And it's such a fun groove. A song driven by its bass. The jazzy, sliding, skipping drums.
What was so striking when this came out in the studio version (after having been played live a few times--online because of Covid) was the brass. That added to the really jazzy aspects of the song.
...and You Will Never Work In Television Again, Thin Thing, Open the Floodgates, Free in the Knowledge, Waving a White Flag, We Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings. lol So many incredible songs on ALFAA. I know Erol will eventually get to all of them.
Alley, I need Idioteque and Reckoner, please. I think the peculiarities of All I Need would delight Erol, too. Love this channel, I’m learning new things about songs I’ve loved for decades
![Sean Rii, Karyon, Sharzkii - Taungule [My Love] (Official Music Video)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eJoMuypbSzQ/mqdefault.jpg)
From what I understand, this song's lyrics are about how we are so set in our ways of comfort and luxury and EASINESS ("It's easy, don't mess with me, don't mess with me") that we have turned blind to the destruction and decay that has cropped up over time as a result. There are definitely different way to interpret this, but I like to think it's about how the wealthy and privileged cannot be arsed to do anything about the multiple climate crises (rising temps, microplastics in EVERYTHING, dying ecosystems) because it's soooo much easier to just ignore it and live their comfy lives. And it speaks to even us, the normal people, who don't directly contribute to ecological disaster in such a significant way, but still very much enjoy the luxuries of our modern lives.
"Smoke wakes me from my sleep" is sung in such an irregular and cyclical pattern that to me, it elicits the cycle of constantly being woken from your sleep by this smoke created by not just metaphorical fires, but the literal fires of the dead, malformed, scorched earth we will be left with if we continue down this destructive path. But we all keep going back to sleep and ignoring it because that's the life we know and accept.
Kind of a doomer analysis of the song, but it's one of the Smile songs that stuck with me most because of that meaning I got from it.
Great interpretation of the lyrics! Makes me appreciate the song even more that I already do!
I think it is more specific (at least metaphorically) to the recent era of activism and protest. It is about the challenge of waking up to injustice and asking how far will one go in protest (self-immolation being perhaps the most radical form of protest).
An instant classic for me when they first released it. I'll say it again that I think Thom and Jonny are in another golden age of songwriting. So many great elements in this song. The chorus, the bassline, Jonny's horn arrangement and the dub influenced intro.
I was trying to figure out the timing of "Wakes me from my sleep..." in the chorus for MONTHS when this first came out. Then i realized to understand it, you had to just listen to it enough to FEEL it rather than count it out and drive yourself nuts.
This is one of my favorite songs from them. I love the way the riff often seems to start a count early, throwing you off, leaving you feeling unsteady, maybe anxious. Maybe like you woke up and there's a fire.
And it's such a fun groove. A song driven by its bass. The jazzy, sliding, skipping drums.
What was so striking when this came out in the studio version (after having been played live a few times--online because of Covid) was the brass. That added to the really jazzy aspects of the song.
SKIRTING ON THE SURFACE PLEASEEEEE ITS THE BEST SONG EVERRR
Yesss, i agree! Would love to hear his thoughts!
...and You Will Never Work In Television Again, Thin Thing, Open the Floodgates, Free in the Knowledge, Waving a White Flag, We Don't Know What Tomorrow Brings. lol So many incredible songs on ALFAA. I know Erol will eventually get to all of them.
Parts of the bassline are actually in 7/8. Honestly makes it even more catchy.
Both The Smile albums are great but I like the second one better.
Thom Yorke -The Eraser. From front to back, a must!!
Alley, I need Idioteque and Reckoner, please. I think the peculiarities of All I Need would delight Erol, too. Love this channel, I’m learning new things about songs I’ve loved for decades
❤
yooo