Sam E. Posted September 4, 2023 Share Posted September 4, 2023 (edited) I was listening to XTC's Oranges and Lemons for the first time in an age, and I was struck by how much the lyrics to "Across This Antheap" rang of cosmic horror. Spoiler Soldiers, workers, slaves and farmers, Nurses, queens and drones. Wish they'd leave my head tonight, Let me rest my bones. A billion feet sound just like a billion drums. A bed is creaking as the messiah comes. The cars are crashing and the bacon is hacked. The coffin's lowered and the lunches get packed. Still segregating 'cause we insects are too proud. Doesn't matter what colour of cat you are there's no dogs allowed.And the screaming sky won't let me sleep. The stars are laughing at us, As we crawl on and on across this antheap. War planes go over but no wages go 'round. A sign goes up to say hey we're twin towned. The dough is rising but no bread will be baked. The fur is genuine but the orgasm's faked. We're spending millions to learn to speak porpoise, When human loneliness is still a deafening noise.And the screaming sky won't let me sleep. The stars are laughing at us, As we crawl on and on across this antheap. Soldiers, workers, slaves and farmers, Nurses, queens and drones. Wish they'd leave my head tonight, And let me rest my bones. And all the world's babies are crying still. While all the police cars harmonize with power drills. As jets and kettles form a chord with screeching gulls. Accompanied by truncheons keeping time on human skulls.And the screaming sky won't let me sleep. The stars are laughing at us, As we crawl on and on past lovers who'll leap. On and on past widows who'll weep. On and on no more than skin deep. On and on across this antheap. How about you? Any songs you recommend for some good old-fashioned Lovercraftian despair?! Edited September 4, 2023 by Sam E. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teo twawki Posted September 5, 2023 Share Posted September 5, 2023 Songs from Shriekback, Bauhaus, and Blue Öyster Cult spring to mind. Quote plus lucis quam solis plus obscurior quam nocte plus laqueum quam libido Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam E. Posted September 5, 2023 Author Share Posted September 5, 2023 21 hours ago, teo twawki said: Songs from Shriekback, Bauhaus, and Blue Öyster Cult spring to mind. Any specific lyrics in particular? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwiceBorn Posted September 9, 2023 Share Posted September 9, 2023 "The Thing That Should Not Be," by Metallica. Messenger of fear in sight Dark deception kills the light Hybrid children watch the sea Pray for father, roaming free Fearless wretch, insanity He watches, lurking beneath the sea Great Old One, forbidden site He searches, hunter of the shadows is rising Immortal In madness you dwell Crawling Chaos, underground Cult has summoned, twisted sound Out from ruins once possessed Fallen city, living death Fearless wretch, insanity He watches, lurking beneath the sea Timeless sleep has been upset He awakens, hunter of the shadows is rising Immortal In madness you dwell In madness you dwell Not dead which eternal lie Stranger eons death may die Drain you of your sanity Face the thing that should not be! Fearless wretch, insanity He watches, lurking beneath the sea Great Old One, forbidden site He searches, hunter of the shadows is rising Immortal In madness you dwell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam E. Posted September 9, 2023 Author Share Posted September 9, 2023 Perfect! Never listened to a lot of Metallica, but maybe I should start ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwiceBorn Posted September 10, 2023 Share Posted September 10, 2023 12 hours ago, Sam E. said: Perfect! Never listened to a lot of Metallica, but maybe I should start ... I like their earlier albums, but their new ones not so much. In my opinion, Master of Puppets is their very best (and The Thing That Should Not Be is on that album). While you're at it, give the following track - Welcome Home (Sanitarium) - a listen, too. There might be a theme running between those songs. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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