Elbow — Mirrorball
Album: The Seldom Seen KidAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 4557
Length: 5:43
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I plant the kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby
On the self-same face that wouldn't let me sleep
And the street is singing with my feet
And dawn gives me a shadow I know to be taller
All down to you, dear
Everything has changed
My sorry name has made it to graffiti
I was looking for someone to complete me
Not anymore, dear
Everything has changed
And we made the moon our mirrorball
The streets, an empty stage
The city sirens violins
Everything has changed
So lift off love
Lift off love
We took the town to town last night
We kissed like we invented it
And now I know what every step is for
To lead me to your door
Know that while you sleep
Everything has changed
We made the moon our mirrorball
The streets, an empty stage
The city sirens violins
Everything has changed
Everything has changed
Everything has changed
So lift off love
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
On the self-same face that wouldn't let me sleep
And the street is singing with my feet
And dawn gives me a shadow I know to be taller
All down to you, dear
Everything has changed
My sorry name has made it to graffiti
I was looking for someone to complete me
Not anymore, dear
Everything has changed
And we made the moon our mirrorball
The streets, an empty stage
The city sirens violins
Everything has changed
So lift off love
Lift off love
We took the town to town last night
We kissed like we invented it
And now I know what every step is for
To lead me to your door
Know that while you sleep
Everything has changed
We made the moon our mirrorball
The streets, an empty stage
The city sirens violins
Everything has changed
Everything has changed
Everything has changed
So lift off love
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Lift off love ''(down to you, dear)''
Comments (566)add comment
I can't stand Elbow and it plays so often on RP. I know I can skip but I don't like doing that for FOMO. Oh, the dilemma!
I'm listening to this awesome song early in the a.m. in Zurich. I don't travel a lot, but I wanted to post something while in Europe. Perhaps I'll see this 10 years from now and this perfect moment will come to mind.
MrDill wrote:
plant the kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby
aint too shabby either
the whole song is poetry. stunning
plant the kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby
aint too shabby either
the whole song is poetry. stunning
Alastair wrote:
And a '10' from me for..."I plant the kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby..."
Gets an Eight just for the line "We kissed like we invented it"
And a '10' from me for..."I plant the kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby..."
Just saw Elbow in Birmingham on the Audio Vertigo tour with 8,000 others. Absolutely fantastic show! I wish they'd make their way over the pond to the U.S. soon.
Alastair wrote:
plant the kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby
aint too shabby either
Gets an Eight just for the line "We kissed like we invented it"
plant the kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby
aint too shabby either
It is so hard to write a love song that does not sound like a common place. What a great song
Very Dave Matthew's Band vibe, but lyrically superior in my opinion.
pbell wrote:
Or 'We kissed like we invented it"
Guy is such a great lyricist!
Gets a 10 for the line "I plant a kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby."
Or 'We kissed like we invented it"
Guy is such a great lyricist!
Sofa_King wrote:
No matter the multiple convolutions behind art, NOBODY does it like M.C. Escher! Brilliant mind's eye for eclectic art!
Gets a 10 for the line "I plant a kind of kiss that wouldn't wake a baby."
Almost an art song.
Melody and instrumentals reminiscent of Zero 7
rpdevotee wrote:
i remember when bill started playing coldplay and people were like "they sound like radiohead"
people also say elbow sounds like gabriel. i don't hear that, either.
i see no similarities. at all. elbow stands out to me clearly.
the build, the layers, strings... the lyrics, i love it all on this one.
Why does this sound like Coldplay?
i remember when bill started playing coldplay and people were like "they sound like radiohead"people also say elbow sounds like gabriel. i don't hear that, either.
i see no similarities. at all. elbow stands out to me clearly.
the build, the layers, strings... the lyrics, i love it all on this one.
And the street is singing with my feet
And dawn gives me a shadow I know to be taller
Nice image.
And dawn gives me a shadow I know to be taller
Nice image.
Man, that Guy can write a lyric!
I grew fond of Elbow because the influence of Peter Gabriel was unmistakable. This song is downstream from that influence and is more subtle and singular. Like a voice dropping out of a chorus, the song continues even if it's now with one less element.
Absolutely godlike. I wish I could rate it higher than a 10.
What a superb song! Still chokes me up a bit, though, remembering how when it was new, the indescribably lovely Tomoka M was such an integral part of my life, and "we kissed like we invented it" felt as if written and sung just for us. We took Tokyo to town almost every night, and every night was glorious, and mornings, too. But when my mom's cancer came back, and tearful long-distance calls interrupted our bliss, I lost my girl. "It's too heavy -- I'm Japanese, yo!" Why did it take me so long to learn that samurai dna is real, and still active? See, in Japan, everything is fine until someone hits a patch of difficult emotions. Their shocking suicide rate attests this! Anyway, it's truly a heart- and mind-bending quantum-thing, how the same music that once made me so happy can now make me so sad, but, alas, that's just like love, I guess, and I'd like to believe that just like Love, Music can also heal... Thanks, RP, for having no problem with emotions! RP is my Rock of Love, and, please, let's keep on rocking!
Artists.
"We kissed like we invented it..."
johnalexford wrote:
You were extremely lucky that the audience was small. As you say, Guy Garvey really engages with the crowd, which works really well in a small venue where he can actually talk to members of the audience from the stage. I was lucky enough in the past to see the band in small venues in London. In the UK they're now popular enough to play 10,000 seat stadiums, after a string of No.1 albums and hit singles, so the audience engagement is no longer possible.
Saw Elbow in San Diego before the pandemic. The lyric We kissed like we invented it was sung loudly by everyone in attendance. What a great show by such a great band. A pity they only drew about 2-300 in attendance, but that made it all the more pleasurable for us. Of course it needs to be said that Guy is a master lyricist with an amazing voice, and he really engages the audience. If you have a chance to see them live, don't miss that opportunity!
You were extremely lucky that the audience was small. As you say, Guy Garvey really engages with the crowd, which works really well in a small venue where he can actually talk to members of the audience from the stage. I was lucky enough in the past to see the band in small venues in London. In the UK they're now popular enough to play 10,000 seat stadiums, after a string of No.1 albums and hit singles, so the audience engagement is no longer possible.
Fine vocal.
Melody.
Lyric.
I like.
7
Melody.
Lyric.
I like.
7
Saw Elbow in San Diego before the pandemic. The lyric We kissed like we invented it was sung loudly by everyone in attendance. What a great show by such a great band. A pity they only drew about 2-300 in attendance, but that made it all the more pleasurable for us. Of course it needs to be said that Guy is a master lyricist with an amazing voice, and he really engages the audience. If you have a chance to see them live, don't miss that opportunity!
I'm trained now. When I think "hey its Sting" I know its Elbow
dboseman wrote:
If you ever get the chance, do it, you will not regret it. I've seen them three times and I'm eagerly awaiting my 4th opportunity!
Incredible. I hope I get to see these guys live someday. What beautiful lyrics.
If you ever get the chance, do it, you will not regret it. I've seen them three times and I'm eagerly awaiting my 4th opportunity!
casparsteinebach wrote:
That sucked about your girlfriends father, second glad you got out of that country when you did
I was guiding a tour in North Korea a couple of years ago, when I got a call in my hotel. It was my girlfriend (on the other side of the globe) who told me her father was diagnosed with cancer. I never felt so far away from everything. The only music I had On my iPod that tour was 'The Seldom Seen Kid'. Still get emotional when this song comes on unexpected.
That sucked about your girlfriends father, second glad you got out of that country when you did
I was guiding a tour in North Korea a couple of years ago, when I got a call in my hotel. It was my girlfriend (on the other side of the globe) who told me her father was diagnosed with cancer. I never felt so far away from everything. The only music I had On my iPod that tour was 'The Seldom Seen Kid'. Still get emotional when this song comes on unexpected.
So amazing. As someone said below, 'work... you're going to have to wait.'
cc_rider wrote:
I bought their CD 'Asleep in the Back' recently, based on hearing 'Scattered Black and Whites' alone. Incredible songwriting - I tear up every time.
RP has sold a lot of music...
c.
Fabulous track, which breaks my heart every time... Lyrical genius.
I bought their CD 'Asleep in the Back' recently, based on hearing 'Scattered Black and Whites' alone. Incredible songwriting - I tear up every time.
RP has sold a lot of music...
c.
Fabulous track, which breaks my heart every time... Lyrical genius.
Well, whether one particularly likes this band or not, this seems to me to be a pretty great friggin love song. C'mon. "We kissed like we invented it"? I remember feeling like that once, long ago and far away. And I'm still married to her more than 35 years later.
This is the song my wife sang the night she proposed to me. So you might imagine I'm pretty partial to it.
Stopped me in my tracks. Sorry work, you just gotta wait...
So lfft aff love
Lfft aff love
Lfft aff love
We took the town to town last night
We kissed like we invented it
We kissed like we invented it
oldsaxon wrote:
Have you seen him? Check out the vid for 'grounds for divorce'
Phew, not 'arf! (Fans myself furiously.) Grrrowlllllllll!
Have you seen him? Check out the vid for 'grounds for divorce'
Phew, not 'arf! (Fans myself furiously.) Grrrowlllllllll!
dboseman wrote:
Do!! you won't be disappointed. I've seen them three times and am eagerly awaiting an opportunity to see them again.
Incredible. I hope I get to see these guys live someday. What beautiful lyrics.
Do!! you won't be disappointed. I've seen them three times and am eagerly awaiting an opportunity to see them again.
Saw them open for the Doves at the Great American in SF years ago and they were a great opener.
gbt wrote:
RP has sold a lot of music...
c.
starting to really enjoy this band
I bought their CD 'Asleep in the Back' recently, based on hearing 'Scattered Black and Whites' alone. Incredible songwriting - I tear up every time.RP has sold a lot of music...
c.
Kazoo, they are playing our song...
starting to really enjoy this band
dboseman wrote:
Yes. My wife and I saw them in Portland, OR a couple of years ago. We met a couple at a bar pre-show who had traveled from Ohio to see them! They did not disappoint.
Incredible. I hope I get to see these guys live someday. What beautiful lyrics.
Yes. My wife and I saw them in Portland, OR a couple of years ago. We met a couple at a bar pre-show who had traveled from Ohio to see them! They did not disappoint.
memoryboxer wrote:
I really like the second part of your comment:
"Guy Garvey somehow manages to balance the street smarts of a bar room bruiser with the eye, heart, and soul of a poet and the whole band raises the results to heavenly heights. Mirrorball, The Bones of You, A Day Like This... sublime. No such thing as too much Elbow."
It's a great comment which I appreciate even though I'm not an Elbow fan.
Respectfully, I object to the whole "If you don't get a song I like it's because there's something wrong with you" theme though. First, it's just not correct, and second, it's indicative of a general attitude we need to somehow overcome if folks of differing viewpoints are going to work together, which, hey, we're in dire need of these days.
Anyone who doesn't get this song... well, you've either never been in love or have somehow managed to do so without a romantic bone in your body.
Guy Garvey somehow manages to balance the street smarts of a bar room bruiser with the eye, heart, and soul of a poet and the whole band raises the results to heavenly heights.
Mirrorball, The Bones of You, A Day Like This... sublime. No such thing as too much Elbow.
I really like the second part of your comment:
"Guy Garvey somehow manages to balance the street smarts of a bar room bruiser with the eye, heart, and soul of a poet and the whole band raises the results to heavenly heights. Mirrorball, The Bones of You, A Day Like This... sublime. No such thing as too much Elbow."
It's a great comment which I appreciate even though I'm not an Elbow fan.
Respectfully, I object to the whole "If you don't get a song I like it's because there's something wrong with you" theme though. First, it's just not correct, and second, it's indicative of a general attitude we need to somehow overcome if folks of differing viewpoints are going to work together, which, hey, we're in dire need of these days.
great slow dance song...
Another exceptional band introduced to me by Bill & Co. LLRP.
Rubik's cube... will never forget the day I showed my siblings that I had solved it.
Hopeful/wishing teachers could figure out how to bring joy to learning. Not an easy task.
My heart goes out to the teachers with rooms full of cell phones. I would find a way to get those out of their hands. A challenged brain is a happy brain. I absolutely LOVE that Willie sings to me as I write this. He would too if he knew.
Hopeful/wishing teachers could figure out how to bring joy to learning. Not an easy task.
My heart goes out to the teachers with rooms full of cell phones. I would find a way to get those out of their hands. A challenged brain is a happy brain. I absolutely LOVE that Willie sings to me as I write this. He would too if he knew.
seriously one of the best bands. Garvey's voice is delicious. MORE please. 'Magnificent She Says' !!
Too bad 11 cannot be selected. But 'godlike' is a pretty good description.
LaurieinTucson wrote:
No to me, though I chuckled to myself when I thought "a little overplayed is like not dry enough" - it's more about flow than anything on RP, and I'm sure this will be followed by something else that's great and if not....the one after that....etc. LLRP!!
maybe a little overplayed?
No to me, though I chuckled to myself when I thought "a little overplayed is like not dry enough" - it's more about flow than anything on RP, and I'm sure this will be followed by something else that's great and if not....the one after that....etc. LLRP!!
OlderGentleman wrote:
Same, same.
First came to RP in 2009 and this was in heavy rotation. It's part of the reason that I'm still here (sorry h8rs, blame Bill and Elbow).
Were it not for RP, never would have heard Elbow and life would have been lacking. Thank you Bill and Rebecca.
Same, same.
First came to RP in 2009 and this was in heavy rotation. It's part of the reason that I'm still here (sorry h8rs, blame Bill and Elbow).
Really glad to have been introduced to Elbow by RP. Elbow sounds as much like Peter Gabriel as Vienna Teng sounds like Tori Amos. It's uncanny in both cases, and since I like both Peter Gabriel and Tori Amos, Vienna Teng and Elbow work for me. :)
Were it not for RP, never would have heard Elbow and life would have been lacking. Thank you Bill and Rebecca.
I know this song well. I just heard the lines
"The streets, an empty stage
The city sirens violins"
and thought did he get that from "Juke Box Love Song"? I just reread the poem. No, he didn't borrow from Langston Hughes--no sirens in the Hughes poem. But the Elbow song and the Hughes poem have things in common: similar tones, similar ways they celebrate urban landscapes, transform them in light of new love.
Juke Box Love Song
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem's heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on a record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you till day—
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.
by Langston Hughes
"The streets, an empty stage
The city sirens violins"
and thought did he get that from "Juke Box Love Song"? I just reread the poem. No, he didn't borrow from Langston Hughes--no sirens in the Hughes poem. But the Elbow song and the Hughes poem have things in common: similar tones, similar ways they celebrate urban landscapes, transform them in light of new love.
Juke Box Love Song
I could take the Harlem night
and wrap around you,
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down.
Take Harlem's heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,
Put it on a record, let it whirl,
And while we listen to it play,
Dance with you till day—
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.
by Langston Hughes
maybe a little overplayed?
More rim shot!!!
Anyone who doesn't get this song... well, you've either never been in love or have somehow managed to do so without a romantic bone in your body.
Guy Garvey somehow manages to balance the street smarts of a bar room bruiser with the eye, heart, and soul of a poet and the whole band raises the results to heavenly heights.
Mirrorball, The Bones of You, A Day Like This... sublime. No such thing as too much Elbow.
"We kiss like we invented it" - great line, bumping my 8 to 9 now.....Long Live RP!!
I saw them open for the Doves at the Great American in San Francisco years ago. Great show!
monotonous dirge
It's the first time I have heard this song. It is beautiful. I've been missing a lot.
I love two songs by Elbow - this one and a very early one called "Newborn" from the album "Asleep at the back".
Mirrorball is softly beautiful the whole way through - almost dreamlike whereas Newborn starts in a similar vein but the difference is it builds gradually to a crescendo and as such I prefer the later.
I have a feeling that these two great songs will last the test of time which is a good thing in my book.
Mirrorball is softly beautiful the whole way through - almost dreamlike whereas Newborn starts in a similar vein but the difference is it builds gradually to a crescendo and as such I prefer the later.
I have a feeling that these two great songs will last the test of time which is a good thing in my book.
Guy Garvey is such a poet
A very solid set in the last hour!
TY
TY
dboseman wrote:
I love this song... At first, just today, I was reading the lyrics and at first I was like "what do the lyrics mean?" I never wanted to be one of those RP'ers. But once I read the whole set of lyrics, I totally agree... I have my wife in mind imagining us in them...
Incredible. I hope I get to see these guys live someday. What beautiful lyrics.
I love this song... At first, just today, I was reading the lyrics and at first I was like "what do the lyrics mean?" I never wanted to be one of those RP'ers. But once I read the whole set of lyrics, I totally agree... I have my wife in mind imagining us in them...
Incredible. I hope I get to see these guys live someday. What beautiful lyrics.
So romantic! Elbow is awesome.
Gets an Eight just for the line "We kissed like we invented it"
O, to be the person that inspires these lyrics be written...
Brilliant...I use the intro as my wake up alarm....
haresfur wrote:
Have you seen him? Check out the vid for 'grounds for divorce'
Give that boy a testosterone shot!
Have you seen him? Check out the vid for 'grounds for divorce'
Sublime. A band at the top of their game on this. Thanks for reminding me. This is what's great about curated Radio, I'm very aware of Elbow, but they have drifted off my Radar (probably in favour of contemporary Motorik) but I'll go back for a visit for sure.
Limpopoking wrote:
Same here. See them live if you can.
An unbelievably good song... Elbow is probably my number 1 band for the decade. Thanks to RP.
Same here. See them live if you can.
fedtho wrote:
It's about a dead friend of theirs.
That album title, "The seldom seen kid".
If there was a movie with that title, I would want to see it. If it was a book, I'd want to read it. (Yes, if it was painting... you know!)
If there was a movie with that title, I would want to see it. If it was a book, I'd want to read it. (Yes, if it was painting... you know!)
It's about a dead friend of theirs.
Tickets for the 13th. Second time seeing them - first was amazing. Recommended.
Give that boy a testosterone shot!
Pure joy to my ears ....... :o)~ Connecticut.
An unbelievably good song... Elbow is probably my number 1 band for the decade. Thanks to RP.
Ihatethissong wrote:
My ears can't detect any comparisons, sorry friends.
rpdevotee wrote:
IMHO:
Probably because Coldplay was heavily influenced by Elbow.
Coldplay is more commercially successful probably because they have less artistic integrity.
Elbow is vastly susperior to Coldplay, again, in my opinion. And of course, opinions are like farts.
Why does this sound like Coldplay?
IMHO:
Probably because Coldplay was heavily influenced by Elbow.
Coldplay is more commercially successful probably because they have less artistic integrity.
Elbow is vastly susperior to Coldplay, again, in my opinion. And of course, opinions are like farts.
My ears can't detect any comparisons, sorry friends.
That album title, "The seldom seen kid".
If there was a movie with that title, I would want to see it. If it was a book, I'd want to read it. (Yes, if it was painting... you know!)
Going to see Elbow at Terminal 5 in NYC on Nov 2! 
Why does this sound like Coldplay?
Poignant, beautiful music and poetry. Especially now, given yesterdays events in Manchester.
This song make me irrationally happy.
One song at a time, I am adding Elbow to my music library.
One song at a time, I am adding Elbow to my music library.
Makes my spine shiver. What a beautiful song.
Love Guy Garvey's singing...so cool...so warm.
Beautiful song, thanks Bill!
Beautiful song, thanks Bill!
Like the way the keys are dancing about..
Starts Very Simon&Garfunkelly.
papersitter wrote:
The sound of beginning to fall in love
Yeah, what a thing! sukhramkaur
"We kissed like we invented it"
That line get's me every time. I've had "Take off and Landing" playing in my car for weeks now, I can't even begin to get tired of Elbow.
Posted: Jan 25, 2015 - 04:38
"We kissed like we invented it"
That line get's me every time. I've had "Take off and Landing" playing in my car for weeks now, I can't even begin to get tired of Elbow.
Love this one
The sound of beginning to fall in love
Wedding waltz material....in the best way.
Something very irritating about his voice... "so LiFFT oFF loooove, IFT oFF love"
Great music though... but sounds like it was sung by some ~70 year old man with teeth problems.
Great music though... but sounds like it was sung by some ~70 year old man with teeth problems.
What a masterpiece!
Sorry I missed it. No string section?
stevesaw wrote:
stevesaw wrote:
I must have been standing about 10 people to your left. What a great concert - time for another one.
ayohn wrote:
ayohn wrote:
Phenomenal concert last night at the 9:30 Club in DC...
The more I hear of Elbow the more I appreciate their sound; speaking of which, it's distinctive in a subtle way, with certain chord transitions and sonic qualities carrying through but not dominating their sound. One of my favorite bands I wouldn't have known about were it not for Bill & Rebecca. So, much obliged once again!
I must have been standing about 10 people to your left. What a great concert - time for another one.
ayohn wrote:
ayohn wrote:
Phenomenal concert last night at the 9:30 Club in DC...
Easy listening. Pleasant and engaging!
What a sweet voice. Solid 8. Interested to check out the album.
Beautiful song from an almost perfect album. From the first listen I was hooked and I love the kick drum...
I do like his Man-U slang. Very nice tune!
Dito
I'm a big Elbow fan....but I think their latest efforts can't match this album.
leathepea wrote:
Want to send me one?
Nice mellow groove. Smoke if you got-em.
Want to send me one?
thankx for da mello
Nice mellow groove. Smoke if you got-em.
Beware...
almost wearing this out on RP
almost wearing this out on RP
KevinM wrote:
Gone one better... fantastic piece of artistry
8 —> 9
Gone one better... fantastic piece of artistry
Live at Manchester Cathedral on BBC....check out the magic
I'm a big Elbow fan....but I think their latest efforts can't match this album.
Middleton wrote:
Funny ... I just did the exact same thing.
Couldn't believe that I hadn't rate this one yet. Straight to 9.
Funny ... I just did the exact same thing.
Couldn't believe that I hadn't rate this one yet. Straight to 9.
Love this tune. Very soothing.
KevinM wrote:
Funny ... I just did the exact same thing.
8 —> 9
Funny ... I just did the exact same thing.
dreamy and delicious
Love that sus2 chord or whatever it is, the rhythm, the vocals and piano just oozing with Elbow style, the mix...awesome song.
8 —> 9
"We kissed like we invented it"
Phillip Glass and Sting reincarnated and held captive in Rubik's cube.
Cars to Elbow, does it get any better? Bill you are playing the good Santa today.
Gets an Eight just for the line "We kissed like we invented it"
Gets a Ten from the judge in Austin, Texas - first time I heard this, I got goosebumps and tears came to my eyes - and that still happens when I hear it.