Early this morning, a clear, quiet voice suddenly revealed the meaning behind Grown Backwards, David Byrne’s beautiful album romanticizing modern life within an urban setting. Like the image of a screen suddenly switched off in a darkened room, key lyrics remained in my mind’s eye, and understanding poured in--after weeks of passively listening to Grown Backwards, understanding had arrived--but where was its destination of origin? My insight had a temporary quality--had the notes not been recorded hastily in a journal, I would have lost my memory of the moment entirely.
Byrne’s album is the work of a master artist, a legend who still innovates. Not content to rest upon re-hashed versions of his work as the frontman of the Talking Heads, his latest works are the product of forward-looking Byrne. In a world of re-releases and re-issued digitally-remastereds, Grown Backwards is new, fresh, modern...and completely recognizable as a mature David Byrne fully expressing his unique gifts in songwriting and arranging.
My understanding arrived only after posing a baseline question: What is this album about? Snippets of lyrics floated through my home and little car, and a gradual picture emerged: the album is meant to be an ensemble, thematic issues are threaded into its fabric, and each track is a snapshot in the life of an urban inhabitant.
Clarity arrived in understanding that “Glass and Concrete and Stone” describes an urban ecosystem. “Dialogue Box” hints at our relationship with modern communication, while “She Only Sleeps With Me” evokes a man’s relationship with a woman (who happens to make a living in adult entertainment.) A pair of songs written in Italian speak to appreciation of cultures beyond my own, those which are strikingly beautiful even though I cannot fathom them. Understanding, like painting with watercolors, is a gradual process. It can develop quickly at times, but is only complete with time.
In the preface of David Sylvester’s collection of Rene Magritte’s artwork, it is noted that the end result of the surrealist painter’s enigmatic work is mystery. We’re cautioned not to find meaning in the images not implied by the artist. As my understanding of the painter’s catalogue and expression grows, so will my opinions--but my opinions are not knowing, only speculation. I can no more know what Magritte’s images imply than I can know what Byrne’s lyrics reflect--even a most educated step toward understanding is still unfounded conjecture.
There is tremendous mystery in understanding, and the potential for tremendous understanding in mystery. As I watch perennial plants emerge from dormancy in my garden, I recognize and anticipate their return. 15 years ago, I couldn’t identify one of them in the peak of their growing season, but with years of study, I recognize them by the first half-inch of emerging foliage--the mystery has yielded to understanding over time and with great effort.
Last week, I listening to a sermon which covered a portion of the New Testament book of 1st Corinthians. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing,” reads one of the verses. The understanding of the passage comes in its perspective on knowledge and faith--attaining greatness in either area is nothing without demonstrating love. The mystery of the passage remains in a lifelong effort to demonstrate that love in a meaningful and lasting way.
Byrne’s album is the work of a master artist, a legend who still innovates. Not content to rest upon re-hashed versions of his work as the frontman of the Talking Heads, his latest works are the product of forward-looking Byrne. In a world of re-releases and re-issued digitally-remastereds, Grown Backwards is new, fresh, modern...and completely recognizable as a mature David Byrne fully expressing his unique gifts in songwriting and arranging.
My understanding arrived only after posing a baseline question: What is this album about? Snippets of lyrics floated through my home and little car, and a gradual picture emerged: the album is meant to be an ensemble, thematic issues are threaded into its fabric, and each track is a snapshot in the life of an urban inhabitant.
Clarity arrived in understanding that “Glass and Concrete and Stone” describes an urban ecosystem. “Dialogue Box” hints at our relationship with modern communication, while “She Only Sleeps With Me” evokes a man’s relationship with a woman (who happens to make a living in adult entertainment.) A pair of songs written in Italian speak to appreciation of cultures beyond my own, those which are strikingly beautiful even though I cannot fathom them. Understanding, like painting with watercolors, is a gradual process. It can develop quickly at times, but is only complete with time.
In the preface of David Sylvester’s collection of Rene Magritte’s artwork, it is noted that the end result of the surrealist painter’s enigmatic work is mystery. We’re cautioned not to find meaning in the images not implied by the artist. As my understanding of the painter’s catalogue and expression grows, so will my opinions--but my opinions are not knowing, only speculation. I can no more know what Magritte’s images imply than I can know what Byrne’s lyrics reflect--even a most educated step toward understanding is still unfounded conjecture.
There is tremendous mystery in understanding, and the potential for tremendous understanding in mystery. As I watch perennial plants emerge from dormancy in my garden, I recognize and anticipate their return. 15 years ago, I couldn’t identify one of them in the peak of their growing season, but with years of study, I recognize them by the first half-inch of emerging foliage--the mystery has yielded to understanding over time and with great effort.
Last week, I listening to a sermon which covered a portion of the New Testament book of 1st Corinthians. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing,” reads one of the verses. The understanding of the passage comes in its perspective on knowledge and faith--attaining greatness in either area is nothing without demonstrating love. The mystery of the passage remains in a lifelong effort to demonstrate that love in a meaningful and lasting way.
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