"Light at the End of the World," by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke
How can you turn an underrated, overlooked, and obscure synthpop album into literature? By isolating the lyrics from the music.
Written and “performed” by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, Erasure’s thirteenth album, “Light At The End of the World” was dismissed upon release. While it receive a low rating in the UK, it did top #2 in the US on The Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums of 2007. Erasure is known to dodge media fame and the spotlight. Previous albums, like Loveboat and the self-titled “Erasure,” were deliberately experimental to make the statement that their music was nonconformist. After the success of Nightbird in 2005, the 2007 album redefined itself with a newer tone, change of voice, and a redirection of their signature sound. It’s official. Erasure is old, and the fanbase is too.
What followed after this album was a trilogy of “world” albums. Starting with Light At The End of the World soon followed Tomorrow’s World (2011) and World Be Gone (2017). It honestly felt like the 2010s was a rehash of the same formulaic pulp romcom hits they were artificially known for. But for Light’s attempt, it captures the late 2000s nostalgia in a faux revivalist attempt.
I admit, these songs on this album do not sound like Erasure at all. I really like that.
The album’s main lyrical theme is about love, and the tacky rollercoaster ride around relationships. The album gets personal on Andy Bell’s own life. And the art direction was even dictated by Bell himself, giving the album a 90’s, early compact disc vibe of odd covers and ugly designs. That ugliness gives the album a pulp energy, like an actual diamond found in the dust. Hence this is the real meaning behind the album and it’s legacy. Light At The End of the World is a work of fine art found through our own discovery against the will of the public. It’s a diamond we cherish in our hears, and a feeling of personal intimacy we can understand in spirit. It’s not about what you look like, but what’s inside that matters.
While the album could be listened to as music, I appreciate this work of art through the lyrics instead. The lyrics to each song are like poems. And these poems could be released in a small chapbook, simply called “Light at The End of the World.”
I admit, the power of written lyrics is more important than the song observed around the performance. While the performance, singing, and sound collage is a nice addition, to read these poems like a prayer or mediative practice is just as powerful.
These lyrics alone gave power to men and women who read these poems. A “song” really is a short poem, and the set of words could be sung or performed. But alone, in its atonal manner, are prayers about life, philosophy, passion, desire, and meaning.
I present here all 10 poems found on Light at The End of the World. You don’t need to listen to the album. Read the poems and embrace their beauty.
1. Sunday Girl
Blinded by the vision
I turn and face my back to the wall
Cause I'm locked up in a rhythm
The prism of a big glitter ball
Wrapped around your finger
I'm caught up in the middle with you baby
With some laughter and drinking
There's very little else I can do
Then I go and drop a bombshell upon you
I've been making eyes at somebody else
You're no longer number one
She loves the night
And all that glitters
Her name in lights
Around the city
Don't you mess your life up Sunday girl
You're rushing down
Like a rollercoaster
Night on the town
Gonna make the most of
We can dance 'til Sunday morning girl
You're pushing and a-shoving me baby
Like a bitch to the wall
But you're driving me crazy
Right up to fever pitch I could fall
When you shine down your love light
I'm getting blinded by the sights and sounds
She loves the night
And all that glitters
Her name in lights
Around the city
Don't you mess your life up Sunday girl
I will see you
I will get you
I will see you
I will get you
I will see you
I will get you
Then I go and drop a bombshell upon you
I've been making eyes at somebody baby
You're no longer number one
She loves the night
And all that glitters
Her name in lights
Around the city
Don't you mess your life up Sunday girl
You're rushing down
Like a rollercoaster
Night on the town
Gonna make the most of
We can dance 'til Sunday morning girl
2. I Could Fall in Love With You
Come and hold me
And dissolve me
But I never do what I am told to
You enthuse me
Don't abuse me
At the worse of times you'll never lose me
There are times when I could fall in love with you
There are times when I would scream till I was blue
Don't get me wrong
I can be strong
When I could fall in love with you
Don't let me down
Take me to test
When I could fall in love with you
Like a child
I was dreaming
We were sleeping
And you held me tight to keep believing
Don't upset me
I won't let you
Fall into a space that's empty
There are times when I could fall in love with you
There are times when I would scream till I was blue
Don't get me wrong
I can be strong
When I would fall in love with you
Don't let me down
Take me to test
When I could fall in love with you
Like a child
3. Sucker for Love
I'm a sucker for love
All that's artificial
Sometimes below
The belt I hit you
For without love
Hell freezes over
And wherever you go searching
Know I'll want some
Give me back my calling cards and vices
My dignity and romance novels too
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
If you wanna know the truth
I'm feeling open ended
For without love
I'm not tremendous
The world we share
It's not pretending
And whenever you go AWOL
Know I'll be there
Give me back the photographs I sent you
My residence and cool emotion too
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
The love we have
Is for the better now
You gotta ride
Ride, ride, ride
4. Storm in a Teacup
I'm just saying
I want my mummy back
Lost her to the drink
But her soul's intact
Mama said to me
Be proud of who you are
She saw Jesus in the eyes
Of a broken man
Sail away
I am learning my lesson
Mama sends her love
And Godspeed you come home soon
One little white lie was enough
To conceal my goodbye
Then I stole away
Kissed her farewell
And wished her the best for life
Then I stole away, woah
Like a thief in the night
I'm just saying
Not behind daddy's back
He takes care of her
In his overtime
He's no saint I know
As he goes around the town
Watch him cry himself to sleep
He's my daddy
Sail away
I will go it alone now
Leave my past behind
To seek fortune and fame
One little white lie was enough
To conceal my goodbye
Then I stole away
Kissed her farewell
And wished her the best for life
Then I stole away, woah
Like a thief in the night
Sail away
There's a storm in a teacup
Mama sends her love
And Godspeed you come home
5. Fly Away
Fly away
From a broken heart
You have your love I've got to know
What you say to me?
Why'd you throw it all away?
Where you go to I don't know
As tears of angels
Whisper softly through the trees
Calling to me
Hear there gently sighing pleas
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
And I care if you forget about me
And I cry
And I cry
'Til you take it all from my heart
Fly away
Upon the wings of love
Though I'll be here again tomorrow
Like an angel
Falling softly upon her knees
Calling to me
Hear her gently sighing pleas
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
And I care if you forget about me
But I cry
And I cry
'Til you take it all from my heart
I'm a fool if I think my babe'll come back
I'll be waiting still I'm starting to crack
And I care if you forget about me
And I cry
And I cry
'Til you take it all from my heart
6. Golden Heart
Like a bubble that's floating
On high above
I won't break down
I won't cry
But the colors are melting
I am fragile
I've been acting so coldly
And hope some day
That you will forgive me
You are the one
That knows me for who I really am
It'll all be gone in the morning
We are lucky
Owe it all to fortune
Golden heart
Tears of love
Shining
Will glow
There's a light at
The end of the tunnel
I am crawling slowly
I am small
What's been up with me lately?
Hardly know me
Who's that in the mirror?
You are the one
That knows my moods of joy and anger
You've been coping and lonely
We are lucky
Owe it all to fortune
Golden heart
Tears of love
Shining
Will glow
7. How My Eyes Adore You
How my eyes adore you
As you walk into the room
Anytime you're feeling lonely
Like a ship without a sail
Anytime that I fall and stumble
Be my rock where others fail
Anytime that you're feeling lonely
Come along and be mine only
All it takes is a little trying
Please don't you leave me crying
He don't want to know
Just turn around and go
How my eyes adore you
As you walk into the room
Anytime that you're feeling restless
Take a deep breath and let it go
Only know that it leaves me breathless
Anytime that you're feeling low
Anytime that you're feeling lonely
Come along and be mine only
I can see your future with me
Can you fill the need within me?
When I close my eyes
You're the only one I love
Take me darling
If he don't want to know
Just turn around and go
There's enough for everybody
The world she don't mind
How my eyes adore you
As you walk into the room
8. Darlene
Where do you go when you think about me?
What do I do when I think about you?
Skyline
Passion
City streets that I adore
Shadows
By me grow
Rent collectors at my door
You got your religion
I got my addictions
We got dirty dishes in the sink
Looking from the window
Kissing in the kitchen
Fall so hard that I don't have to think
Darlene
This is where I want to be
Wrapped within your arms eternally
Falling deep under your spell
High upon the magic that you weave
Mindless
Gameshows
Flicking through the multi-screen
Twilight
Time is slow
Fall so hard that I could scream
You got your religion
I got my addictions
Fall so hard that I don't have to think
Darlene
This is where I want to be
Wrapped within your arms eternally
Falling deep under your spell
High upon the magic that you weave
All the things that I adore
Ones I've chosen to ignore
Rent collectors at my door
I can't take it anymore
Where do you go when you think about me?
What do I do when I think about you?
9. When a Lover Leaves You
What a situation
Senses gone and left me
Lies are like confetti on the floor
Words are leading nowhere
Delicate and tender
Tender hooks that drive me to despair
Storms are blowing
Winds are calling to me
Be my escape
My reward
It is you I adore
See me through
Where there are demons
I see angels passing by
The morning after nights before
I have tried
When a lover leaves you
Cuts you without knowing
The world just falls apart beneath your feet
Talk is cheap and useless
Nothing but excuses
Lies are like confetti in my hands
Storms are blowing
Winds are calling to me
Where there are demons
I see angels passing by
The morning after nights before
I have tried
Where there are demons
I see angels passing by
The morning after nights before
I have tried
10. Glass Angel
Come on angel
You're in danger
Give me a sign now
Show me the way
We gotta do it now
Oh we gotta do it now
Come on angel
Times are strange
And I need a life
And you are the one
Who can show me how
We gotta do it now
Ooh and the light that you're sending me down
In the name of falling shadow-land
Our love is real
And ooh, when you're deep inside
You can persuade me love
Our love is real
Hold me now
Ooh by the time that you're landing alone
And you're losing control where you lay your love
You lay your love
And ooh, when you're deep inside
You can persuade me love
Show me how
Show me how
Show me how
We gotta reach for the stars
We gotta reach for the love
We gotta reach for it all
We gotta reach
Talk with me
Walk with me
Play with me
Stay with me
Angel
-pe
3/31/2023