Sing for Absolution (song)
| Muse song | |
|---|---|
| Name | Sing for Absolution |
| Album/single |
|
| Length | 4:54 |
| Alternative titles | Eulogy [1], Sing 4 [2] |
| First live performance | 3rd September 2003 |
| Latest live performance | 19th August 2017 |
| Recorded | Air Studios, London, 2003 |
| Writer/composer | Matthew Bellamy |
| Producer | Rich Costey |
| Chart position | 16 |
| Song Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time Is Running Out | < | Sing for Absolution | > | Stockholm Syndrome |
| Album Nav | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hullabaloo (2002) | < | Absolution (2003) | > | Black Holes and Revelations (2006) |
Additional information
According to Matt: "This song is completely different from the rest, there is something oppressive inside of it, with a gothic sound"[3]
According to Matt: "The verses speak somewhat of a dead relationship or something like that.There was a great part of improvisation. Making music or sing is for me an act of seeking absolution. In fact, this is my personal way to find a manner to understand myself, understand all these elements confusing on me, those things that scare me and that arise in this song [3]
According to Dominic Howard, this song is about writing music,[4] singing[5] and the finding of non-religious absolution through both.[4][5] He described the process of song writing as taking inspiration on things one does not understand or which makes you have confused feelings and as result, feeling better about them because by doing so, its a form of "deciphering" the things you don't really understand.[5]
An acoustic version was released on the Butterflies & Hurricanes single.
Live
Sing For Absolution was commonly played during the Absolution Tour in 2003 and 2004, appearing at more than half of the shows. The song was put to rest for 2 years before reappearing during the Black Holes & Revelations Tour in March 2007. It was played at the Japanese concerts throughout March and a few US concerts in April. The song wouldn't be played again until a one-off performance at the second night at Wembley Stadium. The song would return for another few performances in September and October of that year in the US, Europe and Russia. These performances of the song during the Black Holes and Revelations era featured additional piano performed by Morgan.
The song was once again dropped after the Black Holes and Revelations tour. It made one more appearance at the 2017 Shepherd's Bush Empire by-request gig, 10 years after its last performance, though it was played half a step down. Matt stated that he was "surprised" that the song made the top 10. It also made the Top 10 of the votes for the 2018 La Cigale by-request gig but for unknown reasons it wasn't played.
Lyrics
Lips are turning blue
A kiss that can't renew I only dream of you My beautiful
Tiptoe to your room A starlight in the gloom I only dream of you And you never knew
Sing for absolution I will be singing And falling from your grace
There's no where left to hide In no one to confide The truth burns deep inside And will never die
Lips are turning blue A kiss that can't renew I only dream of you My beautiful
Sing for absolution I will be singing And falling from your grace
Sing for absolution I will be singing And falling from your grace
Our wrongs Remain unrectified And our souls Won't be exhumed
References
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxin4T4ricx/
- ↑ Setlist Melbourne 2003
- ↑ a b Rock Mag. (2003-09). "Apocalypse Now" September 2003. Rock Mag. [verify]
- ↑ a b We feel sorry for bands being hyped (2003-10-02). Laut. Retrieved 2007-05-01 from laut.de. [verify]
- ↑ a b c Interview with Dominic Howard of Muse (2003-09-24). 3VOOR12. Retrieved 2008-03-19 from www.muselive.com. [verify]