Recess (song)

Muse song
Name	Recess
Album/single	Unintended CD1, BX CD, iTunes EP, DE Promo (2) » Hullabaloo Soundtrack CD1, Cassette 1 (3), JP CD1, JP Cassette 1 (2) Origin of Muse CD4 (1,12)
Length	3:35
Alternative titles	Recess at 8
First live performance	28th September 1999
Latest live performance	18th January 2000
Recorded	The Airfield, October 1999
Writer/composer	Matthew Bellamy
Producer	Paul Reeve

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Shrinking Universe	<	Recess	>	Yes Please

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Origin of Symmetry (2001)	<	Hullabaloo (2002)	>	Absolution (2003)

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Description

Creepy B-side which was played sometimes in the European tour promoting Showbiz.

Features a powerful whammy solo.

The bass appears to be played with an E-Bow.

The repeating guitar riff at the start of the song bears a similarity to Light From a Dead Star by Lush.

Live

The track was rarely played live and was only played between September 1999 and January 2000. While the known first gig is in September it is possible the song was premiered sometime before then. During the first half of January 2000 it was played at nearly every gig, however it was dropped sometime shortly after. Due to a lack of known setlists between February and April 2000, it is entirely possible, although unlikely, that the song was played up until then.

More here

Additional information

The meaning is very similar to the themes of Showbiz. It was originally believed to be a Muscle Museum b-side, but held back for Unintended.. There are also shared/similar lyrics to earlier versions of Sunburn.

Lyrics

Resuscitate

In my sleep Awake to see You're never here

And the losing yields Another year Facing hopes and fears

And I wish I could believe there was more Hope suffocating You've kissed my life

And the planes and trains Are to blame For tempting us To refrain And to cut the chord Dis every word Of the truths absurd and I wish I could believe there was more Hope suffocating And you've kissed my life

And I wish I could believe there was more Hope suffocating Hope suffocating Hope suffocating And you've kissed my life

Different take lyrics

The following lyrics were used when the 'different take' version was sung at a BBC session in 1999. Note that they include lyrics reused from the demo version of Sunburn that was not included in Showbiz, but were dropped from the studio recording of Recess.

Resuscitate

In my sleep Awake to see You're never here And the losing yields Another year Facing hopes and fears

And the trains and planes Are to blame For tempting us To refrain And to cut the chord Dis every word Of the truths absurd and I wish I could believe there was more Hope suffocating And you've kissed my life

Let the truth be heard Life just carries on When you're dead and gone When you're dead and gone Life just carries on Let the truth be known

And I wish I could believe there was more Hope suffocating And you've kissed my life

Hope suffocating Hope suffocating Hope suffocating And you've kissed my life

Quotes

• "recess at 8? (new song for b-side to muscle museum)"
  Matt discussing the Radio 1 session the band had just completed, 09/30/1999.
• "recess at 8 (song that will be re-recorded as a b-side to muscle museum single next month along with `deux: we need this?` `conscience two con science`"
  Matt updating fans on the song's status, 10/01/1999.
• "we also recorded a song, which i think might be called `recess` or something. This song has been recorded properly (totally different to the session) for a future B side."
  Matt talking about the song in a fan interview, 11/12/1999.
• "recess may be a b-side to unintended or on next album..."
  Matt discussing the fate of the song after it failed to appear on the Muscle Museum single, 01/05/2000.
• "recess - recorded as b-side to ``unintended`` single"
  Matt reveals the final fate of the song, 04/21/2000.

References

Go back to Hullabaloo Soundtrack