Wire - The Queen Of Ur And The King Of Um video free download
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http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-bell-is-cup-until-it-is/id15786734
Audio Only From 1988. I picked this off of college radio when i was about 17. Classic.
From the album "A bell is a cup until its struck"
Painted statues in underground streams
With invitations to the Pharoah's dream
They stare at themselves, there's a need to be seen
Walking mirrors in the Pharoah's harem
And here they come
The queen of Ur
And the king of Um
Tainted Matthews in car-key relations
Gilt invitations to the blue queen's ball
They stare at themselves, there's a need to be seen
Talking pillars in the blue queen's hall
And here they come
The queen of Ur
And the king of Um
Fading tatoos of empty stations
Great expectations at Vince's loyal mince
They stare at each other, there's a need to be seen
Crack-head mirrors, licking the soiled mint
Olympic statues from terminal stations
Sifting invitations to the market floor
Steering into the future, it pays to be seen
Polishing mirrors, keeping the score
A babbling gaggle, a scrabbling rabble
Fighting invitations to the emporor's shilling
They stare through themselves, there's nothing to see
Hand-picked recruits for ghostly pursuit
And here they come
The queen of Ur
And the king of Um
Comments
11 years ago
bill allen
no it is a joke about a queen of 'ur' (the first city, mesopotamia) and the way it sounds (er) and the king of um is the joke part. they are the archetypal 'college radio' band: independent, intelligent, rockin'.11 years ago
David Rocastle
your just an object until you are...hit by by some tragedy11 years ago
Hoover Grepa
Lewis said at an performance in the 80's before they played this song, that it was ment for the presidents of the USA. That they often said Errr and Uuum when talking.11 years ago
MrSilibili
I've often thought that the album cover was some sort riddle like drawing an eye and a deer to signify 'idea' and I have just found a potential solution the horses head with the open mouth might be considered to represent a neigh-er the cabinet could represent files from which I got neophiiles - lovers of the new (or new lovers) as for the album title... I shall leave that as an exercise for those who enjoy such diversion(-:11 years ago
NormanArches
It's an older english translation, something out of use by the mid 19th century. For anyone who has read a lot of lit, as Newman obviously has, it would be a part of their natural vocabulary.11 years ago
xyaqua
no- don't know what that was. But i love it that there is stuff i still do not know about the band!11 years ago
Phull Kname
What do you mean was?11 years ago
NormanArches
were you with them in The Commune?11 years ago
NormanArches
It's a pun, isn't it - Queen or Err and King of Umm. A palace full of braindead popstars sucking up to big commerce. Newman was always a fantastic songwriter.11 years ago
ConvincingPeople
It's a pun playing on a couple of levels. Bruce Gilbert has said that the lyrics were inspired by the bizarre tribalism that developed in the British underground scenes of the '80s, in particular watching young Goths on the subway, all dressed almost in uniform with the same distant expression. The titular "characters" are, in essence, high-ranking trendsetters with nothing to say: The Queen of "Urrr..." and the King of "Ummm..." The added joke is that Ur was an ancient Sumerian city. So, yeah.12 years ago
xyaqua
does anyone have any idea of what Ur and Um are? google it, learn about wire, educate yourself- this is what wire prefers- take it from someone who knows- learn12 years ago
fern Haloo
somebody once explained the lyrics to me, basically empty suits that only want to look just so perfect12 years ago
Michael Heminger
@toddclemmer Yeah - like the copyright holders of this material even care. I wonder how many copies of this incredible album have sold in the last 10 years. Probably a negligible amount, which is a travesty. Corporations are so ridiculous.12 years ago
10jdooley
@sweetttina666 FUCK YOU12 years ago
sauceyf4
I dIdnt think it was "crack-head' mirrors. Crack-ed mirrors sounded more unique.12 years ago
DadgeCity
@toddclemmer well duh ;)12 years ago
omae24
Wire always had a pop influence to them. They clearly grew up with the Kinks, Who, Beatles, Sid Barrett, etc.13 years ago
Devito46
Nice summer music. Good radio tunes too.13 years ago
sweetttina666
@radiantopaque True. It's almost as if there's certain arrangements or "orders" that a small percentage of people (mostly artists) "get". We just "know" when seemingly nonsensical images actually fit together- and when it really is just nonsense. I could go on by dividing time (like only a true artist can)- but YouTube only allows 500 characters.13 years ago
