Stuart Adamson - 20 years ago

[VladKinder]

For some reason I got into my head that today was the 20th anniversary of Stuart's death.
But it was actually on the 16th. 20 years...how time flies.

In memory: We're not in Kansas. Lyrics are as relevant today as ever.

What did you learn in school today
Did you learn to run when the teachers pray
Did they teach you enough to know the state you're in
Not enough to get out, not enough to win
What did you learn at home today
Did you learn to hate in the proper way
Did your liberated parents patronize your friends
Cos they had enough money, cos they had the right skin
I wander 'round thinking, well, what kind of place is this
Well maybe it's in the parks, maybe it's in the stores
But I know if we're being honest, it's in the people
But they're all caught up in the traffic
Listening to the weather
Well dog, I know we're not in Kansas, the sky's all colored wrong
I know we're not in Kansas, the days are all too long
I sure don't understand this, that's what you're howling for
I know we're not in Kansas, Kansas anymore
What did you learn in your job today
Did you learn to sleep while the boss is away
Did you shut your mouth when he called you down
Cos there's not much work in that kind of town
I wander around thinking, well what kind of place is this
Where they say hey well what did you do in the war
And I ask well hey man well what did you do with the peace
Well we built these real safe weapons, so we could sleep with ease
Well dog, I know we're not in Kansas, the sky's all colored wrong
I know we're not in Kansas, the days are all too long
I sure don't understand this, that's what you're howling for
I know we're not in Kansas, Kansas anymore
Well what kind of place is this
On the wrong side of the rainbow where the twisters never come
And they tore up all the yellow bricks and they sold them to Japan
And still the advertisers tell you, hey, there's no place like home
Well dog, I know we're not in Kansas, the sky's all colored wrong
I know we're not in Kansas, the days are all too long
I sure don't understand this, that's what you're howling for
I know we're not in Kansas, Kansas anymore
I know we're not in Kansas, the sky's all colored wrong
I know we're not in Kansas, the days are all too long
I sure don't understand this, that's what you're howling for
I know we're not in Kansas, Kansas anymore

 

[Benjiboy]

Had a unique sound to them did Big Country , superb

 

[Lemmy_kilmister]

I was about as big a Big Country fan as you can get. Fields of Fire got me playing guitar.
The Crossing is simply superb, then Wonderland came out which I loved too
But I just couldn't get away with Steeltown.
While The Crossing was anthemic and uplifting, for me, Steeltown was dour and depressing. I know what the theme of the album is, and what it refers to, but it didn't do it for me.
It kind of came back for me with Look Away and One Great Thing, but that was about it.

 

[VladKinder]

I was about as big a Big Country fan as you can get. Fields of Fire got me playing guitar.
The Crossing is simply superb, then Wonderland came out which I loved too
But I just couldn't get away with Steeltown.
While The Crossing was anthemic and uplifting, for me, Steeltown was dour and depressing. I know what the theme of the album is, and what it refers to, but it didn't do it for me.
It kind of came back for me with Look Away and One Great Thing, but that was about it.

The Buffalo Skinners album, and the final album with Stuart called Driving to Damascus are well worth a listen.

 

[grumpyoldgit]

I remember Big Country supporting Bowie on the Glass Spider Tour at Roker Park - they blew him off stage. Bill Nelson was a big influence on Stuart Adamson, and when Stuart died, Nelson composed this beautiful instrumental as a tribute:

 

[Lemmy_kilmister]

Bill Nelson also produced some Skids tracks.

 

[VladKinder]

Finally, Wonderland from the Without the Aid of Safety Net Live album:

 

[Linthorpe_Exile]

Much missed... The Crossing is a fabulous album.