'Don't Hurt Yourself ' - an odd music post
Just because I love this line, too.
From The Opium Den, a Marillion email list:
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 16:03:41 -0000
Subject: Thank you Marillion -- "Don't Hurt Yourself" in our
documentary
I thought everyone here would appreciate yet another reason to cherish the band. I'm a two-decades long Marillion devotee (and an infrequent poster here), and was one of the voices cheering at the London Astoria show aka "Marbles on the Road").
My wife and I just finished producing a documentary about the growing "insurgency" in America against corporate chain retail as we sought to support independent businesses across the country. Of course, Marillion was featured prominently on our playlist (55 days, 21,000 km). You can watch the trailer at www.independentamerica.net
As I reviewed the footage, there's a scene when "Afraid of Sunlight" is playing on the stereo as we're driving through desolate Nebraska. It occurred to me then that I should think about contacting the band to see what it would take to get their permission to use the song in the film. But I thought the license might cost too much for our shoestring budget.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I had just finished editing the final cut. We ended up using a couple of tracks from a independent band with strong ancestral ties to America's protest singers. But their record label got skittish when they realized we mentioned a corporate American bookstore -- responsible for a number of the group's sales. Deeply ironic. And a real blow to our film. How was I going to replace that music?
In desperation, I realized that I had nothing to lose, so I finally contacted Lucy. I didn't expect a reply. I wanted to know what I had to do to apply for licensing rights for "Afraid of Sunlight." Then it occurred to me that EMI would probably need to get involved in that one. So I asked, alternatively, for "Don't Hurt Yourself" (love that line, "the open road, is infinitely hopeful." )
Lucy got back to me immediately. And said that I could go ahead and use "Don't Hurt Yourself." I was over the moon. My favorite band, in my documentary. And even better, Marillion's independent approach to marketing and sales fit the context of our movie perfectly. I can't wait to mention this when we start doing press interviews.
I'm not posting this to advertise the film. In any case, it's only one Marillion song, and we use two excerpts from it during the film, and then most of it at the end. But I wanted to share how heartened I am that the band is so responsive and generous. So not only have we adopted their innovative business approach (web sales, word-of-mouth marketing), but now we have the gift of their music within our own work. I'm hoping if we do "Independent UK" next, we might even be able to profile them...
Hanson
"Independent America: The Two Lane Search for Mom & Pop"
This email was followed by:
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 13:26:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Thank you Marillion -- "Don't Hurt Yourself" in our
documentary
> (love that line, "the open road, is infinitely hopeful." )
I love that line as well. I'm training for the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon, and those words are engraved on a "dogtag" that I wear while I'm running (containing all of my particulars in case something untoward and ambulance-requiring occurs.)
This song is a bit of a theme for me, too, and it makes me think of every one of my friends who has gone through a tough time and has had to struggle to leave pain and difficulty in the past. Life rolls on whether we like it or not, and it's important to move on, move past these difficult moments and times. I'm not about to give up my memories of bad times, but I don't want them to consume me, either. Don't hurt yourself, indeed. :)
Lyrics to 'Don't Hurt Yourself' by Marillion
There'll come a time when all of this is over
Something else will grow and take it's place
The brand new car: scrap metal in a junkyard
The children playing will grow up and leave home
Put it away this dream you can't stop dreaming
Put it away this anger and desire
The open road is infinitely hopeful
Take all those memories and throw them in the fire
And don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself anymore
There's old man on a warm and sunny island
No job, no money, just a smile to call his own
Know what he says?
"The past will only haunt you.
Live for today. Each day's an open door
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself anymore"
Nothing to lose is nothing to fight over
The shining stars!
They've seen it all before.
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself anymore
Dust keeps coming.
Rust keeps coming.
Weeds keep growing.
Seeds keep growing
Where you going?
You can hear a clip of this song here.
There was a very good reason why I made this icon:
From The Opium Den, a Marillion email list:
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 16:03:41 -0000
Subject: Thank you Marillion -- "Don't Hurt Yourself" in our
documentary
I thought everyone here would appreciate yet another reason to cherish the band. I'm a two-decades long Marillion devotee (and an infrequent poster here), and was one of the voices cheering at the London Astoria show aka "Marbles on the Road").
My wife and I just finished producing a documentary about the growing "insurgency" in America against corporate chain retail as we sought to support independent businesses across the country. Of course, Marillion was featured prominently on our playlist (55 days, 21,000 km). You can watch the trailer at www.independentamerica.net
As I reviewed the footage, there's a scene when "Afraid of Sunlight" is playing on the stereo as we're driving through desolate Nebraska. It occurred to me then that I should think about contacting the band to see what it would take to get their permission to use the song in the film. But I thought the license might cost too much for our shoestring budget.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I had just finished editing the final cut. We ended up using a couple of tracks from a independent band with strong ancestral ties to America's protest singers. But their record label got skittish when they realized we mentioned a corporate American bookstore -- responsible for a number of the group's sales. Deeply ironic. And a real blow to our film. How was I going to replace that music?
In desperation, I realized that I had nothing to lose, so I finally contacted Lucy. I didn't expect a reply. I wanted to know what I had to do to apply for licensing rights for "Afraid of Sunlight." Then it occurred to me that EMI would probably need to get involved in that one. So I asked, alternatively, for "Don't Hurt Yourself" (love that line, "the open road, is infinitely hopeful." )
Lucy got back to me immediately. And said that I could go ahead and use "Don't Hurt Yourself." I was over the moon. My favorite band, in my documentary. And even better, Marillion's independent approach to marketing and sales fit the context of our movie perfectly. I can't wait to mention this when we start doing press interviews.
I'm not posting this to advertise the film. In any case, it's only one Marillion song, and we use two excerpts from it during the film, and then most of it at the end. But I wanted to share how heartened I am that the band is so responsive and generous. So not only have we adopted their innovative business approach (web sales, word-of-mouth marketing), but now we have the gift of their music within our own work. I'm hoping if we do "Independent UK" next, we might even be able to profile them...
Hanson
"Independent America: The Two Lane Search for Mom & Pop"
This email was followed by:
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 13:26:30 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Thank you Marillion -- "Don't Hurt Yourself" in our
documentary
> (love that line, "the open road, is infinitely hopeful." )
I love that line as well. I'm training for the 2006 Marine Corps Marathon, and those words are engraved on a "dogtag" that I wear while I'm running (containing all of my particulars in case something untoward and ambulance-requiring occurs.)
This song is a bit of a theme for me, too, and it makes me think of every one of my friends who has gone through a tough time and has had to struggle to leave pain and difficulty in the past. Life rolls on whether we like it or not, and it's important to move on, move past these difficult moments and times. I'm not about to give up my memories of bad times, but I don't want them to consume me, either. Don't hurt yourself, indeed. :)
Lyrics to 'Don't Hurt Yourself' by Marillion
There'll come a time when all of this is over
Something else will grow and take it's place
The brand new car: scrap metal in a junkyard
The children playing will grow up and leave home
Put it away this dream you can't stop dreaming
Put it away this anger and desire
The open road is infinitely hopeful
Take all those memories and throw them in the fire
And don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself anymore
There's old man on a warm and sunny island
No job, no money, just a smile to call his own
Know what he says?
"The past will only haunt you.
Live for today. Each day's an open door
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself anymore"
Nothing to lose is nothing to fight over
The shining stars!
They've seen it all before.
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself
Don't hurt yourself anymore
Dust keeps coming.
Rust keeps coming.
Weeds keep growing.
Seeds keep growing
Where you going?
You can hear a clip of this song here.
There was a very good reason why I made this icon: