Band of Gold
Words & music by Outlando, circa 1994.
Comment
Band of Gold is a somewhat enigmatic and self-indulgent song about unrequited affection, written at quite a dark time in the singer's life. He feels almost committed to the lady inside his own head, even though there is barely any semblance of a relationship between them; that if he were to be with another woman he would feel as though he were cheating. While this might seem a bit of a sentence, he has gone past that, and draws comfort from his strength of emotion, despite the fact that his affection is unwanted. He also knows, deep down, that one day she will break his heart; and so he has placed more faith in his emotion than in her.
The lady about whom the song is written has since submitted to the singer's blandishments and their son was born in April 2006 - as such the subject matter of the song is now largely irrelevant, though some sections remain strangely poignant to those who know the couple well.
Musically the track is strongly influenced by Sting and Crowded House.
Detail
The song has been recorded many times, initially back in 1996 using a series of 15 second samples on a rickety Atari Falcon. With an orange screen. November 1999 saw an all-acoustic version laid down at Nork Island Studios, replete with hiss, crackle and out-of-tune guitar strings.
It is entirely possible, and quite likely, that several bootlegged recordings exist within certain circles in Madison, WI following many a drunken show at the Lake House and J T Whitney's. These recordings may reside alongside some recordings of the Whacking Shilleilaghs, whose brand of traditional Celtic folk music 'defied description' according to one Madison critic.
The most recent (and possibly final) version was recorded with guitars, drums and bass, and even included a vocal harmonies track. It was produced in 2002 by Nick Vince at Nork Island Studios.
An MP3 is available on request.
Lyrics
This band of gold that's in my mind
No you won't find it on my finger
Protects my heart and lets it shine
And now I'm wrapped around your finger
And when your toy is broken you'll go and find another
And break this band of gold that's in my mind
This wedded heart's begun to bleed
Bleeding pain spent on my lover
But lover's blood will plant no seeds
Seeds to grow into another
And when the rain has fallen you'll go and find another
And break this band of gold that's in my mind
Take my hand and humour me
This band of gold means more to me than anything, anything at all
No games are played, no lies are lied
No foolish words or pride will linger
This band of gold that's in my mind
Leaves me wrapped around your finger
And when your toy is broken you'll go and find another
And break this band of gold that's in my mind
Take my hand and humour me
Don't ruin me, abandon me or anything, anything at all
Take my hand and humour me
This band of gold means more to me than anything, anything at all
© Copyright 1994 Outlando, All Rights Reserved. Lyrics reproduced by kind permission.
Page by Studiosity