Kind of inane question, but it's been bothering me again. In the middle of TBYML she sings "the sound of the sea... (it's midnight?) the sound of the sea". You can hear it a lot more clearly when she sings it live than on the studio version where it's buried in the mix. Anyway, does anyone know what she actually says, because I'm pretty certain that it's not "it's midnight".

Maybe "in the night", but I'm not sure (actually, I was wondering about the same thing myself, but left it off sorted under "beautiful mystery" category).

I vaguely remember reading something about this part of song being almost a direct quote from some Captain Beefheart's song (it's most commonly said about "Meet Ze Monsta", but nonetheless - although I could be wrong).

Kuk91 wrote:Maybe "in the night", but I'm not sure (actually, I was wondering about the same thing myself, but left it off sorted under "beautiful mystery" category).

I vaguely remember reading something about this part of song being almost a direct quote from some Captain Beefheart's song (it's most commonly said about "Meet Ze Monsta", but nonetheless - although I could be wrong).

Nope, you were right about the Beefheart reference, but it's just the opening lyric, "I was born in the desert":
http://www.thegardenforum.org/viewtopic ... 4993#p4993

To the question, it's not clear to me if she's singing "midnight" or "in the night", but it sounds more like the latter. The best live version I found was 1995-11-15, Brielpoort (starting at 3:27).

It seems to me: Midnight, and sound of the sea...you know it's gonna be Hell

edit:
ok it's not Midnight
maybe Mesmerized or Bitter Night and the sound of the sea...
listened to the last time she performed it, I think: KCRW Morning Becoomed Eclectic - 2 November 2007

Black Hearted Love wrote:you know it's gonna be Hell

I always thought "You know, he's gonna be here".

Kuk91 wrote:

Black Hearted Love wrote:you know it's gonna be Hell

I always thought "You know, he's gonna be here".

I think that's when she starts in on the rest of the "official" lyrics:

To bring you my love
To bring you my love
To bring you my love
To bring you my love

I know he's gonna be here
You know he's gonna be here
Yeah alright

The mystery words are after the last 'To bring you my love' (and yes, she often changes them subtly, eg. You vs I).

also: give an eye or It's been a night

I hear she is pronouncing words perfectly lately, crystal clear
now my guess is:

To live a life
In the sand
Ought To see
You know is gonna be Hell

OK, got it: In the Night and the sound of the sea

It’s “didn’t I
Hear the sound
Of the sea”