Pj Harvey Copenhagen Opera When Under Ether

Live in Copenhagen Opera. It was filmed by local TV.

WHEN UNDER ETHER

"The ceiling is moving
Moving in time
Like a conveyor belt
Above my eyes

When under ether
The mind comes alive
But conscious of nothing
But the will to survive

I lay on the bed
Waist down undressed
Look up at the ceiling
Feeling happiness
Human kindness

The woman beside me
Is holding my hand
I point at the ceiling
She smiles so kind

Something's inside me
Unborn and unblessed
Disappears in the ether
One world to the next
Human kindness

Category:

Music

Tags:

• PJ
• Harvey
• Ether

[Flippaarn]

How could you post this in 2006 when the album was released in 2007?

[agejus]

@Flippaarn Hello, Flipparn,

PJ sometimes plays new material before releasing an album. You can see here, that she still searches for her "era outfit" :D

I tried to look for the original TV program, but since it is not in English, I failed. I remmember that the TV presenter spoke some information about the concert , showing bits of other songs and then they skipped to this performance. No actual interview.

Sorry that I can't find it now. I don't even remember how the TV was called :)

[Moniek50]

I really love this song! but the delay on her vocals were really unnecessary and irritating

[agejus]

she confessed in one interview, that she totally overdoes the delay effect, she can help it,she likes it so much :D

[badmouthsadmouth]

When I think of this song, the picture I get in my head is that of a woman who is not of this era having some sort of primitive abortion. She's speaking of the procedure and what she feels under the effects of ether, a commonly used anesthesia in pre-developed medicine.

That's what I see, but the great thing about PJ is how she creates these simple but striking and poignant lyrics that let you project your own story onto the song.

[VenusMonkey]

According to PJ whatever her lyrics mean to you is what they're about. So you're all right.

[alund1306]

I gave the "White Chalk" album to my 90 year-old grandmother who plays piano and sings. She said it was "quite interesting." If you knew my grandmother, you would know that's high praise.

[Flippaarn]

@agejus what interview? can you link?

[wrathallll]

@Moniek50 i like the delay in this version

[marchinasky]

Si esto no es un momento mágico, que me quemen en la hoguera

[badmouthsadmouth]

@elliotmarcus ._. wow. You're a dickhead.

[elliotmarcus]

@badmouthsadmouth shut up

[brainsbattle]

this echo made me jizz my pants

[zammuel1]

Just a little bit too much delay on the vocals but otherwise just perfect. A beautifully haunting song and an absolutely stunning performance by PeeJ!