Brian Eno — Spinning Away
Album: Wrong Way UpAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 312
Length: 5:18
Plays (last 30 days): 6
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Up on a hill, as the day dissolves
With my pencil turning moments into line
High above in the violet sky
A silent silver plane – it draws a golden chain
One by one, all the stars appear
As the great winds of the planet spiral in
Spinning away, like the night sky at Arles
In the million insect storm, the constellations form
On a hill, under a raven sky
I have no idea exactly what I've drawn
Some kind of change, some kind of spinning away
With every single line moving further out in time
And now as the pale moon rides
In the stars, in the stars
Her form in my pale blue lines
In the stars, in the stars
And there, as the world rolls 'round
In the stars, in the stars
I draw, but the lines move 'round
In the stars, in the stars
And there, as the great wheels blaze
In the stars, in the stars
I draw, but my drawing fades
In the stars, in the stars
And now, as the old sun dies
In the stars, in the stars
I draw, and the four winds sigh
In the stars, in the stars
With my pencil turning moments into line
High above in the violet sky
A silent silver plane – it draws a golden chain
One by one, all the stars appear
As the great winds of the planet spiral in
Spinning away, like the night sky at Arles
In the million insect storm, the constellations form
On a hill, under a raven sky
I have no idea exactly what I've drawn
Some kind of change, some kind of spinning away
With every single line moving further out in time
And now as the pale moon rides
In the stars, in the stars
Her form in my pale blue lines
In the stars, in the stars
And there, as the world rolls 'round
In the stars, in the stars
I draw, but the lines move 'round
In the stars, in the stars
And there, as the great wheels blaze
In the stars, in the stars
I draw, but my drawing fades
In the stars, in the stars
And now, as the old sun dies
In the stars, in the stars
I draw, and the four winds sigh
In the stars, in the stars
Comments (16)add comment
Awesome- with just a hint of Bryan Ferry inspired vibrato technique. Where did Eno learn that?
Great choice from this excellent album! Glad to hear to hear it on RP now.
Starts off sounding a bit like Skateaway by Dire Straits. Similar rhythm.
Another one for the Axis of Awesome....
mkane67 wrote:
This sounds too sunny to be from My Life in ... Not that that's a bad thing.
I'm a bit surprised there's nothing from My Life in the Bush of Ghosts on RP. If nothing else but to see the comments!
This sounds too sunny to be from My Life in ... Not that that's a bad thing.
I'm a bit surprised there's nothing from My Life in the Bush of Ghosts on RP. If nothing else but to see the comments!
bam23 wrote:
This sounds too sunny to be from My Life in ... Not that that's a bad thing.
This is my first time hearing this and I’ve been listening here for at least 10 years. Sounds a bit like Enzo’s Nerve Net or My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
This sounds too sunny to be from My Life in ... Not that that's a bad thing.
It's great to see this song on RP finally - better late than never. They should also add Been There, Done That from the same album.
Fun fact, this song was covered by Sugar Ray for the soundtrack to the movie The Beach. Yes, that Sugar Ray. And it somehow works!
https://www.spin.com/2018/02/p...
Fun fact, this song was covered by Sugar Ray for the soundtrack to the movie The Beach. Yes, that Sugar Ray. And it somehow works!
https://www.spin.com/2018/02/p...
Looks like this was just added (2024) - great choice, great song!
How did I miss this song all these years?! So beautiful!! 
Curiously, I've been hearing bits & pieces of Eno on various other outlets in recent days. Maybe he's staging a mini comeback!. Love this album for it's mighty collaboration, gorgeous tunes & relative obscurity. More of this, please, Bill.
This is my first time hearing this and I’ve been listening here for at least 10 years. Sounds a bit like Enzo’s Nerve Net or My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
34 years old and still beautiful.
Understanding Eno in progress...
This was the firt song that I presented to RP when I became a listener years ago. I always wondered why it wasn't scooped up. But I am so happy that everyone can hear this now. I think it's beautifully composed and performed. 
Heavy play rotation for me some 34 years ago 
Spinning Away
Up on a hill, as the day dissolves
With my pencil turning moments into line
High above in the violet sky
A silent silver plane - it draws a golden chain
One by one, all the stars appear
As the great winds of the planet spiral in
Spinning away, like the night sky at Arles
In the million insect storm, the constellations form
On a hill, under a raven sky
I have no idea exactly what I've drawn
Some kind of change, some kind of spinning away
With every single line moving further out in time
And now as the pale moon rides (in the stars)
Her form in my pale blue lines (in the stars)
And there, as the world rolls round (in the stars)
I draw, but the lines move round (in the stars)
There, as the great wheels blaze (in the stars)
I draw, but my drawing fades (in the stars)
And now, as the old sun dies (in the stars)
I draw, and the four winds sigh (in the stars)
Spinning Away
Up on a hill, as the day dissolves
With my pencil turning moments into line
High above in the violet sky
A silent silver plane - it draws a golden chain
One by one, all the stars appear
As the great winds of the planet spiral in
Spinning away, like the night sky at Arles
In the million insect storm, the constellations form
On a hill, under a raven sky
I have no idea exactly what I've drawn
Some kind of change, some kind of spinning away
With every single line moving further out in time
And now as the pale moon rides (in the stars)
Her form in my pale blue lines (in the stars)
And there, as the world rolls round (in the stars)
I draw, but the lines move round (in the stars)
There, as the great wheels blaze (in the stars)
I draw, but my drawing fades (in the stars)
And now, as the old sun dies (in the stars)
I draw, and the four winds sigh (in the stars)
Something new!! Yeepee!!