The The - Soul Mining Lyrics

I played this everyday for 1 year :) Thanks for posting it so I can play it whenever I want , unless I use my vinyl

What's the story behind this picture?

I have to explain to people, that's not a drum machine. It's Zeke Manyika.

Interview recently - Manyika was Johnson's drinking buddy in London, invited him to play on his new album. He turns up 3 days late and does this.

one of the most brilliant songs of the 20th century.

Listened to my copy of the single This is the day on the A side, its a little sad so turned it over to play this ..... 5 minutes of this belter completely changed my mood and took me up. Btw I wonder if Thomas Dolby ever wondered why Matt and not me who had the brilliant songs. Shucks

My husband doesn't understand my love for this song. I don't really care! lol

I've been filled with useless information
*
Spewed out by papers and radio stations


True then and true now.

Great song Matt but you’re wrong, the British Empire never ended. Watch while the Britts inflame Russian propaganda and influence US policy. I excepted more from you. Research the City of London, the financial center of the world. Love your music but instead of looking at the moon you’re looking at the finger pointing to it.
Anyhow thank you for your music.

Another year over and what have i done.....classik

Another year older and what have I done. Classic Matt. Thumbnail is nice but related to next LP.

Musical genius. This was his masterpiece LP.

Yeke was in orange juice !

The beat of the drums sounds so similar to Big Time Rush 24/seven

Angst at its best.

One of the greatest songs of all time

Soul Mining is so good on several levels and to kick off such a tremendous album with such a song like this is even double good.
I think Matt once said something like, he was an obnoxious, arrogant drugged up pile of shit when he recorded this, but the lyrics and the entire feel to this album is so divine as a contrast to that statement.

I've loved this song since first hearing it in the mid-80s.

Believe it or not i didn't like this album when i first heard it....the good news is that the therapy worked and it is now one of my all time favourite albums!!!

Thank You for sharing I don't know every verse or word to another Song

great song

feels like a beatbox to me, it was all the rage in 1983, Genesis used it, the Stranglers used it, still a great song even if Zeke just pushed buttons and dials

I think Matt used an Linn LM1 and a LinnDrum on the album; but over that, there's percussion soloing. (One of my buddies recognised the LM1 sounds on "Giant". It's safe to say that Zeke probably either used a Simmons or LinnDrum on "Tomorrow".)

Just a smack you in the face, fookin great song!!

You were doing so well until you mentioned Gary Numan...

I'm hiding in the corner
Of an overgrown garden
Covering my body in leaves
And trying not to breathe
All my childhood dreams
Are bursting at the seams
And dangling around my knees
I've been deformed by emotional scars
And the cancer of love has eaten out my heart
I've been stripped bare and nobody cares
And all the people I looked up to are no longer there

All desires have been denied to put me in this state of mind
Another year older and what have I done
My aspirations have shriveled in the sun
I'm crippled by guilt
Blinded by science
I've been waiting for tomorrow all of my life

Is this working, keep talking...

All desires have been denied to put me in this state of mind
Another year older and what have I done
My aspirations have shriveled in the sun
I'm crippled by guilt
Blinded by science
I've been waiting for tomorrow all of my life

I've been filled with useless information
Spewed out by papers and radio stations
I've been hounded by fairweather friends
Sowing the seeds for my discontent
Life is like a sewer
And I'm trying to wade thru her
I threw in my money and made my wish
But sleeping boys catch no fish

All desires have been denied to put me in this state of mind
Another year older and what have I done
My aspirations have shriveled in the sun
I'm crippled by guilt
Blinded by science
I've been waiting for tomorrow all of my life

Is this working, keep talking...

All my childhood dreams
Are sinking round my knees

My mind has been polluted
And my energy diluted

James Kristoff Very true.

Matt Johnson has kept me sane in an insane world...Bless him ...   : )

I was 23 when I got into The The. 30 years later and these lyrics still hold true..

"tonal expression of our authentic realisation in the arena of the deceivers"

Quite agree with you James....Soul Mining is my favourite album from the musical genious Matt Johnson

Brilliant song by Matt johnson....just love it

Matt's best album. He knows it, its no coincidence he called his website after This is The Day.

As usual with Matt Johnson: ALWAYS ahead of the times with his music and lyric observations. One of the best songwriters of any generation. Maybe more now than ever, really.

".. My mind has been polluted, my energy diluted", the best lyrics of my teenage days and now.

Best album of all time.

It's up there certainly

W A K E
A N D
B A K E

Loved this album since I was 18 and still love it now!

Fantastic album.

I wish this was more well-known. One of the best albums every created.

when were U Born?

@Merin Fraser Exactly , never is the answer.

anyone know if the pic is shoreditch high street near the junction of old street ?

I haven't heard this for 30 years and it is just as banging now

It is Limehouse Causeway E14 taken at the junction with West Ferry Road
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=536857&y=180792&z=0&sv=E14+8ag&st=2&pc=E14+8ag&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

even more powerful now

Best album ever!

This album saved my life,thank you Matt !!! Been listening to this for many many years

I haven't heard this in 30 years.

+Franz Sapka 30 years wasted ;)

yessssss

I hear Oh Yeah here

Soul Mining is definitely my first top album ever. Ever. All songs. All. Expecially "I've been waiting..." and "Giant". True story.

muy buena musica tipica de los 80s con todo su caos y sensibilidad

there are more than 54 (states of disunion) now,  aren't there?

the the...the mnam...

truly infectious. such a massive talent. I agree great album.....best of the 80's... one of my first vinyl buys @ age 11

Jonathan Brown Great taste for an 11 yr old!

I'm going to have to upload the music video I have one of these days.

@Devo13 don't delay do it today....you'll get that sinking feeling

@sindykrs I know. I just don't know how. Going to have a pal hopefully do it soon. Maybe he can figure it out.

good song

Notice mainly what he say's in this album ...politically it all came true. Especially regarding care of the elderly, the young and the welfare system. And that it would be Thatchers (spits on the floor) doing.
 

Yes. And later on "islam is rising, the christians mobilising, the world is on its elbows and knees, it's forgotten the message and worships the creeds".

...and then This Is The Day gently fades in.

Recent interview with MJ, he said Zeke Manyika was his drinking buddy at the time. Invited to attend the recording of Soulmining, he turned up 3 days late. But played this. You can clearly hear his vocal in the African chant at the end of Giant too.

Hoots !!!

30 years later and this song still kicks my ass

turning comments off is FASCISM

SO YOU AREN'T COOL

Sure I wrote this before so quick resume: heard at MK Bowl 22.6.85 between acts, loved it but never knew the performer, went to my local HMV with the faint hope they may have heard of it from my mental snippets. It was only playing when I walked in so I asked for a copy, that was the last one so it never played at HMV again and is still upstairs cuddling close to all my other vinyl memories but standing proud as one of the best ever.

Soul Mining is one of the best albums of the 80s, and this song was the most brilliant possible way to start it.

Matt Johnson is working on a new album!

Cant freaking wait.

@Graham L Serieus.?

I wish he would hurry up and give us some new music already!!!!

I totally agree with you, Graham~!!  ;)

Simply Brilliant!! never, ever get bored of how wonderful this, and The the are. ;-)  Matt Johnson, you are amazing! 

Has the Thomas Dolby "Hyperactive" feel to it, but this one came first of course.

@Frances Swaine - I was there in '91' at METRO in Chicago as well. It was a great show. Matt is a lyrical genius. 

Saw MJ with DM in MTL in 1993

Saw him in '91 at the METRO in Chicago, brilliant!
He has a great voice and interesting lyrics. Easy to relate.

Was there as well...

was obsessed w MJ since my teens n its good to hear this again

thanks to the wife of john....special thanks to his son !

think its just a little better than `its very good!` , its a brilliant album from start to finish!!...

its very good , thats all.

Soul Mining is quite possibly the best album of the last few decades

This song sums up my life so very, very well.

Apparently, Matt Johnson's early recordings sound a lot like Throbbing Gristle. I am trying to imagine that.

On Some Bizarre label, Matt Johnson was bessie mates with J G Thirlwell, aka Jim Foetus - bigtime influence.

Zeke Manyika's like some enormo-powerhouse drum machine on this, isn't he? Not exactly "Rip It Up". I'm off to find "Bible Belt" next.

Thanks, fellow travellor
Mr Johnsons back catalogue is so cool and prophetic, he is a true giant in popular culture.

best intro ever xxx

yup, back then we had "Radio GaGa" , now we have fucking Lady Gaga :(

by titwankered I hope u mean pissed as 10 men; in that case, Ditto!!

weird... I never imagined that The The predated Ministry and Nitzer Ebb... but listen to that rhythm!

A truely inspirational musician and human being, enjoyed their music since Uncertain Smile, never thought I`d see the changes and way of the world be so close to MJ`s vocal comments.
Well its all here now, tomorrows arrived and its portents are not encouraging. Cheers for some top class music over the years...

love it

I remember on this album,he added some comments including"to get best effect listen to this album on your own late at night as loud as you can,I did as suggested many a time;)

This is one of my all time favourites and until today I didn't know the title of this song. Thanks google, thanks youtube and thanks to the person who uploaded it.

Always a fun time with this track. Trying not to breath.

@SuperstarNeilC I have to agree....;0) Ha!!!

Soul Mining is A Major Contender for the title Best Album of All-Time!!! <3

THE the Giants!

2 words barlow " Pure class"

never heard anything as good as The The and i guess i never will.

love this ,, tho would love to see all his original videos, dont know why they arent out there,,,,,,

Ah so is there where I got the idea? Minds think alike!

I need to have a friend upload the music video for this song.

AWESOME!

un grande! he's my teen years idol!!!

@hundhun17 ditto stuck in a cheesy bedsit alone on my 21st birthday in 84. winding this song up to annoy neighbours. im nicer now!

ditto stuck in a bedsit depressed in 84 on my 21st birthday. happy days indeed. this song saw me thru. im happier now however

these lyrics really remind me of being in my early twenties.

Awesome ... truly awesome!