William's Last Words

[Benny Hiroshima]

What's the significance of the sound effects on William's Last Word's before the music and vocals kicks in?

There's one which sounds like a flare going off and then something that sounds like a playground or something.

I have no idea why they are there or what their meaning is. Anyone offer any theories / explanations?

[Heart2Heart]

Mood break.

[Europa Gluten Free]

Duck Hunt.

[Dancing Kirby]

It was stolen from the intro of another song. I can't remember the name or even the artist, but I'm sure someone else will.

[meganslastwords]

it makes me cry

[Midlands_Junk]

Originally Posted by Benny Hiroshima

a flare going off

To warn overhead planes that Wire is about to 'sing'.

[Dancing Kirby]

Found what I was referring to above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUpt_xnPofY&sns=em

Dirty thief.

[Benny Hiroshima]

Many thanks for that Dancing Kirby, that had been bugging me for some time. Wonder what the significance of it is? I've never heard of Cabaret Voltaire before - were the Manics/Richey big fans of them?

[Midlands_Junk]

Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby

Found what I was referring to above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUpt_xnPofY&sns=em

Dirty thief.

Wow, that is the same isn't it? Strange they've not mentioned the reference anywhere like they do with most of their other tributes/rip-offs.

[Aestivate]

Originally Posted by Dancing Kirby

Found what I was referring to above.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUpt_xnPofY&sns=em

Dirty thief.

I think the Wire's modelled his vocal style after their vocalist too

[PaulTMA]

Someone jumping off a bridge into water

[Parma Violets]

My favourite explanation for it was it was Nicky beating Steve Albini on some old arcade game.

[A Design For Manic]

I love all the descriptions here

[Tiortranew]

Originally Posted by Parma Violets

My favourite explanation for it was it was Nicky beating Steve Albini on some old arcade game.

It always reminded of Space Invaders.

[Bobafettish]

Seems this is the thread for this song.
Rewatched Shadows and Words last night and it got me thinking.
After a few years on what do people think of this song? Was it deliberately edited to mean something it wasn't meant to be? (The suicide note...)
I used to love the song but in hindsight, was it just a cynical attempt to exploit the Richey myth?
The whole lyric itself is such a strange piece of writing anyway it's difficult to make any sense out of the true meaning, but maybe they should've just left it, rather than what we ended up with?

Don't mean to sound like I'm accusing the band of anything untoward, it just always jars me somewhat.