The Stone Roses are a four-piece 'Madchester' alternative rock band, evidently from Manchester. The roses formed in 1983, and they released their first debut album in May 1989. During the six years of developing their first album, they recorded 4 singles before the album was even released. However my favourite single is their second release, it was released in 1987 and it is called 'Sally Cinnamon'. On this EP there are two other songs called 'Here it Comes' and 'All Across the Sands'. Oddly this single was released just before Mani even joined the band! The quartet consists of; Ian Brown on lead vocals, John Squire on lead guitar, Gary 'Mani' Mounfield on bass, and Alan 'Reni' Wren on the drums.
'Sally Cinnamon' is the first track on this fantastic masterpiece of an EP. This track has a cheery instrumental throughout, and this song really exploits every single member of the bands talents. The very first lyrics are;
"Until Sally I was never happy, I needed so much more"
People used to associate this track with heroin due to the drastic changes in moods and an increase in euphoria. Obviously from the first line, Brown has received a high that made him the happiest that he has ever been. Also some say that Brown called the surname of the lady he is singing about 'Cinnamon' because the substance of cinnamon is a light brown colour, like heroin. However the high that Brown received was in-fact love, as you later discover how he is completely and utterly besotted with a woman; as he discreetly watches her every move.
"Her eyes are gazing back from every little piece of glass, you seem to smile from every blade - Sally Cinnamon you're my world."
On the other hand, later on in the song the lyrics go on to prove that Sally Cinnamon is in-fact a lesbian. Brown had discovered this by stealing a letter from her pocket, whilst on the train.
"Then I put the letter back in the place where it was found, in the pocket of a jacket on a train in town. Sent to her from heaven, Sally Cinnamon you're her world."
I find this track very humorous as you create many presumptions in your mind as to why Brown is so in love with her. Then an unfortunate twist of events happen as he finds out that she is completely disinterested, as she is actually gay! Sally Cinnamon is my all time favourite Stone Roses song because it just never fails to put me in a good mood!
The second song on the EP is called 'Here it Comes'. Again, this track shows off every band members distinctive talents. With its strong guitar riffs, and rhythmic drums accompanied by Browns angelic vocals- therefore it remains up there, along with the songs that I rate the highest. The most contagious line is obviously -
"I'd rather be no one, than someone with no one"
At this point in Ian Browns life, him and John Squire were both in a long-term relationship. So therefore, as you can imagine; this track is writing about how fortunate he is. Brown is rubbing it in everybody else's face how he would be nothing (no one) without his partner. Brown also contradicts himself in the song, which makes me think that he is speaking from a third person prospective -
"Give me your life, it's worthless anyhow."
Nobody really knows what to make of this song, but to me it is almost like Brown has been persuaded to fall in love with somebody. They put him down and make him feel insecure, which leads to him needing them for security. On the other hand, Brown could also be the one causing the pain and telling somebody to give their worthless life to him - nobody knows. Many people relate pain with love leading to Brown going on to sing...
"Though I'll be found, forever in your pain."
However, I think that this song is about Brown being manipulative and putting a female down to make them fall hopelessly in love with him; but I guess that we will never know the true meaning.
'All Across the Sands' is the final track on this phenomenal EP. This song is completely the opposite to 'Sally Cinnamon' and it has a much deeper and darker meaning. The Stone Roses often got inspired by their surroundings and articles that they have read, or news that they may have watched; as you will notice from their biography written by Simon Spence called 'The Stone Roses - War & Peace'. So in this case, Ian Brown had read a report on a serial killer who buried the bodies of his rape victims in the sand, and had written a song about it.
"You kiss the girls & make them die"
The crime in which Brown is referring to is 'The Wanda Beach Murders'. The murderer of this case still remains unknown to this day, and the case has remained unknown since 1965. However what happened was two 15 year old female best friends went down to Wanda Beach in Sydney, Australia in 1965 and got raped and killed then their murderer buried them in the sand. Brutal, I know.
After reviewing my favourite EP and what I think that the songs mean, I am going to fulfill you with some knowledge on this tremendous band. The bands name 'The Stone Roses' developed from the complete contradiction of something hard and something pretty. Some might say that it also has a relation to the book written by Sarah Gainham in 1968 called 'The Stone Roses'. However, before they toured Europe they were originally called 'The English Roses' perhaps inspired by The Jam? The Stone Roses signature lemon also stems from their 'Bye Bye Badman' track off their 1989 album. The inspiration of the song developed from the Paris student uprisings of 1968, and Squire & Brown had watched a documentary on it and they liked the students style. However you discover that the lemon is related to 'Bye Bye Badman' because on an interview with NME, they distinctively noticed the three pieces of fruit on the bands album cover of 'Bye Bye Badman'. So therefore The Stone Roses explained how the students used to suck lemons within the protest to nullify the effects of the tear gas that the police would release on them. On the other hand; as far as their song meanings go, we will never know all of their true meanings. The Stone Roses have more than often refused to give an explanation as to what their lyrics are really about. They want the listener to create their own interpretations, as the songs will then mean different things to different people. By making their fans create their own presumptions on the meanings of their songs, it makes them feel connected with the band on a more personal level. Therefore that will eventually lead them to connecting with other Stone Roses fans, as they may have similar interpretations as to what The Stone Roses songs mean to them; and to me - that is beautiful.
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