Brian Eno — Spinning Away
Album: Wrong Way UpAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 924
Length: 5:17
Plays (last 30 days): 6
share
tweet
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 (29)add comment
A beautifully crafted tune
Odd, 2 songs form this album in the last 2 hrs..... this one is much better than the other.
Alanna wrote:
indeed it is
How did I miss this song all these years?! So beautiful!! 
indeed it is
I get a very Moody Blues vibe out of this. Nice.
B_Van wrote:
Hmmm, it wouldn’t surprise me to find out that Ferry has been emulating Eno all this time.
Awesome- with just a hint of Bryan Ferry inspired vibrato technique. Where did Eno learn that?
Just stumbled on an Eno biography (I think on Hulu..?). First 30' so far are interesting. A lot on Roxy Music!
malvey254 wrote:
Daaaaaamn I´m learning RIGHT NOW that the one in the soundtrack it´s a cover! I thought (by ear, never tried to ensure) that it was a version with some arragements on it. As you say, it works very good!
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...
Daaaaaamn I´m learning RIGHT NOW that the one in the soundtrack it´s a cover! I thought (by ear, never tried to ensure) that it was a version with some arragements on it. As you say, it works very good!
Of all the Brian Eno songs I love, this one has a special place in my heart. So few people know this song, so I'm thrilled to hear it on RP!
TheKing2 wrote:
something new old.. :-)
Absolutely ethereal. This song transports me every time I hear it.
something new old.. :-)
Absolutely ethereal. This song transports me every time I hear it.
Axelito wrote:
something new old.. :-)
Something new!! Yeepee!!
something new old.. :-)
Thank you William. Loved this song so much I put whole album on my Spotify list.
Eno is undeniably great, and influential. But you know who else is great? John Cale! And his 50-year solo career is unrepresented here except as a producer. Off to the suggestion box!
This is a gem, like the complete album. Well done!
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 first 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!!