Legacy

Three main versions:

* "1981 Version" (1981) - Chemical Playschool 2 (4:02), Kleine Krieg (5:14), Legacy 25th Anniversary Single (?:??)

On Chemical Playschool 2 and the 25th Anniversary Single, the track begins with an odd keyboard sting and two bars of introductory drums, whereas on Kleine Krieg it fades in after the introduction. On Kleine Krieg the song ends with a crossfade into a suffix, which in turn crossfades into the following song ("One for the Pearl Moon").

Instruments: Drum machine with multiple patterns; warm synth chords; high-pitched synth melody which starts arpeggiating after the second verse; bass guitar; acoustic guitar; single vocal track.

* "Full Band Version" (1982) - Brigher Now (3:18)

This version is faster and more cheerful. It basically uses the same instruments and arrangement as the 1981 Version but the bass guitar and acoustic guitar are more aggressive. A sequenced keyboard arpeggio appears during the second chorus and leads into a suffix.

Instruments: Drum machine with multiple patterns; warm synth chords, with a second keyboard after the first chorus; bass guitar; acoustic guitar with heavy reverb; single vocal track.

* "2006 Version" (2006) - Legacy 25th Anniversary Single (?:??)

I don't have this, but based on the available MP3 sample it starts with a brief snippet of the Full Band Version of "Legacy," followed by the crashing door and music box/church bell segment that ends the Full Band Version of "Apocalypse Then." This crossfades into a barking dog and an ominous keyboard line, and then presumably the actual song.

Suffix "Erin or Eric" (1:25):

On Kleine Krieg the song crossfades with an instrumental suffix with heavily echoed abrasive synth noises, a dim synth siren, and what sounds like a phone interview from a radio program (see below for a transcription). It then crossfades into the following track ("One for the Pearl Moon").

Suffix "Percussion" (0:38):

On Brighter Now, a sequenced keyboard arpeggio leads into an instrumental suffix with gently tapped cymbals and kettle drum, which slowly fades out.

What It's About:

The narrator comes home to his apartment and discovers that his lover has left, taking all her possessions and leaving only a sympathetic note. He sinks into depression, brooding about the things he should and shouldn't have done during the relationship, but his thoughts are generally accusatory instead of self-reflective.

The "you left me" lines are stated so as to switch between two meanings: the leaving of a legacy, and the statement that "you left me."

Lyrics (adapted from the Cloud-Zero archive):

The flat was empty, wondered where you'd gone
and all the time the answer was in front of me.
Took your clothes, left a...little note.
All it offered was your sympathy.

Should have seen those tell-tale signs. Seems so obvious now.
The way I felt about you, it blinded me.
And all those fights we had seem so childish now.
Just wish I could turn the clock back, anyhow, any way.

All I've got is a...legacy of regrets.
Forgetting how to smile.

Watch a lot of TV these days, living on borrowed time.
Too many tablets, and too much wine.
Nothing left to dream about, I've got no aspirations.
Thought about a hobby but I...I've got no patience.

Some fine legacy. You left me.
Some fine legacy! You left me.
You always hurt the one you love.
You always hurt the one you love.

Some fine legacy!

Some fine legacy!

Suffix "Erin or Eric" transcription from "Kleine Krieg":

...all the time he'd been with us. And we were [?] didn't seem to understand that. And the governor of [?], and denied that. And so the PC picked him up again. But I know for a fact he was with us for a day and a half, and I think that's uncanny.

Uhhh, were, he...was there anything unusual about the boy himself.

Apart from the fact that he was domineering, no. I mean, we, I was about sixteen, the, the boy I was with was probably about thirteen, and, you know, we were trusting one another because we had nothing else to...trust. And the other boy was about eighteen and obviously more older and more domineering. But, uh, and he had money. Um, I mean in those days you could get a meal for two bob.

You're looking very confused Eric.

Erin or Eric?

Eric. (Laughter)

Uh, unless I missed a point, which is quite possible...um, I wasn't quite sure of what unn--, of what was unusual [?]

Well, what was unusual [?]...
Why You Should Care:

This song was chosen out of many other possible songs to represent the band's 25th anniversary.