Atomic Roses (song)

Three main versions:

* "Two-Part Pulsing Keyboard Version" (1982) - Atomic Roses (4:32, 2:50), Traumstadt I (4:32, 2:50), Traumstadt I CD (9:55 - 14:22, 18:10 - 20:53)

Divided into two parts which are separated by "Ideal Home." Part one starts cleanly, ending fades into "Ideal Home."

Part two starts with the "scented parcels" line. It fades in cleanly and is much faster than part one. It fades out into a 1:50 suffix (a slowed-down version of "Fin," followed by the clicky tremolo/choir track that appeared throughout "Hauptbahnhof"), eventually fading out to end the tape (the Traumstadt I CD mix fades out earlier and misses a quiet squeaky sound at the end of the other mixes).

Instruments: Pulsing detuned keyboard playing chords, noodling bass synth, quiet synth playing occasional notes which don't always match, high-pitched jazzy synth comes and goes (at one point with a female voice saying something indecipherable), second pulsing keyboard fades in and out (sometimes with flange), single vocal track.

* "One-Part 1984 Version" (1984) - Laugh China Doll (5:55)

Much more polished than the first version, with a lot of variation. The lyrics haven't changed significantly. Has two basic parts; in this case the "second part" starts with "and a figure cut the wire." The repeated lyrics "Go LIGHTLY!" are added to the end.

Instruments: Drum machine which sometimes changes patterns during choruses, sequenced keyboard melody, woodwind synth chords, sax-like synth chords punctuating the verses, single vocal track. In the second segment: white noise synth, organ chords, keyboard bells, second (and maybe third) vocal track, martial drum machine drenched in reverb, high-pitched synth effects.

* "Two-Part 1995 Version" (1995) - Textures of Illumina CD (11:49, 8:17), Globus and Decibel (11:49, 8:20)

AKA "Atomic Roses 1995 Pt. 1 - After" and "Atomic Roses 1995 Pt. 2 - Before."

Part one is very similar to the One-Part 1984 version, but much slower and with a rhythm track similar to "Memories of Dr. Bliss" (and "A Crack in Melancholy Time"). This time the song is divided into three segments; the quiet second part begins with the "she laughed" line, followed by a brief return to the first part's instrumentation. The third segment begins with a sample of a preacher saying, "a new day is coming," followed by the "scented parcels" line, then a sound collage of vocals and noises which fade into part two.

Part two fades in from part one, and is mainly a collage of sounds. The first segment features spoken narration about a witch and her victim. The track fades out cleanly.

Instruments for Part One: Metallic percussion loop, lush synth chords with resonant filter sometimes applied, lush synth bass, single vocal track with occasional delay effect, low-frequency pulsing noises, sounds of panicking crowds. Second segment: calliope organ, single vocal track with delay effect, quiet synth drip noises. Third segment: Heavily processed vocal track, heavily filtered synth chords, synth "radio tuning" sounds, burbling synth sounds, quacking distorted synth, indecipherable statement by Ka-Spel, tremolo screaming and voice, sustained high-pitched drone, various loops (indecipherable dialog, crunching machinery)

Instruments for Part Two: Rhythmic thumping, vocal drone, modulated oscillators, single vocal track with phaser effect, ethereal synth pad, pulsing synth sound, heavily distorted synth or guitar, grinding synth machinery, brief backwards female telephone voice speaking Dutch, creaking noises,

What It's About:

Presumably the "atomic roses" are an apocalyptic nuclear weapon of some kind, and the song presents them as being worshiped to some extent. As the last resistance disappears, a woman infiltrates the compound and either activates the roses or summons earthly revenge (it's difficult to tell), destroying everything.

The "Pt. 2 - Before" song  seems totally unrelated to the "standard" version. It's about a man who gains new perceptions after being blinded by a witch, who subsequently becomes his lover.

Lyrics for Standard Versions (adapted from the Laugh China Doll lyric sheet):

Fingers flexed, an eyelash flickered,
someone's wicked joke.
Could hear him choking on his laughter
as the limbs twitched in the smoke.

But it was just a spasm jive,
'cause the only sign of life
was in the cruel and icy light
of atomic roses.

Atomic roses. Atomic roses.
Glow brightly in the night.

Metal petals of a dozen beacons,
beaming in the dark
to mark the last resistance, the final protest,
didn't leave a spark.

Even pilgrims kept their distance,
vizors clamped, and itching blisters.
Shrank in lead suits from the kiss of
atomic roses.

Atomic roses. Atomic roses.
Glow brightly in the night.

And a figure cut the wire,
padded barefoot through the fields,
kneeled as klaxons barked in anger,
guards appeared at windowsills.

Tore their hair in disbelief
as a young girl danced beneath,
bouquet clutched between her teeth
of atomic roses.

Atomic roses. Atomic roses.
Glow brightly in the night.

She laughed as thorns grew from her fingers,
pollen gathered in her hair.
And when she sang, the bees responded,
perfume lingered in the air.

Sprinkled seeds, summoned thunder,
drank the rain and watched in wonder
as around her sprang a hundred
atomic roses.

Roses.

Scented parcels rode on breezes,
dropped in deserts, dripped on lawns,
lost in cities, laced the rivers,
brought a new light to the dawn.

With it, sickness flowed,
crept insidious and slow,
leaving just the afterglow
of atomic roses.

Atomic roses. Atomic roses.
Glowed brightly in the night.

Lyrics for Atomic Roses 1995 Pt. 2 - Before:

This colourblind witch pulled my eyes out from their sockets, fed them to a sheep, threw me a stick, and locked the room as she left. And now it's been a week, but the colours are returning. Mutating. Colours I've never DREAMED of. And the daily dish pushed through a flap in the door isn't as plain as it first seemed. I've tasted the fruit of Eden. I've sampled spices from far away planets. And when I'm lonely SHE comes and makes me glad to be alive. And we lie together in the evening sun as it dissolves into a million dancing fireflies, on a pool as blue as her eyes. And I could fly away from here, but you see, I LIKE it here. And here I shall stay until the colours themselves are blind.