The closing track on Blue Lines, “Hymn of the Big Wheel” is a collaboration between Massive Attack and singer Neneh Cherry.
Neneh’s relationship with the members of Massive Attack stretches back to their time as the Wild Bunch sound system, a fact referenced by Neneh on her breakout single “Buffalo...
[Chorus]
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line, day by day
The Earth spins on its axis
One man struggle while another relaxes
[Verse 1]
There's a hole in my soul like a cavity
Seems like the world is out to gather just by gravity
The wheel keeps turning, the sky's rearranging
Look, my son, the weather is changing
I'd like to feel that you could be free
Look up at the blue skies beneath a new tree
Sometime again you'll turn green and the sea turns red
My son, I said, the power of axis over my head
[Chorus]
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line, day by day
The Earth spins on its axis
One man struggles while another relaxes
[Verse 2]
We sang about the Sun and danced among the trees
And we listened to the whisper of the city on the breeze
Will you cry in the most, in a lead-free zone
Down within the shadows where the factories drone?
On the surface of the wheel they build another town
And so the green come tumbling down
Yes, close your eyes and hold me tight
And I'll show you sunset sometime again
[Chorus]
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line, day by day
The Earth spins on its axis
One man struggle while another relaxes
[Verse 3]
As a child's silent prayer, my hope hides in disguise
While satellites and cameras watch from the skies
An acid drop of rain recycled from the sea
It washed away my shadow, burnt a hole in me
And all the King's men cannot put it back again
But the ghetto Sun will nurture life
And mend my soul sometime again
[Chorus]
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line, day by day
The Earth spins on its axis
One man struggle while another relaxes
[Chorus]
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line, day by day
The Earth spins on its axis
One man struggle while another relaxes
[Chorus]
The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line, day by day
The Earth spins on its axis
One man struggle while another relaxes
Hymn of the Big Wheel was written by Robert “3D” del Naja & Grantley “Daddy G” Marshall & Andrew “Mushroom” Vowles & Horace Andy & Neneh Cherry.
Hymn of the Big Wheel was produced by Andrew “Mushroom” Vowles & Grantley “Daddy G” Marshall & Jonny Dollar & Robert “3D” del Naja.
Massive Attack released Hymn of the Big Wheel on Mon Feb 10 1992.
3D on his feelings regarding Hymn Of The Big Wheel and use of the didgeridoo [Sounds Magazine – April 1991]:
The sentiments and the idea of the track are about life in general. I mean a didgeridoo is one of the oldest sounds you could possibly imagine.
3D on the anti-pollution message in Hymn Of T...