Poor Old Lu – Cannon-Fire Orange

This song has undergone a few changes over the years. Mostly notable for it’s Spanish flair, it was originally written in 1990, just before we (BellBangVilla) went into the studio to record our first album, “In Love With The Greenery”. The first recording was much shorter than the later versions. It consisted of just the first verses and chorus. In 1992, after a band name change, we decided to re-record Cannon-Fire Orange with additional lyrics and instrumentation for our album “Star-Studded-Super-Step”. It was greatly improved. Finally, in 1994, we recorded Cannon-Fire Orange one more time for the album “Sin”. Though the changes were much less drastic this time, the sound, recording, and “authenticity” were better. We also knew that many of our current fan base (at the time) had never heard our previous versions of this song, so it was new to most people.

Lyrically, this song was written in 1990 (for the first recording), and completed in 1992 (for the full-length version). Because of this there is little cohesiveness between the verses. The beginning verses were written for the original song, but the rest of the lyrics were pulled from a poem written later. If someone just *had* to have an explanation for this song, then I would say that “cannon-fire orange” represents our reliance upon sinful ways, and how those sins become who we are. In the end, though, we “cannot stand without the help of His hand”.

sailing away

towards uncertainties

uncertain seas

change today

traveled to that land

took it all second hand

i fought for cover

then i ran, ran, ran

found a love colored me whole

no more cannon-fire orange,

cannon-fire orange, cannon-fire orange

does the flower drown

in the winter swon

or go away

never again to show

can it be found

below the frail ground

when we look away

is it around

for now i see what needs to be

no more cannon-fire orange,

cannon-fire orange, cannon-fire orange

i’m counting the days

to discover the ways

how the fire turns cold

like i’ve been told

the flame burns the tree

i don’t know what to be

‘someone’ holding the match

‘someone’ is me

so i cannot stand

without the help of His hand

no more cannon-fire orange,

cannon-fire orange, cannon-fire orange