Porcelina of the Vast Oceans
"Porcelina of the Vast Oceans" is a song from The Smashing Pumpkins' third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Written by Billy Corgan, the song slowly builds up before suddenly exploding at 2:13. It is also the album's longest track, at 9:21. "Porcelina" has a companion song "Medellia of the Gray Skies", which was briefly considered for Mellon Collie, but was later released as a b-side for the "Tonight, Tonight" single.
Elements of the song date back to the Siamese Dream era. The various sections of the song were recorded at different times, with different instruments and recording setups, and were digitally composited in Pro Tools.[1] The song was played live during the Infinite Sadness tour, but was dropped for the Adore and Arising! tours. It returned for the final 2000 tour, but was performed at a slower tempo and with keyboards. The arrangement also did not include the chorus of the song.
The song ranked at #14 in Rolling Stone's reader's poll of the best Smashing Pumpkins songs.[2]
Videos[edit | edit source]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
as far as you take me, that's where i believe
the realm of soft delusions, floating on the leaves
on a distant shoreline, she waves her arms to me
as all the thought police, are closing in for sleep
the dilly dally, of my bright lit stay
the steam of my misfortunes
has given me the power to be afraid
and in my mind i'm everyone
and in my mind
without a care in this whole world
without a care in this life
it's what you take that makes it right
porcelina of the oceans blue
in the slipstream, of thoughtless thoughts
the light of all that's good, the light of all that's true
to the fringes gladly, i walk unadorned
with gods and their creations
with filth and disease
porcelina, she waits for me there
with seashell hissing lullabyes
and whispers fathomed deep inside my own
hidden thoughts and alibis
my secret thoughts come alive
without a care in this whole world
without a care in this life
it's what you take that makes it right
and in my mind i'm everyone
in my mind i'm everyone of you
you make it right
it's all allright
you make it right
porcelina of the oceans blue
Availability
| Title | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Live At The Riviera | Bootleg • Live | |
| Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness | Disc one – Dawn to Dusk | Studio |
| 666 | Bootleg • Video | |
| The Aeroplane Flies High | 2013 Reissue CD 6: Live Inside the Dark Globe | Box set |
Tour stats
- Total plays: 323 plays (322 full, 1 abandoned, 5 soundcheck), 2 acoustic, 2 artists
- First performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 1995-02-20 at Double Door, Chicago, IL, US
- Last performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2018-12-07 at Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa, AZ, US
- Longest performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2000-10-15 at Hallenstadion, Zurich, CH [11:42]
- Shortest performance: The Smashing Pumpkins 2000-09-21 at Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, DE [4:52]
Personnel[edit | edit source]
- Billy Corgan – guitar, vocals, production, recording, mixing
- James Iha – guitar, recording
- D'arcy Wretzky – bass
- Jimmy Chamberlin – drums
- Flood – production, recording, mixing
- Alan Moulder – production, recording, mixing
- Chris Shepard – recording
- Barry Goldberg – recording, mixing assistance
- Dave Kresl – recording assistance
- Claudine Pontier – recording assistance
- Howie Weinberg – mastering