The Canary Trainer
"The Canary Trainer" is the third song from Act III of the The Smashing Pumpkins' 2023 rock opera, ATUM.
Background
Originally when planning ATUM, Billy Corgan had a different song in this part of the story called "X-Ray". In what was a rare move for Corgan, he "nixed the song into oblivion, never to be heard again" during the recording process. "The Canary Trainer" is what replaced it, which was only loosely based off of "X-Ray", if at all.[1]
"The Canary Trainer" was originally recorded in the key of A. After recording all the instrumentation, Corgan attempted the vocals before he and engineer Howard Willing realized they needed to lower the key to better suit Corgan's range. Having already spent days recording, they reluctantly decided to use computer software to shift the song down a half step. Afterwards, Corgan still struggled with the vocal. It took three more shifts, amounting to two full steps down, before the song suited Corgan's vocal. Each time resulted in the instrumentation tracks to degrade further from their original quality. However in the end, Corgan was quite pleased with the "dusky, surreal ambiance" that aligned with the meaning of the song – a young person who is very disappointed in someone they had admired as a hero.[1]
It's worth noting that Corgan generally insists on using analog technology the studio, and doesn't use comping or pitch shifting of his vocals, which would have been a much easier option to complete "The Canary Trainer".[1]
The song title is a reference to how Corgan has at times felt like a canary – a song bird trained in a cage who is expected to sing on cue. Similarly, the canary in the song is Shiny, who Osirah believed would sing on cue when the stage lights hit him.[1]
Synopsis
(performed by Osirah as she walks away)
From the audience, Osirah watches as Shiny makes his grand appearance. However, she is extremely disappointed in how he responds to the situation. She believed that Shiny would be the catalyst for a great revolution upon landing, but instead he appears to go along with what the X+I have set up for him. "The Canary Trainer" is Osirah voicing how much her heart is broken after seeing the real Shiny in the flesh.[1]
Lyrics
on the trine, fetch the reed
that was drunk of mile and meek
in bittered tears as only cruels sever thee
yes i will let you go, i'll let you go
you broke my heart as whole
and leapt unknown and beautiful
found where there's lilac's brawn
idylls born of gods
yet wrecked in man's whole cloth
i would write his calm, i'd even toll
the paper bells of sunday's crown
in ecstasy and as given what was need
i'd toll the bells of sunday's crown
you were that fire
that sun on me, yeah
that rooked no shade, but held dream
but then you flailed
as only fools could heather love of thee
to go this alone ‘gainst time
where i would let you go, i'll let you go
you broke my heart as whole
and leapt unknown and beautiful
they'll be no herald's hark
to cleanse a pekid calm in chapels bare and cold
i would author dawn
i'd gladly toll
in ecstasy and as given what was need
to toll such bells and drag such effigies
these paper bells in sunday's crown
toll as you
you stood that fire
that sun on me, yeah
who rooked no shade, but held dream
you were that feast, babe
containing life and lead
you were that eye that but sees
Availability
| Title | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ATUM | Act III | Studio |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Corgan, Billy. "The Canary Trainer". Thirty-Three (Podcast). Retrieved May 3, 2023.