take a trip on memory bliss

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“Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” by P.M. Dawn

by Jessica Shelton · Published March 6, 2020 · Updated March 6, 2020

P.M. Dawn’s “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” has been described as a hodge-podge of different musings, indicative of the psychedelic raps which were popular in the early 1990s. However, there is an discernible yet embedded shall we say narrative being relayed in “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss”. That is for the most part, it is centered on a lady whom Prince Be has feelings for. 

And what seems to be going down is that said lady is an ex-girlfriend he has run into or perhaps even more likely is seriously contemplating re-dating.  And due to his interactions with her, the vocalist is compelled to take a trip down memory lane in a romantic sense.

The second verse is more indicative of what we referenced earlier, as in its seemingly-disjointed nature reads a lot like a freestyle. Yet there is definitely a sub-theme of romance. And near the end of the passage the overall narrative becomes much clearer.

Romance is an Impossibility

In that regard what Prince Be seems to be saying is that a certain lady has caught his eye – and vice versa. However, after ‘staring at the ring finger on her hand’, he has decided that they can’t go there. And all lyrics considered, what he may be saying is that he ran into an ex-girlfriend that he still has feelings for. However, she is now engaged or married, which means they cannot get re-involved romantically.

Indeed at the beginning of the first verse, he describes his romantic interest as possessing a “fat diamond ring”. So maybe the storyline that actually runs through “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” is akin to the rapper being tempted to mess around with a married lady. And said lady is actually one of his ex-girlfriends. And once again, interacting with her in the here and now is causing him to conjure up ‘blissful memories’ from days past.

So despite this song reading at points as if it is a freestyle, there is something romantic going on throughout “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss”. And generally speaking, what actually seems to be going down is that, after interacting with what is most-likely an ex-girlfriend, Prince Be recollects of the memorable moments they shared. Moreover it should be noted that at the end of the day, it seems he does in fact conclude to keep his romantic interactions with this lady in the past.

Release Date and Writing Credits for “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss”

Island Records and Gee Street Records released this track on 6 August 1991.  It served as the second single from P.M. Dawn’s maiden album. That album is lengthily entitled “Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience”.

This track samples three old school songs. They are:

• “Ashley’s Roachclip” (1974) by The Soul Searchers
• “Take Me to Mardi Gras” (1975) by Bob James
• “True” (1983) by Spandau Ballet

And the first two tracks on that list are actually instrumentals.

The credited writers of this song are P.M. Dawn’s Prince Be (1970-2016) and Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp. Indeed in further acknowledgement of the sampling of “True”, the music video to “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” features a cameo from Tony Hadley, Spandau Ballet’s lead singer.

P.M. Dawn – which at the time consisted of Prince Be and his younger sibling, Jarrett Cordes – is credited as the track’s producer.

Signature Song

“Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” is considered to be P.M. Dawn’s signature song.  For instance, it marks the only time that the group, which was really popular in the 1990s, had made it to the top of the Hot 100. It also scored a number one on the RPM’s Canada Dance/Urban chart and in New Zealand.

And generally speaking it charted in almost 15 countries, which included peaking at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Moreover at the end of it all “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” has been certified Gold in the United States.

Backstreet Boys Cover

The mega-popular music group Backstreet Boys actually covered this song in 1997. And it is  featured on  their second album, “Backstreet’s Back”.

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Interesting to note is that whereas many purists may not have considered PM Dawn to be true rappers due to their alternative style, “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” was actually the first rap song by a Black (lead) artist to top the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to that the only other two rap songs to accomplish this feat were “Ice Ice Baby” (1990) by Vanilla Ice and “Good Vibrations” (1991) by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.

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Set Adrift On Memory Bliss by P.M. Dawn

• Set adrift on memory bliss of you Baby, you send me Baby, you send me Set adrift on memory bliss of you The camera pans, a cocktail glass Behind the blinds of plastic plants You'll find a lady with a fat diamond ring And then you'll know I can't remember a damn thing I think it's one of those de ja vu things Or a dream that's tryin' to tell me something Or will I ever stop thinkin' about it I don't know, I doubt it Subterranean by design I wonder what I would find if I met you I let my eyes caress you Until I meet the thought of Misses' Princess Who? Often wonder what makes her work I guess I'll leave that question to the experts Assuming that there are some out there They're probably alone, solitaire I can remember when I caught up with a pastime intimate friend She said, "Bet you're probably gonna say I look lovely But you probably don't think nothin' of me" She was right, though, I can't lie She's just one of those corners in my mind So I just put her right back with the rest That's the way it goes, I guess Baby, you send me Baby, you send me Set adrift on memory bliss of you Baby, you send me Set adrift on memory bliss of you A careless whisper from a careless man A neutron dance for a neutron fan Marionette strings are dangerous things I thought of all the trouble they bring An eye for an eye, a spy for a spy Rubber bands expand in a frustrating sigh Tell me that she's not dreaming She's got an ace in the hole It doesn't have meaning Reality used to be a friend of mine 'Cause complete control, I don't take too kind Christina Applegate, you gotta put me on Guess who's piece of the cake is jacked on? She broke her wishbone and wished for a sign I told her whispers in my heart were fine What did she think she could do? I feel for her, I really do So I stared at the ring finger on her hand I wanted her to be a big P.M. Dawn fan But I had to put her right back with the rest That's the way it goes, I guess Baby, you send me Baby, you send me Set adrift on memory bliss of you Baby, you send me Set adrift on memory bliss of you Baby, you send me Set adrift on memory bliss of you Baby, you send me Set adrift on memory bliss of you Baby, you send me (baby, you send me) Baby, you send me (baby, you send me) Set adrift on memory bliss of you (baby, you send me) Baby, you send me (baby, you send me) Baby, you send me (baby, you send me) Set adrift on memory bliss of you (baby, you send me) Baby, you send me (baby, you send me) Baby, you send me (baby, you send me) Set adrift on memory bliss of you Writer/s: Attrell Cordes, Attrell Stephen Cordes, Gary James Kemp, Gary Kemp Publisher: Downtown Music Publishing, REFORMATION MUSIC INC, Royalty Network Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
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Comments: 2

• Lacrisha from Milwaukee, Wi Bob James "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" was sampled in the song as well.
• Eric from Vancouver, Canada This is an awsome song!

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"Set Adrift On Memory Bliss" lyrics

• P.M. Dawn Lyrics

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Set Adrift on a Memory Bliss

21 comments.

Lyrics submitted by kaan

Set Adrift On Memory Bliss Lyrics as written by Gary James Kemp Attrell Cordes

Lyrics © Royalty Network, Downtown Music Publishing, REFORMATION MUSIC INC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

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enigmatic. I think it's about a playboy who sees the 'one who got away' is now married. It's about fantasizing or trying to ignore the feelings memories.

He finds the 'one who got away' has a "fat diamond ring" and is shocked ("can't remember a damn thing.") He can't stop thinking about her and how she's married/engaged. The engagement looks perfect on the outside ("an ace in the hole"), but its meaningless. She still "wished for a sign" that this is the right thing. Maybe she still loves him even though she's marrying someone else.

He's used women before with his "marionette strings" and regretted it. One of those exes, a ("pasttime intimate friend") talks about how he doesn't even care about her. And he agrees. He just pushes away the memories of these relationships, denies them until he's no longer connected to reality.

It's oddly nostalgic, but still callous. Like he's saying, "I prefer my memories to your reality."

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Is Broken24 saying Chelsea Clinton is Hot? No way is she even close to hot bro. Wow!

The Christina Applegate part is a reference to 'Bonita Applebum' by A Tribe Called Quest!! dance-lyrics.com/songs/bonita_applebum_8962.htm

I heard this song today, and it brought back a ton of memories so I figured I'd look to see if it's on here. It is!

I've always thought this song was about a guy who has a way with the ladies and he sees someone he feels he could possibly love or is in love with but she is married or engaged and then he goes through this whole scenario of how things could play out, but in the end realizes that it would'nt work so he 'had to put her right back with the rest.'

Great song!

I really think the Backstreet Boys version of this is better. Slower and more...just better. This one song is a bit busy for me, less "refreshing" than the Backstreet Boys version.

it's beautiful!!! it always puts me in a mellow mood. -definetly a 'bubble bath' song!

I want to know what the Christina Applegate part means.

A guy wanting a girl that is with someone else now, he keeps stringing her on with words and songs. Making it hard on her to leave it behind...........I am crazy to think you are looking up this song. You probably don't know about this site.

This song has baffled me for years. I sat up recently with my boyfriend one night and was determined see what he was saying. I think its about a guy who has enjoyed using women as pawns for most of his life but regrets using one that could have been special if he had been willing to try.

Like someone mentioned, there's a lot of nostalgia in the lyrics. One question, if anyone knows. I'm pretty sure "a neutron dance for a neutron fan" is in reference to The Pointer Sisters. Is "A careless whisper from a careless man" a reference to "Careless Whisper" by George Michael? It makes sense, but not sure how any of this fits together.

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" Is "A careless whisper from a careless man" a reference to "Careless Whisper" by George Michael?"<br /> <br /> Yes. As for how it all fits together, umm....

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P.M. Dawn - Set Adrift On Memory Bliss Lyrics

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss

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Meaning of Set Adrift on Memory Bliss by Backstreet Boys

"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" by Backstreet Boys is a heartfelt song that delves into the depths of nostalgia, longing, and the struggle to move on after a past relationship. The lyrics encapsulate the emotional rollercoaster one experiences when reminiscing about a lost love.

The song begins with the mention of a candle and an hourglass, symbolizing the passage of time and the fading memories. The narrators find themselves constantly thinking about their former partner, wondering where they are and what they are doing. Despite the reasons that led to the breakup, they remember every smile and sentiment shared, only intensifying the longing they feel.

"Destiny is everything, reality's replaced you" reflects the harsh reality that the narrators must face. They feel an immense void in their lives after losing their loved one, and nothing can fill that emptiness. Although they may appear indifferent, deep down, it becomes clear that they still care deeply and constantly think about their former partner.

The lyrics express a plea for reconciliation, asking if their former partner will be there when the morning comes and if they can be given the chance to fix their life together. The longing for their lost love continues to linger, as they spend time wishing for what could have been.

The song acknowledges the pain and sadness that overwhelms the narrators, with their minds imagining that their ex-partner has moved on and found happiness elsewhere. They come to terms with the fact that forever is gone and they must accept that they can never have them back.

Overall, "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" is a poignant exploration of the lingering emotions and memories that can haunt a person long after a relationship has ended. It conveys the complexities of love and the struggle to let go, presenting a universal experience that resonates with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.

This meaning interpretation was written by AI. Help improve it with your feedback

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