Stars Die

The opening track on the Moonloop EP in 1994, this was effectively Porcupine Tree's second single. Chris: "I love that side of Steve, when he comes out with something that you love straight away. When we were jamming during the Moonloop sessions, Steve got rid of everything, took the beat I wanted to use and was deliberately playing, and rebuilt Stars Die around it." It was left off The Sky Moves Sideways in what Steven describes as the worst mistake he's ever made - "It was the best track I recorded at the time, and I always regretted not putting it on the record. At the time I thought it was slight and too insubstantial, so it was released as a non-album single and became by far the most popular thing I'd released up until that time." This mistake was corrected for the American version of the album, and it remains one of the most popular Porcupine Tree pieces (not least with Steven's own mother). Steven Wilson - vocals, guitar, keyboards, tapes Colin Edwin - bass guitar Chris Maitland - drums

The moon shook And curled up like gentle fire The ocean glazed And melted wire Voices buzzed in spiral eyes Stars dived in blinding skies Stars die Blinding skies Tree cracked And mountain cried Bridges broke And window sighed Cells grew up and rivers burst Sound obscured and sense reversed Stars die Blinding skies Hello, Neil and Buzz I'm talking to you by telephone from the Oval Room at the White House, and this certainly has to be the most historic telephone call ever made from the White House I just can't tell you how proud we all are of what you have done For every American, this has to be the proudest day of our lives Because of what you have done, the heavens have become a part of man's world And as you talk to us from the Sea of Tranquility, it inspires us to redouble our efforts to bring peace and tranquility to Earth Idle mind And severed soul Silent nerves And begging bowl Shallow haze to blast a way Hyper sleep to end the day Stars die Blinding skies