Halcyon (Orbital song)
"Halcyon" is a song written and performed by Orbital, dedicated to the Hartnolls' mother, who was addicted to the tranquiliser Halcion (Triazolam) for many years. The song features two samples from earlier international hit singles. The first sample is a backmasked vocal sample by Kirsty Hawkshaw from "It's a Fine Day" by Opus III (1992). Ed Barton, the composer of "It's a Fine Day", receives a co-writing credit for the track. The second is a vocal harmonies sample in the song "Leave It" from the 1983 album 90125 by the progressive rock band Yes. There is no co-writing credit for the Yes sample.
This original form of Halcyon is relatively uncommon; it first appeared on the Radiccio EP, and was only in the U.S. release as a single under its own name. It did not appear on a full-length album until the compilation Work 1989-2002, and then only in its shorter "single edit".
On Orbital's second eponymous album the track "Halcyon + on + on" appears, a slightly more upbeat and melodic remix of the original song. In contrast to the original, the remix is far more widely known, and has been featured on several movie soundtracks (most notably Mortal Kombat, Hackers, CKY2K and Mean Girls). The title of the remix is inspired by a contemporary advertising slogan used by the Ariston washing machine company ("Ariston + on + on"). "Halcyon + on + on" is somewhat shorter than the original, at 9 minutes and 27 seconds long.
On & On
Thinking bout all of those days I left behind
Nowadays it seems I'm watching life just pass me by
The world is spinning beneath my feet at an unforgiving pace
And I, I just find myself falling victim to the chase
If only I could take it back, to the days when I was younger
Then maybe I would cherish that moment I grew older
Finally I understand that time won't wait for no one (no no no)
I can't live in the past
On N on, on N on, it don't look back (people move)
On N on, on N on, they won't look back (and thought I've moved)
On N on, on N on, I won't forget
What it took to get me here,
How much I sacrificed
Maybe I allowed myself to be consumed
Turned my back on what once the only life I knew
Too busy loving me to notice everything had changed
and I've come to terms that nothing ever stays the same
If only I could take it back, to the days when I was younger
Then maybe I would cherish that moment I grew older
Finally I understand that time won't wait for no one (no no no)
I can't live in the past
On N on, on N on, it don't look back (people move)
On N on, on N on, they won't look back (and thought I've moved)
On N on, on N on, I won't forget
What it took to get me here,
How much I sacrificed
Now I see, that on the road that I chose
I can't leave, when the weakness begins to show
Finally, I just gotta let it go
On N on, on N on, it don't look back (people move)
On N on, on N on, they won't look back (and thought I've moved)
On N on, on N on, I won't forget
What it took to get me here,