Lyrics for "Sea of Love" (It Came From the Desert, TG-CD, 1991)

The entire soundtrack for the TG-CD version of It Came From the Desert is short (under 25 minutes) and is primarily instrumental music. The quality of the game's soundtrack is on par with that of an average Hollywood film—which is admirable today, but was all-the-more impressive on a home console in 1991 at the dawn of CD-ROM video games.

However compelling the instrumental soundtrack may be, the game's swan song is, truly, Sea of Love, the gorgeous tune that plays during the game's title screen and opening credits.

READ:

1. ▶ Lyrics for Sea of Love (Title Song)
2. ▶ Song credits for Sea of Love
3. ▶ K-O-O-L The Voice of the Desert
4. ▶ The Making of It Came From the Desert (feature article from June/July 1991 issue of TurboPlay Magazine)

Now that you have the lyrics, there is no excuse for not singing along with this song.

LISTEN:

1. ▼ LISTEN TO Sea of Love (Full Version) (.mp3)
2. ▼ DOWNLOAD ENTIRE It Came From the Desert SOUNDTACK (.rar)

Sea of Love (Title Song)… ▲

As it turns out, Sea of Love was used for more than the opening credits. The song was recycled for (1) the ending credits as well as (2) in-game music (when Buzz hops on his motorcycle to travel to various destinations, he has the opportunity to listen to the radio). Yup, Sea of Love is on heavy rotation at K-O-O-L, the local radio station.

Sea of Love (Melville)
(Opening theme for It Came From the Desert)

I'm goin' down
to the Sea of Love

I'm goin' near
that water

I'm gonna die
in that Sea of Love

In holy water...

Those cryin'
Lonely teardrops
Roll and roll
Like rain

Make the Sea of Love

Make the sea of love, love, love
And I'm fallin' down, down, down
Yes, I'm fallin' down, down
Just wanna drown, drown, drown, drown...

Just wanna drown, drown, drown, drown...

I'm goin' down
in the Sea of Love

They won't ever find you
Supposed to drown
in the Sea of Love
Walkin' right behind you

Just wanna drown, drown, drown, drown you...
Just wanna drown, drown, drown, drown...
Just wanna drown, drown, drown, drown...

▼ LISTEN TO Sea of Love (Full Version) (.mp3)

▼ DOWNLOAD ENTIRE It Came From the Desert SOUNDTACK (.rar)

INFLUENCES: There is a famous song by Phil Phillips (later covered by Robert Plant and other artists) with the same title ("Sea of Love"), but as far as I can tell, Melville's song for ICFTD is lyrically and musically distinct. That said, I can't help but feel that Melville was making a cultural nod to the 1950's in general (and Phil Phillips in particular) when he wrote the TG-CD song lyrics. But the original song (from 1959), is decidedly upbeat. In 1989, Tom Waits covered the song for a film of the same name (a thriller starring Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin). Waits' version, however, makes a few minor lyrical changes to foster a decidedly darker mood (perhaps to echo the disturbing, suspenseful mood of the film). I can't help but feel that Melville "borrowed" heavily from Waits' darker interpretation of the 1959 hit record. Ultimately, I am glad Melville did this, since the darker lyrics fit the TG-CD game nicely and allowed him to pay homage to the 1950's whilst simultaneously satirizing the era.

DROWN. DOWN. For the curious, Tom Waits added an extra, final line to each stanza of the Phil Philips original, ranging from "I'm drowning in a sea of love" to "I'm down in a sea of love" to "I'm down here in a sea of love"...compare Waits's lyrical modifications (about "drowning" and "down" in a sea of love) to the lyrics penned by Melville above (also with an emphasis on "drown" and "down")...and you might come to the same conclusion I did.

ZEITGEIST: So, to repeat myself: I suspect Melville was drawing directly from Tom Waits and Phil Phillips. Speaking of influences, Melville's music and lyrics for ICFTD's Sea of Love appear to be inspired by Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" (circa 1989, not surprisingly). Melville had good taste. Melville was tapping into the zeitgeist of the late 1980's. Melville directed Terence Kirby to emulate Isaak's vocals. Kirby pulled it off admirably.

BOTTOM LINE: I don't care. I don't care if Melville borrowed from Waits and Isaak. The final product for TG-CD ICFTD is unique and stands on its own. If there is only one thing you will cherish about It Came from the Desert, let it be "Sea of Love"...

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Credits for Sea of Love… ▲

Obviously, I wish I had more information on the singer, musicians and the recording session. Not that I expect any of these folks to remember anything specifically, but, who knows?

Here is what can be gleaned from the ending credits…

Sea of Love

Performed by Terence Kirby

Written and produced by Ken Melville

Copyright 1991 Humarock Music

China Clipper Publishing ASCAP

Ken Melville's writing and production credit for Sea of Love is not surprising. Ken Melville and Dave Riordan were the main creative forces behind the entire It Came From the Desert "franchise" and deeply involved with every aspect of the TG-CD project.

I don't know who Terence Kirby is, but he did a fantastic job with the vocals in this song. He emulates Chris Isaak, something that Melville was intentionally seeking, I suspect.

FINAL VERDICT: I cherish this song. Every aspect of it. Divorced from It Came From the Desert, I consider it is a decent song that stands on its own merits. I already expressed my approval of the vocals. I don't care if the singer is copying a style that Chris Isaak popularized, Kirby's execution is genuine and sincere. The lyrics hold up well and complement the theme of the game nicely without, thankfully, being too specific to the game itself.

When a song can stand on its own, apart from the larger work (film, movie, musical) that it is associated with, it avoids being categorized as mere "novelty" or "kitsch". That said, the fact that Sea of Love owes its very existence to a TurboGrafx-CD project elevates it to sainthood. Sea of Love was birthed for a handful of TG-16 fans to enjoy over the years. I, for one, am grateful. Furthermore, if you play the damn TG-CD game, you will discover that Sea of Love is the "most requested song" at radio station K-O-O-L, which the town of Lovelock listens to. Prissy requests it. The DJ plays it. Buzz listens to it. The song binds together the disparate characters who live in the dry, dusty, isolated world of Lovelock and Borax.

K-O-O-L. 99.9 on your FM dial… ▲

THESIS: The DJ, music and listeners of radio station K-O-O-L perform a vital, often overlooked, role in the TurboGrafx-CD version of It Came From the Desert.

1. ▶ Sea of Love (Terance Kirby)
2. ▶ City Without Sin
3. ▶ Fog Up the Windows (Snaxx)
4. ▶ Night Has a Thousand Eyes (NoTones)
5. ▶ Highway to Hell
6. ▶ Forever Understanding (Buzzbombs)
7. ▶ Jet Age Jerk (Dead Can Dance)
8. ▶ Soul Kiss (Starfires)

NOTE: These songs, despite their promising titles, are only 15 seconds in length. They exist solely to make K-O-O-L sound like a legitimate radio station.

In the original Amiga version of the game, the call letters for the radio station were KBUG. KBUG was a minor element of the original game, one of countless destinations to travel to. Since the TG-CD version of the game had far fewer locations to explore, K-O-O-L performed an important role in creating/reinforcing the feeling that Lovelock was a town, with a real community, who listened to the radio and did things (e.g. go to the movies, listen to the radio, request songs, share their problems, seek advice, etc.).

Indeed, the DJ at K-O-O-L is entertainer, journalist, commentator and therapist. Without the DJ, the TG-CD version of It Came From the Desert would have no real sense of a "community"—without the DJ, there is nothing that binds everyone together. He is the social glue that is missing from the original versions of the game. Also, his allegiance to the community is purposefully kept ambiguous, which is another reason why the DJ is one of the more intriguing characters.

KOOLMAN is the on-air moniker used by the DJ at local radio station K-O-O-L (the "Voice of the Desert").

KOOLMAN was voiced by Joe Lala. His acting credits include…

CALLER #1: Prissy

Prissy is Buzz's girlfriend for nearly the entire game. However, hints of a troubled relationship are suggested when she calls up the radio to request her favorite song.

PRISSY was voiced by Raquel Gardner. Her acting credits include…

CALLER #1: Prissy

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: Prissy on line 5, speak to the KOOLMAN.

PRISSY: Hello? KOOLMAN?

KOOLMAN: You got me, babe.

PRISSY: Well…I've got this sort-of boyfriend, but he's not part of the crowd. You know, he's kind of a loner. I mean he kisses really cool but he thinks this town really sucks Flav-R-Straws. He wants to take me to California on his motorcycle.

KOOLMAN: Hey, stick around Priss. This town is gonna be action-central real soon. And listen, dump this jerk. He sounds like a real loser to me. What do ya wanna hear, babe?

PRISSY: Well, Sea of Love, of course.

KOOLMAN: The number one requested song of the night…Sea of Love.

SONG: Sea of Love

BAND: Terence Kirby

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CALLER #2: Billy Bob

Billy Bob was voiced by… Frank Lobianco? He has no acting credits beyond this game.

CALLER #2: Billy Bob

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: Line 2, Billy Bob…

BILLY BOB: I saw it. It was huge. It was headin' for Lud's. It ate my poodle!

KOOLMAN: Hehehehe, Billy Bob's doin' duco* again. It's an eery, unsettled evening on the desert, boys and girls. In this town without pity, here's City Without Sin…

*duco = Dulcuolax? Dulcolax is the brand name for a laxative marketed in the United States. Even if this isn't what Melville intended, I hereby declare that KOOLMAN was referring to the laxative. Earlier, Prissy refers to "Flav-R-Straws", the brand name of a real product/company (now defunct) from the 1950's.

SONG: City Without Sin

BAND: ???

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RADIO AD #1: Ground Zero Motor Movies…

This is one of the few times Buzz listens to K-O-O-L on a radio instead of his motorcycle.

RADIO AD #1: Ground Zero Motor Movies…

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: KOOL, the Voice of the Desert. The voice in your mind. I hear you listening out there… in your empty rooms, in your empty lives.

Getting sleepy. While the pod under your bed grows and grows.

No, no, that's the feature at the Ground Zero Motor Movies this week—Invasion of the Pod People. I want every hardlovin', hardrockin' cat and kitty down there tonight for the Lover's Special. Two free breath mints and a jumbo tube of ChapStick for all those tired kissers. Speaking of which, here's Snaxx with Fog Up the Windows…

SONG: Fog Up the Windows

BAND: Snaxx

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CALLER #3: Linda

Linda sees no beauty in Lovelock.

Linda was voiced by Michelle Paully. Her acting credits include…

CALLER #3: Linda

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: Lovely Linda on line 1, talk to KOOLMAN.

LINDA: Sometimes, I look at the desert sky at night and I just want to cry… it's so beautiful. All the blue and red glowing stars. But my life down here is so awful. This is a really mean, dirty, little town. People here have no hope. I can see it in their eyes.

KOOLMAN: Linda, you're a beautiful voice full of pain and poetry. It's shooting up from my radio tower at the speed of light. Up and up, and out through the cold, black void to one day reach those diamond white and blue stars. This moment—your name, your feelings to touch the hearts of wondrous lifeforms resonating with love and joy. These, these places exist. You must, you must believe me, dear.

LINDA: I do believe you, KOOLMAN. Thank you! Play me a song…

KOOLMAN: For Linda, the NoTones with Night Has a Thousand Eyes…

SONG: Night Has a Thousand Eyes

BAND: NoTones

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CALLER #4: Sonny

Sonny is one of the few allies that Buzz has.

Sonny was voiced by Mark Karmon. His acting credits were limited to one minor role in an episdoe of Beverly Hills 90210…

CALLER #4: Sonny

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: Sonny on line 1, talk to KOOLMAN.

SONNY: Hey man, I want to dedicate a song to my hotriding, fool buddy who's out there right now on the frontlines tryin' to kill himself.

KOOLMAN: One of our fighting boys is in trouble, is that what you're trying to tell us, Sonny?

SONNY: He's fighting for everybody, man. He's trying to save the whole damn world. Sure, it seems crazy, but he's right—there's something out there trying to eat us. I've seen it. Play him Highway to Hell. Rock on, Buzzard, man. Rock on! I'm with ya…

SONG: Highway to Hell

BAND: ???

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CALLER #5: Debbie

Debbie is a stereotypical teenager.

Debbie was voiced by… Angela Buchman? Wendy Demmerle? Neither actress has any credits beyond this game.

CALLER #5: Debbie

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: This is KOOLMAN talkin' with you, the children of the night. Debbie on line 2, talk to me.

DEBBIE: Hello? Yeah, listen. My parents have started talkin' like zombies and eatin' sugar all the time. I mean, they're really getting weird, you know?

KOOLMAN: Hey! Imagine if you grew up deprived of television and rock-n-roll. Can you imagine what that would do to you?

DEBBIE: Wow. Yeah, you could really get messed up. Quick, play something.

KOOLMAN: Forever Understanding, by the Buzzbombs…

SONG: Forever Understanding

BAND: Buzzbombs

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CALLER #6: Roxanne

Roxanne is a soothsayer in the trappings of a vapid teenager. She may not know Einstein's name, but she fully understands the evil facing the world.

Roxanne was voiced by… Angela Buchman? Wendy Demmerle? Neither actress has any credits beyond this game.

CALLER #6: Roxanne

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: Roxanne on line 1, talk to KOOLMAN, babe.

ROXANNE: Hey, KOOLMAN. This is the end of the world, isn't it? Wow…too much. We weren't suppposed to make an H-Bomb this fast. This Eisertein guy was like a mutation from the future? See, it wasn't supposed to happen now. We were supposed to go on for a lot longer. I think…they're trying to pick up the phonebooth! Help! Get out! Get away, get away from me! Ahhhhhhhh…

KOOLMAN: Think about this, night people. Roxanne was a dramatic reenactment. She doesn't exist. The phonebooth was never there. We are all dramatic reenactments, baby. Dead Can Dance with Jet Age Jerk…

NOTE: No song played. Also, "Dead Can Dance" is a real band, which makes me wonder if Melville or Riordan were fans of the band and slipped this into the script for fun. However, Dead Can Dance has/would never entitle one of their songs "Jet Age Jerk".

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CALLER #7: Prissy

Prissy has the unique distinction of being the first, and final, caller we hear on local radio station K-O-O-L. She appears to have followed the advice she received during her first call.

CALLER #7: Prissy

K-O-O-L. The Voice of the Desert. 99.9 on your FM dial.

KOOLMAN: Got a dedication here. Go ahead, darling.

PRISSY: I'd like to dedicate this to Sonny from Prissy…Soul Kiss by the Starfires…

SONG: Soul Kiss

BAND: Starfires

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This page is a WORK IN PROGRESS… ▲

I would love any help you can offer! Have you deciphered the definitive meaning behind the lyrics? Do you know the artists who sang in the North Amercian versions of the songs? Please contact me and I will hug you.

For the most up-to-date information, please consult the Lyrics for It Came From the Desert thread at pcenginefx.com. Thank you for visiting!