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"Then She Appeared" is a song by Andy Partridge. It appeared on the 1992 album Nonsuch.

The demo appeared on Andy's Fuzzy Warbles Volume 2 in 2002.

XTC's next album, Apple Venus Volume 1 in 1999, was named after a line from the first stanza of this song. This continued a trend started with Oranges & Lemons possibly being named after a line from Skylarking's "Ballet for a Rainy Day," except this time it was intentional.

The song contains what sounds like a reference to "the giggling crew of Mary Celeste." The ship found adrift and deserted in the Atlantic in 1872 was, indeed, called Mary Celeste. But on many websites, including, unfortunately, this one, the lyrics are incorrectly shown as Marie Celeste. That was the name used by Arthur Conan Doyle some years later in a fictional account of the fate of the Mary Celeste's passengers and crew. Just wondered if you and/or Andy P knew this. It's a very common mistake. I've taken the liberty of correcting it.



Quotes[]

Andy: “A slice of whimsy and a chance to mention Fox Talbot. You don't hear many pop songs invoke the name of one of the founders of photography.”

Andy: “. . . another one which I claimed was by a group called The Golden, and that was called ‘Then She Appeared’. . . . I've since played ‘Then She Appeared’ to Gus Dudgeon, because he's a Dukes fan, and he said, ‘God, you should do that seriously!’ So I'm now at the dilemma where, do I rewrite these ludicrous forgery lyrics to be more personal or do we just do it as a copy of The Dukes? So I've got myself into a real fifth dimension of a dilemma here.”

Andy (on the demo): “A gloriously colourful glossy magazine, called Strange Things Are Happening, interviewed us about the whole Dukes thing in the 80's, but in August 1990, myself and Happenings' Phil Smee, cooked up a scheme. I would record two songs that the magazine would claim came from 67/68 (by two different bands). A double ‘A’ side flexi disc sporting both tunes would then be given away with a forthcoming issue. This track was to have been by a foppish bunch called ‘The Golden’ [see also ‘It's Snowing Angels’ by Choc Cigar Chief Champion]. Forgery can be fun.”

Lyrics[]

Album version[]

Then she appeared, apple venus on a half open shell

Then she appeared, the first photograph on Fox Talbots gel

I was a little frightened

Flying with my senses heightened

Cherubim cheered

Then she appeared


Then she appeared, as the giggling crew of Mary Celeste

Then she appeared, pale Atlantis rising out of the west

I was a little dazzled

Catherine wheeled and senses frazzled

Know it sounds weird

Then she appeared


And the sun which formerly shone

In the clearest summer sky

Suddenly just changed address

Now shines from her blue eyes


Then she appeared, brittle shooting star that dropped in my lap

Then she appeared, dressed in tricolour and phrygian cap

I was a little troubled

Hookah with my senses bubbled

All Edward leared

Then she appeared


And the moon which formerly shone

On the marbled midnight mile

Suddenly just packed its bags

Now shines from her bright smile


Then she appeared

Out of nowhere


Demo version[]

Then she appeared

Like a note struck from the Liberty Bell

Then she appeared

Like a wish from out of somebody's well

I was a little frightened

Looking with my senses heightened

Cherubim cheered

Then she appeared


And the sun which normally hung

In the clearest summer sky

Suddenly just changed address

And shone from her blue eyes


When she appeared

With a smiling lamb that sat on her lap

When she appeared

With a moa feather stuck in her cap

I was a little dazzled

melting with my senses frazzled

know it sounds weird

then she appeared


And the sun which normally hung

In the clearest summer sky

Suddenly just changed address

And shone from her blue eyes


Then she appeared

Then she appeared

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