Neo-progressive rock is characterized by deeply emotional content, often delivered via dramatic lyrics and a generous use of imagery and theatricality on-stage. The music is mostly the product of careful composition, relying less heavily on improvised jamming. The subgenre relies very much on clean, melodic & emotional electric guitar solos, combined with keyboards. The main musical influences on the neo-prog genre are Genesis, Yes, Camel, and Pink Floyd.
Early neo-prog was marked by sophisticated lyrics and often dark themes. While the accessibility of neo-prog by the mainstream is debatable, the form did generally seem more radio-friendly, with shorter tracks, than earlier progressive rock. Nonetheless, neo-prog never achieved the heights of popular success that bands like Pink Floyd did.[4]
The early notable neo-prog albums included Fact and Fiction (1982) by Twelfth Night, Script for a Jester's Tear (1983) by Marillion, The Wake (1985) by IQ, and The Sentinel (1984) by Pallas.
In the book "The Progressive Rock Files", author Jerry Lucky dedicates a chapter on Neo-progressive rock with the title "A Neo Beginning!", stating that this sub-genre "surfaced in late 1981, bearing testimony to the lasting values of this musical form" of progressive rock, but distinguishing it from this main genre by going on to say that "Sure the sound was a bit different ... a little more bite, a little more eighties".
Later in the same book, Jerry Lucky suggested that this sub-genre of Progressive Rock peaked in the mid-1980s: "As 1984 dawned all of the British neo-progressive rock bands release material. Marillion's second Fugazi, Pallas' The Sentinel, Pendragon's Fly High Fall Far, Twelfth Night's Art and Illusion, Solstice's Silent Dance, Quasar's Fire in the Sky and plenty of others including records from Haze Ce'st La Vie, Craft, Mach One Lost For Words, BJH Victims of Circumstance, The Enid The Spell, and others".
Marillion was the most popular neo-prog band, achieving major success across Europe in particular and producing eight top ten UK albums between 1983 and 1994, peaking in popularity with their album Misplaced Childhood in 1985, which topped the UK album chart and produced two top five hit singles in the UK. Following this peak, neo-prog declined as a mainstream genre, although these three pioneering bands are still active as of 2009, and several newer groups have worked in the same space in the 1990s and 2000s.
By some fans of progressive rock, neo-prog is criticised for lacking originality compared to other progressive rock - even by such artists as Robert John Godfrey of The Enid, whose own band has sometimes been promoted by neo-prog fans.
Despite criticisms, neo-prog still draws a significant fan base and albums are consistently released. One of the biggest labels for neo prog is InsideOut Music. According to the Progressive Archives website, the most popular neo prog artists are Marillion, IQ, Arena and Pendragon. News about neo progressive rock bands is given regularly on The Dutch Progressive Rock website.
Childhoods End?
Marillion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I found myself mourning,
for a childhood that I thought had disappeared.
I looked out the window,
And I saw a magpie in the rainbow, the rain had gone
I'm not alone, I turned to the mirror,
I saw you, the child, that once loved.
The child before they broke his heart,
Our heart, the heart that I believed was lost.
Hey you, surprised? More than surprised,
To find the answers to the questions,
Were always in your own eyes.
Do you realize that you give it on back to her?
But that would only be retraced in all the problems that you ever knew,
So untrue.
For she's got to carry on with her life,
and you've got to carry on with yours.
So I see it's me, I can do anything
And still the child,
Cause the only thing misplaced was direction
And I found direction.
There is no Childhood's End.
There is no Childhood's End.
Cause' you are my childhood friend.
Cause' you are my childhood friend.
Oh lead me on.
Hey you, you've survived.
Now you've arrived,
To be reborn in the shadow of the magpie.
Now you realize, that you've got to get out of here.
You've found the leading light of destiny,
Burning in the ashes of your memory.
You want to change the world.
You'd resigned yourself to die a broken rebel,
But that was looking backward.
Now you've found the light.
You, the child that once loved,
The child before they broke his heart.
The heart, the heart that I believed was lost
So it's me I see, I can do anything.
I'm still the child.
Cause the only thing misplaced was direction, and I found direction.
There is no childhood's end.
There is no childhood's end.
There is no childhood's end.
I am your childhood friend.
Oh...lead me on.
The song Childhood's End by Marillion is a deeply introspective piece that speaks of the journey of a person trying to find themselves while being haunted by memories of a lost past. The song opens with the singer mourning for something he thought he had lost - his childhood. Slowly, as he looks out of the window, he sees a magpie in the rainbow, and he realizes that he is not alone. He turns to the mirror and sees the child he used to be, the one who was broken by the world. He realizes that he needs to find himself again and that the only thing that was misplaced was direction.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "There is no Childhood's End," which speaks to the idea that one's childhood never truly ends. The singer sees himself as a child and realizes that he can still be the child he once was despite all the hardships he has faced. As the song progresses, the singer finds the strength to move on and to embrace his destiny. He realizes that he wants to change the world and that he no longer wants to be a broken rebel. Instead, he finds the light and moves forward, leading the way for others to follow.
Overall, Childhood's End is a powerful song that speaks to the human struggle to find oneself in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving. It is a song of hope, of rebirth, and of finding one's way back to the child that once loved and was loved.
Line by Line Meaning
And it was morning.
The start of a new day.
And I found myself mourning,
Feeling sad over something lost.
for a childhood that I thought had disappeared.
Missing the innocence and freedom of youth.
I looked out the window,
Observing the world outside.
And I saw a magpie in the rainbow, the rain had gone
Noticing the beauty in nature after a storm has passed.
I'm not alone, I turned to the mirror,
Realizing that there's someone else with me.
I saw you, the child, that once loved.
Remembering the joy and enthusiasm of childhood.
The child before they broke his heart,
The innocence lost due to emotional pain.
Our heart, the heart that I believed was lost.
The pure heart that was thought to have disappeared.
Hey you, surprised? More than surprised,
Addressing someone and expressing disbelief.
To find the answers to the questions,
Discovering solutions to problems.
Were always in your own eyes.
The solutions were within oneself all along.
Do you realize that you give it on back to her?
Bringing back the emotions and pain that once hurt.
But that would only be retraced in all the problems that you ever knew,
Repeating mistakes and facing similar difficulties.
So untrue.
Not being genuine or real.
For she's got to carry on with her life,
Someone needs to continue living and moving forward.
and you've got to carry on with yours.
One must also live their own life and move forward.
So I see it's me, I can do anything
Realizing that they can achieve anything.
And still the child,
Holding onto the innocence and wonder of youth.
Cause the only thing misplaced was direction
The only issue was a lack of guidance or purpose.
And I found direction.
Discovering clarity and purpose.
There is no Childhood's End.
The joy and wonder of youth never truly ends.
Cause' you are my childhood friend.
Addressing someone as a friend from their youth.
Oh lead me on.
Asking someone to guide or lead them.
Hey you, you've survived.
Acknowledging someone's survival through struggles.
Now you've arrived,
Having finally reached a destination or goal.
To be reborn in the shadow of the magpie.
A symbol of transformation and rebirth.
Now you realize, that you've got to get out of here.
Recognizing the need to leave a negative or stagnant situation.
You've found the leading light of destiny,
Discovering a path to follow.
Burning in the ashes of your memory.
The inspiration comes from a memory or past experience.
You want to change the world.
Desiring to make a positive impact on the world.
You'd resigned yourself to die a broken rebel,
Thinking that their rebellious and defiant nature led to defeat.
But that was looking backward.
Focusing on the past instead of the present or future.
Now you've found the light.
Discovering hope and optimism.
So it's me I see, I can do anything.
Realizing that they have the potential to achieve anything.
There is no childhood's end.
The joy and innocence of youth never truly ends.
I am your childhood friend.
Reiterating that they are a friend from their youth.
Oh...lead me on.
Asking someone to guide or lead them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WILLIAM DICK, IAN MOSLEY, MARK KELLY, PETE TREWAVAS, STEVE ROTHERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind