Born James Alan Hull in Benwell, Newcastle upon Tyne on 20th February1945, he became a member of the band The Chosen Few alongside keyboard player Mick Gallagher in 1962. He supported himself one year by working as a nurse at a mental hospital while appearing as a folk singer and guitarist in local clubs before helping to form Brethren and Downtown Faction, which evolved into Lindisfarne in 1970. He also released a one-off solo single, "We Can Swing Together", which was re-recorded with the group on their first album, Nicely Out of Tune, and became a regular favourite in their stage performances.
As the group's most prolific songwriter and joint lead vocalist, Hull came to be regarded as its leader. In 1972, dissatisfied with the sound and critical reception of their third album Dingly Dell, he considered leaving the group, but instead he and joint lead vocalist Ray "Jacka" Jackson formed a new six-piece Lindisfarne the following year, leaving the three other original members to form Jack the Lad. He also released a first solo album, Pipedream, in the same year, and published a book of poems, Mocking Horse.
Lindisfarne disbanded in 1975, and Hull released a second solo album, Squire, then formed the short-lived Radiator, which also included drummer Ray Laidlaw of Lindisfarne and Jack the Lad. At the end of 1977 the original line-up of Lindisfarne reformed after a well-received Christmas show at the Newcastle City Hall which was broadcast on local radio. Thereafter he combined his musical career as front man of the group with a solo career. He was also a staunch Labour Party activist.
In 1994, he recorded Back to Basics, a live all-acoustic survey of the best of his songwriting from 1970 onwards. On 17th November 1995 whilst working on a new album, Statues & Liberties, Hull died suddenly of a heart thrombosis, at the age of fifty.
This Heart of Mine
Alan Hull Lyrics
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Columbus sailed the ocean, at the age of seventeen,
And he must have had a vison, and he must have had a dream.
The wise men and the prophets, frozen in their ways,
Tried to turn him back again, as a way of saving face.
So they sent him out a message, and the message was so clear
And I heard he was a bad man, with his finger in the pie,
But they knew he'd be home again, there was something in his eyes.
And I've seen the veil of darkness, coming across the sky
Rising in the east, where the sun used to shine.
Just when I get to thinkin', it's all been a waste of time,
The most beautiful thing in the world, cuts this heart of mine.
Now poor old Mother Russia, couldn't keep her children fed,
When she saw she couldn't feed them, she walked the streets instead.
So Boris build a castle, with Joseph on the door,
To try to erase the memory, but their mother was a whore.
And the poor are always with us, I heard somebody said,
No matter how much you feed them, they'll still be underfed.
One thing to remember, when evening the score
There are none so equal as, those who was so poor.
And I've seen the veil of darkness, coming across the sky
Rising in the east, where the sun used to shine.
Just when I get to thinkin', it's all been a waste of time,
The most beautiful thing in the world, cuts this heart of mine.
Now you may be a sailor, or the pilot of a plane,
Riskin' your life and everything, for fortune and for fame.
Well you're the kind of prophet, to put the world to rights,
But the trouble with your vision is, keepin' it in sight
And I've seen the veil of darkness, coming across the sky
Rising in the east, where the sun used to shine.
Just when I get to thinkin', it's all been a waste of time,
The most beautiful thing in the world, cuts this heart of mine.
The most beautiful thing in the world, cuts this heart of mine.
The song "This Heart of Mine" by Alan Hull is a thought-provoking commentary on the human condition and the pursuit of dreams, using allegories and historical references to convey its message. The first verse talks about Columbus, who at a young age pursued his dream of sailing across the ocean. However, the "wise men and the prophets" try to dissuade him, which could represent societal norms and limitations often placed on individuals. The line "If you go chasing rainbows, you're not welcome here" signifies the idea that pursuing ambitious dreams may not be socially acceptable, but despite the obstacles, the dreamer remains determined to see it through as "they knew he'd be home again, there was something in his eyes."
The second verse mentions "Mother Russia," who was unable to feed her children due to economic hardship. In response, the people turned to alternative measures, such as prostitution, to survive. The lines "No matter how much you feed them, they'll still be underfed" emphasize the cycle of poverty and how difficult it is to break out of it. The third verse is a call to action, addressing individuals who are risk-takers and dreamers. The singer acknowledges that while they have good intentions, they must navigate challenges and keep their vision in sight.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to pursue their dreams and not be deterred by societal expectations or limitations, while also acknowledging the systemic issues that can prevent people from reaching their full potential.
Line by Line Meaning
Columbus sailed the ocean, at the age of seventeen,
Columbus went on a voyage across the ocean when he was only seventeen years old.
And he must have had a vison, and he must have had a dream.
Columbus had a vision and a dream about what he wanted to achieve with his voyage.
The wise men and the prophets, frozen in their ways,
The old and wise people were set in their ways and not open to new ideas.
Tried to turn him back again, as a way of saving face.
They tried to stop Columbus from going on his voyage to avoid looking foolish.
So they sent him out a message, and the message was so clear
They conveyed a clear message to Columbus that chasing after an impossible dream was not welcome.
If you go chasing rainbows, you're not welcome here.
They didn't want Columbus to pursue unrealistic goals that were beyond his reach.
And I heard he was a bad man, with his finger in the pie,
There were rumors that Columbus was a corrupt man and involved in illegal activities.
But they knew he'd be home again, there was something in his eyes.
Despite the rumors, people believed that Columbus would return safely from his voyage because of his determination and confidence.
And I've seen the veil of darkness, coming across the sky
The artist has witnessed darkness and despair falling upon the world.
Rising in the east, where the sun used to shine.
This darkness is appearing in the east, where the sun would traditionally rise.
Just when I get to thinkin', it's all been a waste of time,
Whenever the singer feels like all their efforts have been for nothing,
The most beautiful thing in the world, cuts this heart of mine.
Something beautiful happens that makes the artist feel emotional.
Now poor old Mother Russia, couldn't keep her children fed,
Russia was unable to provide enough food to feed its population.
When she saw she couldn't feed them, she walked the streets instead.
Some women in Russia resorted to prostitution to make a living and feed their families.
So Boris build a castle, with Joseph on the door,
Boris and Joseph built a lavish palace to erase the memory of their poverty and elevate their status.
To try to erase the memory, but their mother was a whore.
They wanted to forget their poor background, but it was impossible since their mother had to resort to prostitution to survive.
And the poor are always with us, I heard somebody said,
There will always be poor people in the world, as someone once said.
No matter how much you feed them, they'll still be underfed.
Even if you provide food for the poor, they will still be hungry and not have enough.
One thing to remember, when evening the score
When trying to balance things or get revenge,
There are none so equal as, those who was so poor.
Poor people who have overcome adversity are the most equal and deserving of respect.
Now you may be a sailor, or the pilot of a plane,
You could be a sailor or a pilot risking your life for your work.
Riskin' your life and everything, for fortune and for fame.
You sacrifice everything, even your life, to pursue wealth and success.
Well you're the kind of prophet, to put the world to rights,
You have a vision to change the world for the better.
But the trouble with your vision is, keepin' it in sight
The difficulty of having aspirations is the ability to reach them.
The most beautiful thing in the world, cuts this heart of mine.
Something beautiful happens that moves and touches the singer's heart.
Contributed by Carter R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.