He also produced the hugely successful Year Of The Cat album with Al Stewart and two albums with American progressive rock band Ambrosia. In 1975 he met Eric Woolfson who not only became his manager, but joined forces with Alan as a songwriting and performing partner for what became known as The Alan Parsons Project. The APP’s debut album, Tales Of Mystery And Imagination, based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe, paved the way for a signing to Clive Davis’ newly launched Arista label and a string of hit albums, namely I Robot (1977), Pyramid (1978), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980), Eye in the Sky (1982), Ammonia Avenue (1984), Vulture Culture (1985), Stereotomy (1986) and Gaudi (1987). A brief venture into musical theatre resulted in Freudiana in 1990.The show ran for over a year in the historic Theater An Der Wien in Vienna. Eric and Alan then went separate ways. Eric devoted his career to the musical theatre while Parsons felt the need to bring his music to the live concert stage and to continue to record conceptual symphonic rock music. With his long-standing previous APP collaborators, guitarist Ian Bairnson, drummer Stuart Elliott and orchestral arranger Andrew Powell, Alan dropped the "Project" identity for Alan Parsons - Try Anything Once in 1994. The partnership continued for On Air in 1996 and The Time Machine in 1999. During this time the first incarnation of "Alan Parsons Live Project" toured to sell-out audiences throughout the globe.
Following Alan’s relocation to California, a new Live Project band was formed in 2003. The album A Valid Path, Alan’s foray into Electronica was released in 2004 and featured Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, The Crystal Method, Shpongle, Uberzone, PJ Olsson and Alan’s son, Jeremy. 2008 saw the reissue of all the Alan Parsons Project albums in expanded form, containing never-before-heard bonus material and a 2-CD compilation called The Essential Collection. One of the most familiar Project tracks is Sirius, perhaps best known as the Chicago Bulls theme and more recently as walk-on music for The New Orleans Saints at their triumphant Superbowl game in 2010.
Alan’s latest venture is an instructional series about recording called The Art And Science Of Sound Recording. See www.artandscienceofsound.com. All Our Yesterdays, a song written especially for the series, features some of LA’s finest musicians and a rare performance by Alan on lead vocals. Alan lives in Santa Barbara, California with his wife Lisa and her two daughters, Tabitha and Brittni, four dogs, a lop-eared rabbit, and an 18-hand Clydesdale called Dante.
Limelight
Alan Parsons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can feel it inside
Maybe this day could be the one
I can hear the roar of a distant crowd
They are waiting for me
Calling my name
Shouting out loud
Holding on isn't always easy
I ain't gonna change my mind
Limelight you were all I ever wanted
Since it all began
Limelight shining on me
Telling the world who I am
Limelight don't let me slip right through your fingers
There's a long way to fall
After the years of waiting
I'm gonna show them all
I can see the world in a different light
Now it's easy to say
Where I went wrong
What I did right
I can hear the beat of a different drum
Take it all in my stride
Hold my head high
Second to none
Holding on wasn't always easy
Nothing can change my mind
Limelight you were all I ever wanted since it all began
Limelight shining on me telling the world who I am
Limelight don't let it slip right through your fingers
There's a long way to fall
After all the years of waiting, I'm gonna show them all
Maybe the role's not easy, maybe the prize is small
After all the years of waiting, I'm gonna show them all
The lyrics of Alan Parsons's song, Limelight, are about the singer's experience of fame and the struggle to maintain it. The first paragraph describes the singer's feeling of recognition and success, but also acknowledges the pressure that comes with it. The second paragraph reflects on the changes that success has brought, including seeing the world in a different light and hearing a beat of a different drum. The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's desire to hold onto the limelight and not let it slip away. The final lines of the song suggest that despite the challenges that come with fame, the singer is determined to show the world what they are capable of.
Overall, the song is an introspective look at the experience of fame and all that comes with it. The lyrics suggest that while success can be a rewarding experience, it is not always easy to hold onto and can come with its own set of challenges and difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
I can see the glow of a distant sun
I am able to perceive the light emitted by a faraway celestial object
I can feel it inside
I am experiencing an internal feeling as a result of perceiving the distant sun
Maybe this day could be the one
Perhaps this present moment has the potential to be significant
I can hear the roar of a distant crowd
I am able to recognize the sound of a group of people who are far away
They are waiting for me
The crowd is anticipating my arrival or performance
Calling my name
The people are trying to grab my attention by uttering my name
Shouting out loud
The crowd is expressing their enthusiasm or excitement in a vocal and enthusiastic manner
Holding on isn't always easy
It can be difficult to persist in certain situations
I ain't gonna change my mind
I am committed to my course of action and will not change my decision
Limelight you were all I ever wanted
The attention and recognition of the public, represented metaphorically by the term 'limelight,' is my ultimate goal
Since it all began
From the beginning of my journey towards my goal
Limelight shining on me
The 'limelight' is currently highlighting me as the center of attention
Telling the world who I am
The attention I am receiving is communicating to the world my identity or significance
Limelight don't let me slip right through your fingers
I am asking for the continued attention of the public, so as not to lose my current status
There's a long way to fall
The potential loss of the public's attention would have great consequences and could result in significant setbacks
After the years of waiting
Following a considerable length of time spent working towards my goal
I'm gonna show them all
I am determined to demonstrate my worth or talents to those who have been waiting for me
I can see the world in a different light
My perspective on the world has changed as a result of my experiences
Now it's easy to say
I have gained sufficient insight or understanding to express my thoughts or opinions with ease
Where I went wrong
I am able to identify my past mistakes or errors in judgement
What I did right
I am also able to recognize the actions or decisions that have positively impacted my journey
I can hear the beat of a different drum
I am attuned to a unique or unconventional rhythm or way of living
Take it all in my stride
I am able to handle any obstacles or challenges that come my way with ease
Hold my head high
I am confident and proud of who I am and what I have accomplished
Second to none
There is no one else who compares to me or my abilities
Nothing can change my mind
No external force or influence can alter my decisions or beliefs
Maybe the role's not easy, maybe the prize is small
There are potential downsides or difficulties associated with my desired position or goal
After all the years of waiting
Following a prolonged period of anticipation or preparation
I'm gonna show them all
I am determined to prove myself to those who have been following my journey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PARSONS, ERIC WOOLFSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind