Prior to his success as Aqualung, Hales was known as the lead singer of mid-1990s, London-based Britpop band Ruth. Ruth had a string of moderately successful hit singles, including "I Don't Know," "Valentine's Day," and "Fear of Flying," and one album, "Harrison," before changing their name in 2001 to The 45's. As The 45s, the band released two more singles and one posthumous album to little attention before splitting so Hales could focus on his new endeavor as Aqualung. Almost immediately after the band's split, "Strange and Beautiful" began climbing the British charts and gaining massive amounts of attention--a dramatic turnabout from the previous year. In 2005, Aqualung would even achieve elusive success in the United States, where they are best known for the song "Brighter Than Sunshine", which had considerable airplay and was used in the film A Lot Like Love and various television spots. He's also known to some for his song, "Easier to Lie", which was featured on the hit television show, Scrubs. His music also went on to feature in another hit television show the OC. His song, "Strange and Beautiful" was also featured on the hit show CSI. Later, the song "Something To Believe In" was also featured at the ending of an episode of CSI: Miami. It was also featured in the movie "Wicker Park". "The Lake" was also featured on the wildly popular television show Grey's Anatomy. Aqualung has also had songs featured on One Tree Hill in various seasons. In 2009, his song "Easier to Lie" was again featured on a television show, this time Lie To Me.
It has been written that Hales took the name "Aqualung" from a Jethro Tull album of the same name. However, he himself says he was not aware of this album, and that it was descriptive of the underwater feeling he felt listening to his debut album.
His debut single, "Strange and Beautiful (I'll Put a spell on You)", was released in the UK on the B-Unique label on September 16, 2002, and reached number 7 in the UK Top 40 and was used in the film Wicker Park.
The song "Something To Believe In" from the album "Memory Man" was used during the ending of the former ABC show Eli Stone premiered on Jan 31, 2008.
The song "Good Times Gonna Come" has recently been used on the show Skins on the British channel E4.
On April 20th, 2010 Aqualung released his 6th studio album Magnetic North (2010). The first single released is a song called "Fingertip".
Sliding Away
Aqualung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip-sliding away
And I know a man, he came from my home town
He wore this bad shirt for his woman like a thorny crown
He said, "Dolores, I live in fear"
"My love for you is so overpowering I'm afraid that I will disappear"
You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip-sliding away
And I know a woman, became a wife
These are the very words she uses to describe her life
She says, "A good day ain't got not rain"
She said, "A bad day is when I lie in bed and think of things that might've been"
She's slip-sliding away, slip-sliding away
You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip-sliding away
You're slip-sliding away, slip-sliding away
You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip-sliding away
Mmhmmm
And I know a father who had a son
He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things he'd done
He came a long way just to explain
He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping and he turned around and headed home again
He's slip-sliding, slip-sliding away
You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip-sliding away
Slip-sliding away, slip-sliding away
You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip-sliding away
The song Slip-Sliding Away by Aqualung highlights the idea that many people experience in life: the closer you get to your destination the more you may feel that you are actually moving farther away from it. The song is about people who are afraid of losing control over their lives, and how their fears are causing them to slip-slide away from the things they most want or need. The song opens with the repeated line "Slip-sliding away" and reminds us that the nearer we get to our desired destination, the more we may feel like we are "slip-sliding away".
The song goes on to describe different people who are struggling with their own fears, such as the man who is so in love with his partner that he is afraid he will disappear, the woman who feels that she is not living the life she wants, and the father who longs to explain his life choices to his son but ultimately turns around without doing so. The song's driving beat and haunting melody make it a powerful call to action for anyone who feels like they are losing control of their life.
Overall, Slip-Sliding Away is a masterful piece of songwriting that captures the universal experience of fear and uncertainty. It is a poignant reminder that even when we feel like we are slipping away from our destination, we can still take control of our lives and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Slip-sliding away, slip-sliding away
The closer you get to your goal, the more likely you are to lose your footing and slip back.
You know the nearer the destination the more you're slip-sliding away
The closer you are to achieving your goal, the harder it gets to stay on track and not lose your progress.
And I know a man, he came from my home town
The narrative of the song introduces a man with his own story to tell.
He wore this bad shirt for his woman like a thorny crown
He sacrificed his own preferences and discomfort to please his loved one.
He said, 'Dolores, I live in fear'
His love for Dolores is so intense that it causes him anxiety.
'My love for you is so overpowering I'm afraid that I will disappear'
The intensity of his love for Dolores makes him fear losing his own identity and becoming completely consumed by his feelings.
And I know a woman, became a wife
The narrative shifts to a woman who has her own struggles.
These are the very words she uses to describe her life
She has a set routine and outlook on life that she finds difficult to change or escape from.
She says, 'A good day ain't got not rain'
Her definition of a good day is simply one without complications or negative events, rather than one that brings joy or fulfillment.
She said, 'A bad day is when I lie in bed and think of things that might've been'
Her biggest regrets and missed opportunities keep her awake at night and make her feel unfulfilled.
And I know a father who had a son
The third character introduced is a father with his own tale to tell.
He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things he'd done
The father has made mistakes and wishes to explain them to his son.
He came a long way just to explain
The father made a great effort to communicate with his son and make amends.
He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping and he turned around and headed home again
After facing his past mistakes and saying goodbye to his son, the father is left alone and must continue on his own journey.
You're slip-sliding away, slip-sliding away
The chorus repeats the warning that the closer you are to your goal, the more difficult it becomes to maintain your progress.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind