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".
Vapour Trail
Aqualung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One day then another then another on and on
All my life, all my love is there
Wish that love, love was all it took to get me home
Strung out on the line, watch the credit counting down
Running out of chances, oh, I'm running out of time
All my life, all my love is there
All I needs a moments grace
So I just got to see your face, that's all
Pull my head between my knees
The earth might crack, the sky might freeze
That's all I'm asking for, just let me go
One way or the other, I will feel your touch again
I got disconnected but I still heard everything
All my life, all my love is there
Wish that love, love was all it took to get me home, get me home
All I needs a moments grace
So I just got to see your face, that's all
Pull my head between my knees
The earth might crack, the sky might freeze
That's all I'm asking for
Who was I take the risk and watch my hands become two fists
That's all I'm asking for, that's all I'm asking for
I was in the garden wishing on a vapor trail
Pull your arms around me, oh, you make me happy
Ooh, just let me go, just let me go
All I needs a moments grace
So I just got to see your face, that's all, ooh
Pull my head between my knees
The earth might crack, the sky might freeze
That's all I'm asking for
Who was I take the risk and watch my hands become two fists
That's all I'm asking for, that's all I'm asking for
Just let me go, just let me go
Put your arms around me
The lyrics to Aqualung's song Vapour Trail describe the feeling of being disconnected and searching for love in order to find one's way back home. The singer has been feeling nothing for a long time, and the days seem to just blur together. He is watching his credit run out and feels like he is running out of time. Despite this, he feels that all his life and love is there, and he wishes that love alone could bring him home. The singer wants a moment's grace to see his loved one's face, and he is willing to face the risks in order to find that connection. He reminisces about wishing upon a vapor trail in the garden, and longs for his loved one's arms to be around him once again.
The song highlights the human need for connection and how it can bring meaning to our lives. The singer feels lost and disconnected, but his love for his partner keeps him longing for a way to reconnect. The repetition of the phrase "that's all I'm asking for" emphasizes the simplicity of the singer's desire to connect, and the risk he is willing to take to find that connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I was feeling nothing forever never took so long
It felt like an eternity of emptiness and numbness, time seemed to stretch out infinitely.
One day then another then another on and on
Days passed by endlessly, in an unchanging pattern of monotony and boredom.
All my life, all my love is there
The singer's entire life and every bit of love they have ever felt is still present within them, despite everything.
Wish that love, love was all it took to get me home
The artist longs for a love strong enough to guide them back to a place of safety and peace, like a beacon in the darkness.
Strung out on the line, watch the credit counting down
Feeling like a puppet whose every move is controlled by outside forces, the artist watches their resources dwindling and running out.
Running out of chances, oh, I'm running out of time
As opportunities slip away and the clock ticks on, the singer realizes that they are rapidly approaching a point of no return.
All I needs a moments grace
So I just got to see your face, that's all
All the singer desires is a brief moment of respite and a chance to glimpse the face of their beloved, nothing more.
Pull my head between my knees
The earth might crack, the sky might freeze
That's all I'm asking for, just let me go
The artist experiences a sense of vertigo and instability, but would still rather be allowed to retreat and be left alone.
One way or the other, I will feel your touch again
I got disconnected but I still heard everything
The artist remains hopeful that they will reconnect with their loved one, even if they must take a different path to do so, and believes that they are still connected even in their absence.
Who was I take the risk and watch my hands become two fists
The artist reflects on the dangerous possibilities of engaging and taking action in a situation where their emotions are running high.
I was in the garden wishing on a vapor trail
Pull your arms around me, oh, you make me happy
The singer finds solace and happiness in the memory of a moment of beauty, and longs to be held in their loved one's arms once again.
Ooh, just let me go, just let me go
Put your arms around me
The artist pleads for the space to be alone but simultaneously desires the comfort and safety of an embrace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BEN HALES, KIM OLIVER, MATTHEW HALES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind