Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There is another band with the same name:
2) Asia was an excellent hard rock band with a drive for epic, pomp-filled rock tunes. The band was from Rapid City, South Dakota and should not be confused with the famous U.K. one, which sadly outshone them and ended up rendering the U.S. group highly obscure despite the U.S. one's critical support. Going for a loose instrumental energy similar to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, their eventual line-up was made up of Michael English (vocals, bass, percussion), Larry Galbraith (vocals, guitars, mandolin), Mike Coates (guitars, mandolin, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, vocals), and Doug Johnson (percussion). They released two albums: 'Asia' (1979) and 'Armed to the Teeth' (1980).
Different Worlds
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are the dreams that come and go,
They wait for no man on the shore.
Should you step,
In the same dark river twice,
Let it wash the sins away,
Is there time at hand,
And I know, it's a different world today,
And I know, to another God we pray,
And I know, we're in different worlds today.
Here I stand,
My philosophy held high,
Like a preacher in a foreign land.
And here we walk,
In the wilderness of sands,
With the prophet and the holy man.
Is there time at hand,
With so much to say?
And I know, it's a different world today,
And I know, to another God we pray,
And I know, we're in different worlds today,
And I know, it's a different world today.
They're burning the Book, they're burning the faith,
Our dream will be over,
Let's wake from the sleep, a legion we'll be,
To live forever.
I know I as wrong, I have to put it right,
I just can't let it slip away,
'Cause it's a different world today.
Different world, different world, different world today,
Is it a better world today?
The lyrics to Asia's song Different Worlds explore the theme of change and the impact it can have on society and individuals. The first verse highlights the ephemerality of time and the importance of making the most of it before it slips away. The metaphor of a river emphasizes the impermanence of life and how we should learn from our mistakes and let go of regrets.
In the second verse, the song touches upon the idea of cultural differences and how they can create a sense of foreignness and disconnection. The use of the phrase "wilderness of sands" evokes the image of a barren and desolate place, adding to the sense of isolation and estrangement. This is further emphasized by the mention of a prophet and a holy man, suggesting a strong religious overtone.
The chorus then brings in a more contemporary context with its mention of a different world today, implying a shift in values, beliefs, and attitudes. The lines "to another God we pray" suggest a schism of ideologies, pointing to the idea of a fractured society. The final verse adds a note of urgency and a call for action, with the burning of books and faiths symbolizing the destruction of culture and knowledge. The lyrics conclude with a sense of uncertainty, with the rhetorical question "Is it a better world today?".
Line by Line Meaning
Time and tide,
The passage of time and the forces of nature are fleeting and unstoppable.
Are the dreams that come and go,
Our aspirations and hopes for the future often fade away and are replaced with others.
They wait for no man on the shore.
These dreams and aspirations cannot be delayed or put on hold.
Should you step,
If you encounter adversity or failure,
In the same dark river twice,
If you make the same mistake twice,
Let it wash the sins away,
Allow the experience to cleanse your soul and move on from the past.
Is there time at hand,
Do we have enough time to achieve everything we want?
With so much to say?
With so much happening in the world, do we know what we should be focusing on?
And I know, it's a different world today,
The world we live in now is vastly different from previous generations.
And I know, to another God we pray,
People have different beliefs and religions that they follow and invoke for guidance or help.
And I know, we're in different worlds today.
There are multiple perspectives and experiences that exist in the world today.
Here I stand,
I am firm and resolute in my beliefs.
My philosophy held high,
I am proud and confident in my personal principles and values.
Like a preacher in a foreign land.
It can be difficult to express and share these beliefs when they are not widely accepted or understood.
And here we walk,
We tread a path forward through a challenged world.
In the wilderness of sands,
Through the uncharted and treacherous terrain of our changing society.
With the prophet and the holy man.
Guided by the teachings and wisdom of revered figures and institutions.
They're burning the Book, they're burning the faith,
There are forces that seek to destroy and erase our shared values and beliefs.
Our dream will be over,
If we do not protect and preserve these values, they will be lost forever.
Let's wake from the sleep, a legion we'll be,
We must unite and awaken from our apathy to overcome the forces of destruction.
To live forever.
To ensure that our shared values and ideals continue to endure and shape the world for generations to come.
I know I as wrong, I have to put it right,
I recognize my mistakes and need to make amends in order to move forward.
I just can't let it slip away,
I cannot allow my beliefs and values to be lost or forgotten.
'Cause it's a different world today.
The world we live in demands that we take action to defend and uphold what we believe in.
Different world, different world, different world today,
The world we live in now is vastly different from previous generations.
Is it a better world today?
Despite the challenges that exist, we must strive to ensure that the future is brighter and more hopeful than the past.
Contributed by Hailey L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@philippegoux4771
C'est un Best of d.asia absolument somptueux un des meilleurs pour moi
@pedrocordoba7247
Gran banda de rock clásico de los 80', a la que nunca le fue reconocido su gran mérito musical
@Radochio2
Sounds more awesome every time I play it..........
@galtiebernard3571
Very good one of my favorite of Downes Payne era
@readtheinstructions1407
Classic chord structure, one of my favorite, this song is very well written, orchestrated and sung.
@jmvm31
Payne's guitar sounds much like Steve Howe's pitch on this one. Payne is an incredibly talented musician
@philosopher2king
Whether from the Wetton or Payne eras, this is the most mature lyrics of any Asia song.
@besties4life1423
different world's is a beautiful song from asia we are living in a different world today yesterday was the best by far 70s to the 80s for me i feel sorry for the kids in today's world so sad ...
@Radochio2
You got that right.....we see these commercials asking us to help save music in schools today, but so many youth don't even know what real music is.....
@besties4life1423
+JohnMRadochio all the kids in today's world know is rap music today and the rest of the music is trash but they don't know any better so they say but they think that their music is cool ohhhhhh nooooooo it sucks van halen and led zeppelin and rock music is where it's at...