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).
Military Man
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nowhere left to run
My ammunition's out
I'd better put down my gun
And as I face this life of fear
I'd better keep my conscience clear
Inside my mind I'm out of it
[Chorus]
So don't come running here to find me
'Cause I'm a military man
And as I spin this wheel of fortune
In my military world
I'm a military man
The architects of time
Are calling me
But I don't believe it
Necessarily
And as I face this life of fear
Break the chains
That bind me here
Inside my head I'm out of it
But I'm still never coming back
[Chorus]
I'm a military man
Just a military man yes I am
The song "Military Man" by Asia tells the story of a soldier who has been through the horrors of war and is now facing the aftermath, haunted by the memories and struggling to adjust to civilian life. The first verse speaks about the end of the fighting and the realization that there is no escape from the past. The soldier expresses his inner turmoil, admitting that he is out of his mind and unable to return to normalcy. He knows that he must keep his conscience clear and find a way to cope, but he can't help feeling lost and trapped.
The chorus describes the soldier as a military man, spinning the wheel of fortune in his own world. He is part of a larger system and doesn't feel fully in control of his own fate. The architects of time are calling him, but he is skeptical and unsure if he can trust them. The repetition of the phrase "military man" emphasizes the soldier's identity and his feeling of being defined by his experience in the military. The last verse speaks of breaking the chains that bind him and his determination to move forward, but also acknowledges that he may never fully leave the trauma behind.
Overall, the song is a poignant portrayal of the psychological toll of warfare and the struggles that soldiers face when trying to reintegrate into civilian life. It highlights the importance of providing support and resources to veterans who often suffer from PTSD and other mental health issues.
Line by Line Meaning
The fighting's over now
The character is not currently in active combat
There's nowhere left to run
The character is trapped and unable to escape their current situation
My ammunition's out
The character has no means of continued violent action
I'd better put down my gun
The character must accept that violence is not the solution
And as I face this life of fear
The character is afraid of what the future holds
I'd better keep my conscience clear
The character wants to ensure that they have not done anything to regret
Inside my mind I'm out of it
The character is mentally withdrawn from their situation
And I ain't never coming back
The character has permanently changed their perspective and will not return to their old ways
So don't come running here to find me
The character does not want to be found, likely due to a desire for solitude or safety
'Cause I'm a military man
The character, although out of combat, identifies with the military way of life
And as I spin this wheel of fortune
The character sees their future as unpredictable or risky
In my military world
The character's perspective is shaped by their experience serving in the military
The architects of time
Unknown entities or forces that are believed to be controlling the character's fate
Are calling me
The character feels as though they are being summoned
But I don't believe it
The character rejects the idea of fate or destiny
Necessarily
This word is used to imply that the character is open to the possibility of fate or destiny, but is not convinced
Break the chains
The character desires to escape from their current situation or mindset
That bind me here
The character feels trapped or restricted where they are
But I'm still never coming back
The character has made a permanent change and will not return to their old ways
Just a military man yes I am
The character identifies with their military experience and sees it as defining their identity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GEOFF DOWNES, JOHN TIMOTHY PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@fredericadda
What a line up!
@JosemarFerrari
Sensacional!!
@marcelopepinho
Chris Slade on the drums???
@yunggosha
Yessir
@user-jj6kp7cj4y
А чего?... Не знал??.. Внимательнее отнесись к музыкальному наследию..