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).
The Prophet
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Holy Grail, the bloodline son
In his veins the answer comes
The Promised Land, Parisian
We sail today
Into the sun
To the place where life begun
Into the soul
Tell Mother Earth to conquer all
Their temple stones will point the way
They kept their secret to the grave
A final journey he must run
The Promised Land, Parisian
We sail today
Into the sun
To the place where life begun
From the sea
Into the soul
Tell Mother Earth to conquer all
The lyrics from Asia's "The Prophet" paint the picture of a man who is seeking his identity and wanting to know his true origins. He is in search of the truth that reveals who he really is - the Holy Grail, the bloodline son. He finally discovers that the answer to his ancestry lies within him as it runs in his veins. The Promised Land refers to a celestial-like place that he hails from, which is believed to be Parisian.
The song encourages listeners to embark on a journey to find our true selves, much like the singer. The lyrics urge us to look back at our origins and to take pride in our heritage. They also remind us to conquer all and to be a force to be reckoned with. The phrase, "From the sea into the soul," exhibits a message of transformation, implying that we must go deep into our souls to find the answers we seek.
Line by Line Meaning
He often wondered where he's from
The singer frequently ponders about his ancestry and place of origin
The Holy Grail, the bloodline son
He may have descended from an important figure, perhaps even Jesus Christ himself, as suggested by his bloodline being associated with the Holy Grail
In his veins the answer comes
Clues about his ancestry may be revealed through his blood or DNA
The Promised Land, Parisian
The location of his ancestors' Promised Land may be Paris or Parisian in nature
We sail today
The artist embarks on a journey
Into the sun
His journey takes him towards enlightenment, symbolized by the sun
To the place where life begun
He travels to the beginning, possibly the ancient land where his ancestors originated
From the sea
His journey begins from the sea, portraying a sense of vastness and unknown possibilities
Into the soul
His journey is not just physical, but also spiritual, as he seeks to discover himself and his true identity
Tell Mother Earth to conquer all
He calls upon the power of nature and the Earth to help him uncover the truth and overcome any obstacles on his path
Their temple stones will point the way
He may need to follow ancient clues left behind by his ancestors in the form of temple stones to reach his destination
They kept their secret to the grave
His forefathers have guarded their secrets closely and taken them to their graves
A final journey he must run
The singer must complete his journey, which may be his last chance to unravel the mystery of his ancestry
The Promised Land, Parisian
Repeating the line emphasizes the importance of Parisian as the location of his Promised Land
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GEOFF DOWNES, JOHN TIMOTHY PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind