Jas Mann had formerly been in an indie music band, called The Sandkings, which he left in 1992, because of musical differences.
Babylon Zoo was signed to Phonogram Records after A&R rep Clive Black heard their first three-track demo tape in May 1993. When Black moved to Warner Bros. Records in 1993, he took Mann's contract with him. An album had been prepared and sleeves for a single, "Fire Guided Light", were printed, but Babylon Zoo's debut was put on hold again when Black moved once more to EMI in 1995, where the band were signed on to a seven-album contract.
However, promotional copies of the song "Spaceman" had already been distributed, and chosen to tie in with the release of a new Levi's jeans TV advert. The single went straight to Number 1 on the UK singles chart and also went to Number 1 in the single charts in twenty-three countries.
An album entitled The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes was produced at Mann's New Atlantis Productions music/artwork/video centre. It was released in 1996 and included new-age tracks such as "Is Your Soul for Sale?" and "I'm Cracking Up I Need a Pill". It debuted at #6 on the album charts and reached the Top 20 in 17 countries, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
In 1997, Jas Mann was lampooned on the channel 4 TV series, Brass Eye.
Three years later, in 1999, a follow-up album was released entitled King Kong Groover, but Mann decided not to promote the album as he was not getting support from his label EMI since the departure of the man who had signed him, Clive Black. Mann subsequently decided to move to India and work for an aid agency.
Years active 1992–2000
Fire Guided Light
Babylon Zoo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think you're going to die.
We're sitting on the edge
Of a coffee coloured crowd.
Like strangers in the night
Dance of fire guided light.
And I think you're going to die.
And I think we're going to die.
Don't give me crap.
We're gonna change,
We're gonna change.
Don't give me crap.
We're gonna change,
We're gonna change.
There's something in the sky,
I think you're going to die.
We're sitting on the edge
Of a coffee coloured crowd.
Like strangers in the night.
I believe you.
Dance with fire guided light.
I believe you.
And I think we're going to die.
I believe you.
And I think you're going to die.
I believe you.
Don't give me crap.
We're gonna change.
We're gonna change.
Don't give me crap.
We're gonna change.
We're gonna change.
There's something in my eye,
I think I am going to die.
Like strangers in the night.
I believe you.
Dance with fire guided light.
I believe you.
And I think you're going to die.
I believe you.
And I think we're going to die.
I believe you.
Don't give me crap.
We're gonna change
We're gonna change
Don't give me crap
We're gonna change
We're gonna change
Don't give me crap
We're gonna change
We're gonna change
Don't give me crap
We're gonna change
We're gonna change
The lyrics of "Fire Guided Light" by Babylon Zoo depict a sense of unease and impending doom. The singer contemplates the possibility of death and an existential threat that seems to be coming from the sky. The notion of a "coffee coloured crowd" implies a gathering of people who are seemingly uniform, perhaps indicating a lack of individuality and the idea that everyone is moving in the same direction towards their supposed fate. The lyrics also suggest a desire for change, but an ambiguous sense of how it might be achieved or what it may entail. The repeated refrain of "Don't give me crap, we're gonna change" could be interpreted as a call to action or a plea for some kind of solution.
The imagery in the song is vivid and striking, with phrases like "dance of fire guided light" conjuring up an otherworldly scene. The repeated use of the phrase "I believe you" suggests a sense of trust and vulnerability, possibly indicative of a search for answers and guidance during a time of crisis. Overall, the lyrics of "Fire Guided Light" are open to interpretation, but convey a sense of fear, anxiety, and a call for change.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something in the sky,
The singer is seeing something ominous in the sky.
I think you're going to die.
The singer believes that someone is going to die as a result of what they are seeing.
We're sitting on the edge
The singer is in a precarious situation.
Of a coffee coloured crowd.
The artist is surrounded by a large, homogeneous group of people.
Like strangers in the night
The artist and the others in the crowd are unknown to each other and possibly disconnected.
Dance of fire guided light.
The strange and unknown phenomenon the singer is seeing seems to involve dancing or movement of some sort, with fire or light involved.
And I think you're going to die.
The singer reiterates that they believe someone will die as a result of what they are experiencing.
And I think we're going to die.
The artist includes themselves in the possibility of death.
Don't give me crap.
The artist is demanding honesty and sincerity.
We're gonna change,
The artist is optimistic that things can be different.
There's something in my eye,
The singer is experiencing a personal physical discomfort.
I think I am going to die.
The artist fears that their discomfort could be something serious.
I believe you.
The singer is relying on someone else for guidance or reassurance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JASBINDER MANN SINGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind