Fay began w… Read Full Bio ↴Bill Fay is a singer-songwriter and pianist from London.
Fay began writing songs in the early 1960s while attending university and in 1966 cut a demo using a mobile studio belonging to a man named John Boden. Impressed by the demo, ex-Them drummer Terry Noon helped Bill to sign a recording contract with Decca. In 1967 the label released the single "Some Good Advice"/"Screams in the Ears", produced by early Donovan co-manager Peter Eden. The single "introduced [Fay's] characteristic downbeat melodies and scrambled impressionistic lyrics", according to allmusic reviewer Richie Unterberger. The self-titled Bill Fay was released in 1970 and was followed by Time Of The Last Persecution in 1971. Neither records sold well and Decca decided to end Bill’s contract shortly after the release of Time Of The Last Persecution.
Bill had returned to the studio in the late 70s, but these sessions weren't released until January 2005 through Durtro/Jnana records as Tomorrow Tomorrow and Tomorrow under the moniker of the Bill Fay Group. In 2004 Wooden Hill records released From the Bottom of an Old Grandfather Clock, a collection of demos recorded between 1966 and 1970, plus one song recorded in 2000.
Bill has since contributed "It's the Small Things Now" to the Not Alone charity compilation and "Pear Tree Tomorrow" to Bill Fay Group guitarist Gary Smith's Supertexture project.
American band Wilco have played Fay's song "Be Not So Fearful" in live performances and the band's singer Jeff Tweedy can be heard singing it in the documentary "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart: A Film About Wilco". Fay joined the band onstage for the rendition of the song at a show at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London in 2007. A cover version of Fay's "Pictures of Adolf Again" by producer and musician Jim O'Rourke and Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche can be heard in the movie from Koji Wakamatsu "United Red Army". The track "Time of the Last Persecution" became a live standard of British Apocalyptic Folk group Current 93.
A double album entitled Still Some Light was released on the Coptic Cat label in 2010. The first CD, ‘PIANO, GUITAR, BASS & DRUMS 1970–71’, consists of studio recordings sourced from archival 7 ½" tapes and cassette from 1970 and 1971, with Ray Russell on guitar, Alan Rushton on drums and Daryl Runswick on bass. The 1970 tracks are prior to the recording of Time Of The Last Persecution, and contain alternative versions of songs on that album, two tracks from Bill's first album Bill Fay as well as previously unreleased songs. There are also previously unreleased songs from 1971. The second CD, Still Some Light, is a home-recorded studio album from 2009.
NPR’s show 'All Songs Considered' premiered Bill Fay’s new single, The Neverending Happening on June 26, 2012.
Bill Fay's new album Life Is People was released on August 21, 2012 on Dead Oceans. It featured guitarist Matt Deighton (Oasis, Paul Weller, Mother Earth), drummer Tim Weller (Will Young, Noel Gallagher, Goldfrapp), and keyboardist Mikey Rowe (High Flying Birds, Stevie Nicks, etc). In addition, Bill is reunited on several tracks with Ray Russell and drummer Alan Rushton, who played on Time Of The Last Persecution.
Camille
Bill Fay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody who watched had so much to say
Looking at the ground she hid her face
Still refusing to scream out her hate
She was everybody's private property
You could read their minds "she belongs to me"
They would speak of her so jealously
It was oh so clear to see
And they all would boast, "oh yes, I know her well"
And her every thought they all could tell
But all they did the day she fell
Was shout the louder still
The lyrics of Bill Fay’s song Camille tell the story of a young woman who is taken away while people around her watch and comment. The first verse describes how someone comes to take Camille away and everyone around her has something to say about it. Despite this, Camille looks down and hides her face, refusing to scream her hate. Fay’s usage of the word “hate” implies that the reasons for her being taken away are potentially connected to something she does not agree with or that upsets her, but she is choosing not to express these feelings at this moment.
The second verse gives some context to the situation by describing Camille as everyone’s “private property”. People talk about her, claiming ownership and possession over her. They are jealous of her, and it is clear to see that they care more about their relationship with her rather than her actual wellbeing. They boast about knowing her well and being able to read her thoughts, yet when she falls, they simply shout louder instead of helping her.
This song explores themes of entitlement, possession, and the value placed on others by society. It speaks to the idea that we often care more about what others can do for us rather than their personal happiness and wellbeing. The song is a sharp critique of a society that treats individuals as objects, and encourages readers to see people as individuals with their own experiences, emotions, and stories to be told.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone came and took Camille away today
Camille was taken away by someone, and everyone who saw had something to say about it.
Everybody who watched had so much to say
People who saw Camille being taken away had plenty of opinions about it.
Looking at the ground she hid her face
Camille was embarrassed and ashamed, and tried to hide her face by looking at the ground.
Still refusing to scream out her hate
Even though Camille was upset, she didn't resort to screaming out of anger or frustration.
She was everybody's private property
Camille was objectified and treated like she belonged to everyone.
You could read their minds 'she belongs to me'
Others felt like they owned Camille and could control her.
They would speak of her so jealously
People talked about Camille with envy, as if they wanted to possess her.
It was oh so clear to see
The way people treated Camille was obvious and noticeable.
And they all would boast, 'oh yes, I know her well'
People claimed to know Camille intimately, even if they didn't truly understand her.
And her every thought they all could tell
Others thought they knew everything about Camille, including her innermost thoughts and feelings.
But all they did the day she fell
When Camille was struggling, others didn't actually help her.
Was shout the louder still
Instead of offering support or understanding, people just made their voices louder.
Contributed by Hunter S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.