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.
Never Ending Happening
Bill Fay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of what's to be and what has been
Just to be a part of it Is astonishing to me
The never ending happening
Of waves crashing against the cliffs
The falling seed the wind carries
The never ending happening
Souls arriving constantly
Birds and bees and butterflies
Parade before my eyes
The never ending happening
Of the four winds changing direction
Nightfall stars sun rise again
Birdsong before the day begins
For some it's like tight-rope walkin'
Blind-folded and shaking
On either side fear and pain
For some it's like tight-rope walking
The never ending happening
Of war evermore and sore famine
Yearning for the day to be
When God will roll his stone away
The never ending happening
Of what 's to be and what has been
Just to be a part of it
Is astonishing to me
The song “The Never Ending Happening” by Bill Fay is a contemplative piece that delves into the intricacies and beauty of life. The lyrics speak of a never-ending cycle that encapsulates what has been, what is, and what is yet to come. The song talks about the breathtaking phenomenon that is life – the waves crashing, the falling seed carried by the wind, and the arrival of souls on the shores of eternity. Fay is highlighting the significance of every aspect of life, both big and small, and how they are all connected in an incredible way. He recognizes that being a part of this never-ending happening is staggering and leaves one in wonder.
The song also acknowledges the darker aspects of life, such as war, famine, fear, and pain. Fay admits that life can be like tightrope walking, with fear and pain on either side. However, he also holds hope that one day God will roll away the metaphorical stone, and these negative aspects will disappear. The song is a reminder to appreciate the beauty of life, but also to acknowledge the hardships and hold onto the hope of a better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
The never ending happening
The constant flow of events and changes in the world
Of what's to be and what has been
The past and future, as well as the present
Just to be a part of it Is astonishing to me
Being alive and experiencing these events is awe-inspiring to the songwriter
Of waves crashing against the cliffs
The unending power of the natural world, represented by the ocean
The falling seed the wind carries
The cycles of life, growth, and renewal in the natural world
Souls arriving constantly
The never-ending cycle of birth and death, and the spiritual aspects of existence
From the shores of eternity
The idea that souls come from and return to a timeless, infinite realm
Birds and bees and butterflies Parade before my eyes
The beauty and diversity of nature, and the constant displays of life around us
Of the four winds changing direction
The ever-changing state of the elements and weather, which affect our lives
Nightfall stars sun rise again
The cycles of the day and night, and the celestial bodies that mark them
Birdsong before the day begins
The natural sounds that signal the start of each new day
For some it's like tight-rope walkin' Blind-folded and shaking On either side fear and pain
Some people struggle to navigate through life's challenges, which can be daunting and fraught with emotion
Of war evermore and sore famine
The persistent hardship and conflict that humans face, despite our best efforts
Yearning for the day to be When God will roll his stone away
The hope and belief in a time when suffering and sorrow will be lifted, and a new era of peace will begin
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeffers5
I have the rare honour of knowing Bill as my dearest friend for 42 years. I lived next door to Bill when I was 14 years old. I am now 56........ He always rings me at Christmas time and we share our thoughts on things to come...........and the days of old long since gone Bill is a modern day prophet....... Just listen to...."Time of the last persecution" I hear you calling 1971......... Bill would invite me into his sitting room with his very old upright piano We would eat toast ............
@SimonMordue
He is a beautiful soul
@andreyking2062
Liar
@ravin2363
Wow. Such an honor to be part of his life. I am sure you sir are great in your life too. The art attracts me very much, hence it is once a kind of opportunity for someone like me. I too compose songs, I am still young and would start making recordings my own songs sometime in future. He is such an inspiration. A rare rare opportunity.
@odedfried-gaon2880
wow you are lucky!
@richardday5015
Blessed you are ✨🙏🏽✨
@user-yo6zs7hn2c
Hiya Bill, I just wanted to say your music has help me threw lifes ups & downs .I still see Alan Ruston who I will always support.my dear friend for 40years. God bless you & Yr wife. S.❤
@IamSpartacus1984
Just seen on Jools too. Blew me away. One of the most beautiful and powerful songs i`ve ever heard. Made me cry. How this man never became a household name before now is astonishing to me. So much Talent. His voice reminds me very much of David Gray and Neil Diamond. Both huge international stars in their own right. I can see the 13,000 watch count go up massively after this. Brilliant. Good on ya Bill.
@sulista-consulting
Touching music, love from Czechia!
@starm1950
Just absolute quality. I have never heard such pain but such sweetness.. I am in awe