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.
Tell It Like It Is
Bill Fay Lyrics
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Peace be in your jack and in your blade
And peace be in your Sunday picnic
And your old school friends who've passed away
But tell it like it is
Tell it like it is
Tell it like it is
Peace be in your sight and in your seeing
Peace be in their bikes and in their door keys
And peace be in your team losing
And in your dustbin that blew away
But tell it like it is
Tell it like it is
Tell it like it is
The lyrics of Bill Fay's song "Tell It Like It Is" offer a message of peace and acceptance, even in the unexpected, difficult moments of life. The opening lines of the song speak of peace being present in every breath and every action, from the mundane tasks of using a jack or a blade to the more sentimental memories of old school friends who have passed away. The repetition of "peace be" emphasizes the theme of seeking peace and positivity in all aspects of life, even those that may seem insignificant.
The chorus of the song, which simply states "tell it like it is" three times, offers a powerful contrast to the peaceful verses. This may be interpreted as a call to honesty, to speaking the truth even when it is uncomfortable or difficult. That truth may include acknowledging the less desirable aspects of life, such as losing a game or having a tragic event happen, as expressed in the lines that speak of "their bikes and in their door keys" and "your dustbin that blew away." The juxtaposition of seeking peace and acknowledging the harsh realities of life creates a complex and thought-provoking message.
Overall, "Tell It Like It Is" offers a balanced perspective on life, encouraging listeners to strive for inner peace while also recognizing and accepting the difficulties that may arise. Through its simple yet poignant lyrics, the song presents a message that can resonate with anyone seeking to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Peace be in your breath and in your sighing
May you find peace in your every breath and in your deepest emotions
Peace be in your jack and in your blade
May peace be with you in every tool or weapon you possess
And peace be in your Sunday picnic
May peace be part of your leisure time and relaxation
And your old school friends who've passed away
May peace be with you as you remember your friends who are no longer with you
But tell it like it is
Despite wishing for peace, be honest and truthful in your words and actions
Peace be in your sight and in your seeing
May you find peace in everything you perceive and observe
Peace be in their bikes and in their door keys
May even the possessions of others bring them peace
And peace be in your team losing
May you still find peace and acceptance even in the face of disappointment, defeat or failure
And in your dustbin that blew away
May you find peace in small things, even if they disappear or go astray
But tell it like it is
Repeat this message of honesty and truthfulness
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, M. JONES PUBLISHING CO. , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WAYNE SHORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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