Signing to the now-legendary Sarah Records, the group issued its debut single "Around the World in Eighty Days" in August 1989, followed in February by "Noah's Ark". Absent a flexi-disc release, "Next Summer", Brighter wasn't heard from again until late 1991, when they issued the full-length Laurel; the EP Disney followed in October 1992, and was the trio's swan song.
Howard and Sharkey later reunited in the short-lived electro-pop project Hal before going their separate ways; Howard then went on to lead Harper Lee and play bass with the Trembling Blue Stars, while Sharkey co-founded Fosca in addition to pursuing a solo project, Pinkie. Alison, meanwhile, went on to teach media studies at a sixth-form college in Hove.
They broke our hearts from 1989 to 1993 while quietly attaining the "best band on Sarah Records" award.
Out To Sea
Brighter Lyrics
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The fish look up at me
For once, I feel alone
The waves, they cover me
They're drenching all my heart
Plenty deep into my soul
I think I may drown
From these cliffs, I float
I'm tumbling like a fool
Children stand and smile
When you're drifting further out,
The more you hear their shouts
For once, you might escape
I think I may drown
I think I may drown
I'm slipping down and down
I think I may drown
La-la-la...
In Brighter's song Out to Sea, the lyrics depict the feeling of being lost and alone. The singer is swimming out to sea, and the fish look up at them, adding to the sensation of being isolated. As the waves cover the singer, they feel as if they are drowning, which symbolizes the overwhelming sensation of feeling lost and helpless. The lyrics are powerful, and the metaphors in the song create a feeling of being trapped, and the only way to escape is to allow oneself to "drown," as the last lines in the song suggest.
The lyrics of Out to Sea speak to the universal human experience of feeling alone and lost. The song doesn't have a particular storyline in mind, but rather, the lyrics describe the feeling of drowning in one's own thoughts, and the inability to escape them. The children's shouts on the shore in the song represent a distraction to the singer, something that can be grounding or provide comfort in times of confusion, but ultimately, it is up to the individual to let go and allow oneself to be consumed by the waves.
Overall, the song presents a sense of defeat without necessarily being negative. The lyrics are an expression of one's internal conflict and can serve as a way to find comfort in knowing that others experience the same feelings of drowning in their own thoughts.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm swimming out to sea
I am venturing out to the ocean, away from land and towards the unknown.
The fish look up at me
The aquatic creatures in the sea are gazing upwards at me, possibly in curiosity or amazement.
For once, I feel alone
In this moment, I experience a sense of loneliness, a feeling which is uncommon for me.
The waves, they cover me
The water surges over my body, enveloping me with its power and strength.
They're drenching all my heart
The waves are seeping into the core of my being, soaking me with a sense of emotion and sensation.
Plenty deep into my soul
The sensations from the ocean's waves are penetrating deep within my innermost self, affecting my psyche.
I think I may drown
I'm starting to have doubts about my ability to stay afloat; fear and uncertainty start to take hold.
From these cliffs, I float
I am floating away from the rocky cliffs, perhaps towards an unknown destination.
I'm tumbling like a fool
I'm ungracefully and clumsily tossed and turned by the waves, feeling foolish and unstable.
Children stand and smile
Kids are looking at me, grinning exuberantly as I float out to sea, possibly oblivious to the dangers.
When you're drifting further out,
As you move farther from shore, where you're from and what you know, the distance can bring on a sense of separation and isolation.
The more you hear their shouts
The more you are bombarded with the calls, cheers, and encouragements of people still on land, the more you yearn to escape and find your own way.
For once, you might escape
Temporarily moving away from civilization, norms, and expectations, you feel that you might be really free and unfettered in this moment.
I'm slipping down and down
My descent into the sea feels more and more inevitable, slipping into a dark and uncertain abyss.
I think I may drown
The fear and sense of powerlessness grows, the possibility of drowning becoming more and more real.
La-la-la...
This bit of melody may convey a sense of preoccupation or resignation, reflecting the character's state of mind.
Contributed by Adrian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.