1) a Br… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists by the name of David Gray, including:
1) a British singer-songwriter
2) an Italian disco musician
3) an American singer-songwriter
4) drummer for the British blackened death metal band Akercocke
5) a musician from South Africa
6) a British classical hornist
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1) David Gray is a British singer-songwriter born on June 13, 1968 in Sale, United Kingdom. He released his first studio album in 1993 and received worldwide attention after the release of White Ladder six years later in 1999.
Gray moved to Wales at age 9 and later returned to the north-west of England to attend the University of Liverpool. His musical career got early support from a dedicated Irish fan base. After a few marginally-successful releases through the 1990s, Gray's breakthrough came with the worldwide release in 1999 of his fourth album, White Ladder; this was a critical and commercial success and included his best-known songs, "This Years Love" and "Babylon". In the United States, the album received a boost from jam-band leader Dave Matthews, who made it the first release by the record company he co-founded, ATO Records.
On August 11, 2001 White Ladder at last reached the top of the UK charts, having been selling steadily since its reissue the previous May, thereby setting a new record for the longest uninterrupted climb to No. 1. The follow-up, A New Day At Midnight, also hit No. 1, and Gray's seventh album, Life in Slow Motion was released on September 12, 2005.
Gray's early music was in a contemporary folk-rock, singer-songwriter mode; his primary instrument was acoustic guitar, with occasional piano. 1996's Sell Sell Sell featured some rock arrangements and electric instrumentation. Starting with the release of White Ladder in 1999, Gray began to make significant use of computer-generated music to accompany his voice and acoustic instrumentation, a technique which differentiates him from many of his peers. Despite the move to more complex music, Gray has used small-scale, often home-based, recording methods and equipment and espoused a "do it yourself" approach to music production. However, Life in Slow Motion is a collaboration with noted producer Marius De Vries.
David Gray's brothers-in-law are Paul and Phillip Hartnoll, formerly of the Techno/Rave band Orbital. Because of this relationship, Gray performed guest vocals on the Orbital single Illuminate, while Paul Hartnoll produced a breakbeat remix of Gray's song "Please Forgive Me".
His successful single "January Rain" was included in the original soundtrack of the movie Serendipity, starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.
Pictures and additional information can be found on his website, www.DavidGray.com.
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2) David Gray was an Italian disco musician who had a hit with "Dead in the Water"
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3) David Gray is an American singer-songwriter
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4) David Gray is drummer for the British blackened death metal band Akercocke
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5) David Gray is a musician from South Africa
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6) British classical hornist, originally from London, England, UK, residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Studied at the Curtis Institute Of Music. Former Principal Horn with The London Symphony Orchestra (1964-1972). Member of The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.
First Chance
David Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the atmosphere
Like a honking flock of geese
Winter drawing near
As the fabric comes unstitched
Hearts and minds and eyes bewitched
Standing watching for the smoke to clear
First chance I get I'm gone
Noah had his ark
All I got's a haystack needle
Stabbing in the dark
Anguished cries and old footfalls
Permeate these paper walls
Need some action all you get is talk
First chance I get
I'm gone I'm outta here
First chance I get
I'm gone I'm outta here
Here's one for the boys back home yeah
Here's one for your spokes
A little taste of victory
To send back to your folks
Here's one for the fireside
The grinning groom the blushing bride
Come and feast your eyes upon the hoax
First chance I get
I'm gone I'm outta here
First chance I get
I'm gone I'm outta here
Over Lake Superior
And the Arctic Sea
Through the dark interior
The stolen territory
Want it with the cream on top
One more lifetime swallowed up
He'll be back yeah just you wait and see
First chance I get
I'm gone I'm outta here
First chance I get
I'm gone I'm outta here
First chance
First chance
I'm outta here
First chance
First chance
I'm outta here
And it's a long way back
From where you are
And it's a long way back
From where you are
And it's a long way back
From where you are
It's a long
It's a long
It's a long
The song "First Chance" by David Gray is a metaphorical exploration of escape and the desire to break free from the constraints of daily life. Gray uses imagery from nature, such as birds and geese, to symbolize the yearning for liberation. He sings of hearts, minds, and eyes being bewitched as the fabric comes unstitched, indicating that a change is imminent. The repeated phrase "first chance I get" emphasizes the urgency to escape as soon as the opportunity arises. The verse about Moses and Noah serves to contrast the singer's situation with those of historical figures who had supernatural means of escape. The singer's predicament is more relatable, as he has "all he's got" in the form of a needle in a haystack.
In the second verse, Gray further explores the singer's sense of entrapment. Paper walls cannot keep out the anguished cries and old footfalls that permeate the atmosphere. Action is what he craves, but all he gets is talk. The third verse sees the singer sending a little taste of victory back to his folks, likely indicating he is in some sort of conflict or battle. However, the "victory" is a hoax, meant to entertain and distract rather than bring real relief. Finally, the song ends with the singer contemplating the long, arduous journey ahead of him as he seeks escape.
Overall, First Chance is a song about frustration and the desire for liberty, expressed through metaphorical language and vivid imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a bird upon release
Just like a bird freed from its cage
Through the atmosphere
Flying through the air
Like a honking flock of geese
Similar to a flock of geese flying south
Winter drawing near
Winter is approaching
As the fabric comes unstitched
As things start to fall apart
Hearts and minds and eyes bewitched
Emotions, thoughts, and senses captivated
Standing watching for the smoke to clear
Waiting for the dust to settle and things to become clear
First chance I get I'm gone
The first opportunity I have, I will leave
Moses had his tablets yeah
Moses had the Ten Commandments
Noah had his ark
Noah had the ark to save the animals from the flood
All I got's a haystack needle
All I have is something small and difficult to find
Stabbing in the dark
Attempting to achieve something without much guidance
Anguished cries and old footfalls
Sounds of pain and old steps
Permeate these paper walls
Penetrating through flimsy barriers
Need some action all you get is talk
Craving activity but only receiving empty words
Here's one for the boys back home yeah
This is a gesture for those back home
Here's one for your spokes
This is something to promote your reputation
A little taste of victory
A small moment of triumph
To send back to your folks
To share with your family and friends back home
Here's one for the fireside
This is something to enjoy in the comfort of your home
The grinning groom the blushing bride
The happy newlyweds
Come and feast your eyes upon the hoax
Come see the deception for yourself
Over Lake Superior
Above the largest freshwater lake in the world
And the Arctic Sea
Above the frigid, northern sea
Through the dark interior
Across the unknown, shadowy land
The stolen territory
The land taken without permission
Want it with the cream on top
Want it to be the best possible outcome
One more lifetime swallowed up
One more life gone or wasted
He'll be back yeah just you wait and see
He will return eventually
I'm outta here
I'm leaving
And it's a long way back
It's a long distance to return
From where you are
From wherever you currently stand
It's a long
The journey is extensive
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: David Gray, Keith Prior
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adam Selvey
This song got me through one of the darkest times of my life. I played it as I drove off the military base for the last time.
Just Be
Adam Selvey Endless Blessings towards you~
delboy denmark
Superb song, one of his best songs.
misnatu82
amazing song!
g Stevens
Such a visional song
Jasmine
I like his voice
Jasmine
well done
Jasmine
very well, song love
Gary Heart of Arts
First chance I get I am right behind you Out of Here Into into
Ítala Mayara Fernandes
Br ❤️