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.
Old Father Time
David Gray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spooling is breathened and blossomed in thought.
Mind in the head of this child of mine,
Now we're up dancing with old father time,
Raising our glasses to old father time.
Here in the Concords, there's fire in the brave.
They're not (Ain't no) protecting from me my day.
Now we're up dancing with old father time, passing the bottle around.
Poundin' the mother and pourin' in lime,
Plant stuck in the ground.
Now we're up dancing with old father time, old father time.
Behold the great city that went down the plague (a glint on the plain?).
Behold the great curtains that murmur in rage.
Blink your eyes once and it's grace land again.
Now we're up dancing with old father time, passing the bottle around.
Poundin' the mother and pourin' in lime,
The plant is stuck in the ground, now we're up dancing with old father time,
Old father time,
Old father time,
Old father time.
The song "Old Father Time" by David Gray has a melancholic tune that complements the reflective and nostalgic lyrics. The song starts with a reference to the day the child was born and how the future unfolds before our eyes as time passes. The words "Spooling his breathened and blossomed in thought" suggest that time is like a film reel with each moment unfolding one after the other, while we watch with wonder and amazement. The line "Mind in the head of this child of mine" hints at a parent's perspective as they watch their child grow and learn about the world. The song goes on to describe how time passes and how the world changes with it. The lines "Behold the great city that went down the plague" and "Behold the great curtains that murmur in rage" are both descriptions of different eras and events that have happened in human history. The lyrics encourage the listener to take a moment to reflect on the past and appreciate how miraculous it is that we are here, living in the present.
The chorus "Now we're up dancing with old father time, raising our glasses to old father time" is a call to celebrate time and acknowledge that it is limited. The line "If I were strong, if the lashes should shape" indicates that one can't control how time affects them, but can only try to make the most of it. The lines "Poundin' the mother and pourin' in lime, the plant is stuck in the ground" suggests that while life unfolds and changes, some things remain constant, like the earth beneath our feet. The song ends with the repetition of "old father time" as if to acknowledge that, no matter what happens, time continues to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Here at the gates, on the day you were born,
On the day you were born, as we stood at the gates of life, hope and possibility were spooling forth with each and every breath of fresh air that filled our lungs.
Spooling is breathened and blossomed in thought.
Our thoughts and emotions were blossoming in new and thrilling ways, energized by the potential of new life entering the world.
Mind in the head of this child of mine,
As a parent, my hopes and dreams are held within the mind of this child - the product of my own flesh and blood.
Now we're up dancing with old father time,
We are celebrating the passage of time and the memories we have built with the wisdom and experience we have gained over the years.
Raising our glasses to old father time.
We are toasting the many experiences and lessons we have learned over the years, and the sense of gratitude we feel for each and every day we have been given.
Here in the Concords, there's fire in the brave.
In the midst of conflict and adversity, courage and bravery can be found if we look for it.
They're not (Ain't no) protecting from me my day.
We are not held back by fear or hesitation - we are embracing the potential of the present moment and seizing our day with fierce determination.
If I were strong, if the lashes should shape,
Even when we face adversity or difficult circumstances, we can be made stronger by the trials and tribulations we endure. We can shape our own destinies through our grit and determination.
Now we're up dancing with old father time, passing the bottle around.
As we celebrate the passage of time and the growth we have undergone as individuals, we are sharing our joy and gratitude with those around us.
Poundin' the mother and pourin' in lime,
We are rejoicing and reveling in life, living each day to its fullest by investing ourselves wholeheartedly in its joys and pleasures.
Plant stuck in the ground.
Despite the limitations and struggles we may face, we remain rooted and grounded in our sense of purpose, striving ever onward towards our goals and aspirations.
Now we're up dancing with old father time, old father time.
As we dance and celebrate our lives, we are acutely aware of the fleeting nature of time - and the need to embrace each and every day with open arms and a grateful heart.
Behold the great city that went down the plague (a glint on the plain?).
Reflecting on the events of the past, we can see both the beauty and the tragedy of life - and the ways in which adversity can strike suddenly and without warning.
Behold the great curtains that murmur in rage.
Even in moments of tension and turmoil, there is always the promise of hope and renewal - the sense that life is always in a state of flux and evolution.
Blink your eyes once and it's grace land again.
Life can change in the blink of an eye - but in every new chapter, there is the possibility of a fresh start and a renewed sense of purpose and joy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID GRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind