By the time of their debut album, 1980's Crocodiles - a moderate UK hit - the drum machine had been replaced by Pete de Freitas. Their next, the critically-acclaimed Heaven Up Here, reached the Top Ten in 1981, as did 1983's Porcupine and '84's Ocean Rain. Singles like "The Killing Moon" (later used in the soundtrack to Donnie Darko, a film whose imagery owed much to the artwork of the band's early records.), "Silver," "Bring on the Dancing Horses," and "The Cutter" helped keep the group in the public eye as they took a brief hiatus in the late 1980s. Their 1987 self-titled LP was a small American hit, their only LP to have significant sales there.
McCulloch quit the band in 1988. De Freitas was killed in a motorcycle accident one year later. The others decided to continue, recruiting Noel Burke to replace McCulloch on vocals in Reverberation (1990), which did not generate much excitement among fans or critics. Burke, Sargeant and Pattinson split after that, but the surviving three fourths of the original band reformed in 1997 and released Evergreen (1997), What are You Going to Do with Your Life? (1999), Flowers (2001) , Siberia (2005), and the latest addition, The Fountain (2009). The group's old audience liked the return to their classic sound, and they also managed to gain a number of new, younger listeners.
Echo and the Bunnymen were managed early on by Bill Drummond, who went on to be a founder member of The KLF.
I'll Fly Tonight
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna lie you down
I'm gonna be the king of kings
You're gonna rise above
All of the other stuff
You'll be the queen of everything
Nothing's gonna be the same
Nothing's gonna be the same
I'll fly tonight
Into your light
I'm gonna mess you up
I'm gonna let you down
I'm gonna cut you to the bone
You're gonna lose your nerve
You're gonna learn to hate
You'll have a life you've never known
Nothing's ever gonna change
Nothing's ever gonna change
I'll fly tonight
I'll fly tonight
Into your light
I'll fly tonight
I'll fly tonight
Into your light
If I should fall
From such great height
Will be I be caught
Mid-flight
If I should steer
As far and wide
Will you be near
When I go wrong
I'm gonna lift you up
I'm gonna lie you down
I'm gonna be the king of kings
Nothing's gonna be the same
Nothing's ever gonna change
I'll fly tonight
I'll fly tonight
Into you light
If I should steer
As far and wide
Will you be near
When I go wrong
When I go wrong
When I go wrong
When I go wrong
Will I go wrong
Will I go wrong
The lyrics to "I'll Fly Tonight" by Echo & the Bunnymen express a mixture of devotion, power, and destruction. The song's opening lines suggest that the singer plans to elevate someone, likely a lover, to a position of higher status. However, the following lines imply a sinister intent, with the singer stating that they will also bring their love interest down and hurt them. While the second verse also alludes to destruction and negativity, the final lines express a sense of vulnerability and fear, as the singer questions if their love interest will support them if they make mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna lift you up
I will raise you up and support you.
I'm gonna lie you down
I will lay you down gently and take care of you.
I'm gonna be the king of kings
I will be the best and most powerful ruler.
You're gonna rise above
You will overcome obstacles and succeed.
All of the other stuff
All of the other problems and distractions in life.
You'll be the queen of everything
You will be in control of everything and have power.
Nothing's gonna be the same
Everything will change and be different.
I'll fly tonight
I will take off and soar tonight.
Into your light
Towards the brightness and positivity that you bring.
I'm gonna mess you up
I will cause chaos and disruption.
I'm gonna let you down
I will disappoint and fail you.
I'm gonna cut you to the bone
I will hurt you deeply and emotionally.
You're gonna lose your nerve
You will become anxious and fearful.
You're gonna learn to hate
You will develop strong negative feelings towards someone or something.
You'll have a life you've never known
You will experience a completely new and different way of life.
If I should fall
If I were to fail or make a mistake.
From such great height
From a position of power or success.
Will be I be caught
Will someone be there to catch me and offer support?
Mid-flight
While I am in the midst of taking off or moving forward.
If I should steer
If I were to make a decision or take action.
As far and wide
To a far reaching extent.
Will you be near
Will someone be close by to offer support or guidance?
When I go wrong
When I make mistakes or take the wrong path.
Will I go wrong
Am I prone to make mistakes or take the wrong path?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE THOMAS PATTINSON, WILLIAM ALFRED SERGEANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@luismarcospereira5762
The best álbum Echo(obra prima)
@raygunstrange3179
An amazing LP.......
@PaulSmith-pn8hi
Awesome
@ratonmagico
Finally on YouTube in good quality.
@markokivi-koskinen9337
Amazing from the post de freitas area. Rip
@roypatton1707
A lot of EatB fans don't like the albums made after the 80's.
They say the songs aren't edgy enough. Well, a 30+ year old is much more mature than a 20 something year old.
The music is just as good, it's just different than it was.
@franktall7705
I like The Bunnymen more post Reverberation then pre. They have excellent songs pre (80’s) but still.
@cod8140
Great album!