After the usual career-beginning playing in local clubs and pubs, in 1987 Fairground Attraction were signed to RCA, and released their first single, "Perfect", in April 1988. It was an immediate success, reaching number one on the UK singles chart. Their album The First of a Million Kisses was a characteristic blend of folk, jazz, country, and cajun elements (all but one of its songs being written by Mark Nevin). Released in May 1988, it followed the success of "Perfect" by entering the album chart at number three, and rising to number two; it was eventually certified platinum. Three other singles were released from the same album: "Find My Love" (which reached number seven on the UK chart), "A Smile in a Whisper", and "Clare".
At the 1989 Brit Awards "Perfect" won the award for best single, and The First of a Million Kisses won best album.
Although they were popular in European countries, and toured the United States, their main success outside the UK was in Japan, where they toured in 1989 (a tour that produced their only live album, Kawasaki Live in Japan 02.07.89).
In September 1989, however, during the recording of a second album, rumours of arguments circulated, and in January 1990 the rumours were confirmed when the band split up. The album Ay Fond Kiss was released in 1990, and one of its songs, "Walking after Midnight", became their last single.
Allelujah
Fairground Attraction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A million cars hurry home
An ice cream van shuts off its tinsel bells
Winter won't be long
I see you every day
I watch as you walk down this way
We pass on the stairs of this council block
But your smile is a prayer that prays for love
And your heart is a kite that longs to fly
Hallelujah here I am
Let's cut the strings tonight
So meet me on the corner at eight
Let's get out of this place
We'll kiss the first of a million kisses
And let the past fall away
For your smile is a prayer that prays for love
And your heart is a kite that longs to fly
Hallelujah here I am
Let's cut the strings tonight
Yes your smile is a prayer that prays for love
And your heart is a kite that longs to fly
Hallelujah here I am
Let's cut the strings tonight
Yes your smile is a prayer that prays for love
And your heart is a kite that longs to fly
Hallelujah here I am
We'll cut the strings tonight
And we'll kiss the first of a million kisses
La-la-la-la-la-la
The song Allelujah by Fairground Attraction tells the story of two people who are shy and unable to express their feelings to each other. The first stanza paints a picture of a busy evening on the Westway while a winter evening approaches. The second stanza is focused on the singer's longing for someone they see every day but are unable to communicate with. The third and the final stanza urges the person they are interested in to join them at 8 p.m. to leave their mundane life behind and find love. The choice of words in the chorus - "smile is a prayer that prays for love" and "heart is a kite that longs to fly" - suggests that the singer is fighting against their fears and doubts to find happiness.
The song is not merely a love song, but it also reflects the struggles people often face in expressing their emotions. The lyrics capture the idea that being brave and taking risks is necessary if one wants to experience a life filled with love and passion. The chorus, where the repetition of "Hallelujah here I am" sounds like a plea of surrender to someone who has been hiding their feelings, is both evocative and profound.
Line by Line Meaning
The lights on the westway go on
The streetlights on the west side of the city turn on after a long day.
A million cars hurry home
Numerous vehicles rush towards their destination.
An ice cream van shuts off its tinsel bells
The jingling bells on an ice cream truck stop ringing.
Winter won't be long
The season of winter is coming soon.
I see you every day
I notice your presence on a daily basis.
I watch as you walk down this way
I observe you as you walk in my direction.
We pass on the stairs of this council block
We cross paths while going up or down the stairs of a public housing building.
Too shy to find words to say
We are both too bashful to start a conversation with each other.
But your smile is a prayer that prays for love
Your smile is a hopeful signal that wishes for romance to happen.
And your heart is a kite that longs to fly
Your heart yearns for the freedom to explore new experiences.
Hallelujah here I am
I'm happy to be here with you.
Let's cut the strings tonight
Let's break free from any inhibitions and take a chance on love.
So meet me on the corner at eight
Let's rendezvous on the street corner at eight o'clock.
Let's get out of this place
Let's leave this area and explore something new together.
We'll kiss the first of a million kisses
We'll share our first kiss, which will be the first of many to come.
And let the past fall away
We'll leave any baggage from our past relationships behind and focus on the present moment.
Yes your smile is a prayer that prays for love
Once again, your smile is a hopeful sign that desires to be loved.
And your heart is a kite that longs to fly
Your heart still yearns for the freedom to explore and find joy.
Hallelujah here I am
Once again, I'm happy to be here and share a connection with you.
We'll cut the strings tonight
One last time, let's take a chance on love and break free from any fears that may hold us back.
And we'll kiss the first of a million kisses
Once more, we'll share a kiss that will be the first of many memories we'll create together.
La-la-la-la-la-la
The song fades out with a joyful melody.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Matildjosip
The lights on the westway go on
A million cars hurry home
An ice cream van
shuts off its tinsel bells
Winter won't be long
I see you every day
I watch as you
walk down this way
We pass on the stairs
of this council block
Too shy to find words to say
BUT YOUR SMILE
IS A PRAYER
THAT PRAYS FOR LOVE
AND YOUR HEART
IS A KITE
THAT LONGS TO FLY
HALLELUJAH
HERE I AM
LET'S CUT
THE STRINGS TONIGHT
So meet me on the corner at eight
Let's get out of this place
We'll kiss
the first of a million kisses
And let the past fall away
For your smile is…
Yes your smile is…
Yes your smile is…
And we'll kiss
the first of a million kisses
La-la-la-la-la-la
@jayneholdsworth5608
Memories of my girls before we cut the strings we loved the album precious years gone too quickly
@davelewis156
This was our first dance at my wedding, beautiful song 😃😃
@justjay926
Just love the entire album. Younger days come back to me. One of the soundtracks of my life 🎶❤
@robertm7071
What a discovery. It’s taken years to reach my ears and they welcome it as does the rest of me.
@mydigicraftscrafts8649
Think about all the Allelujah songs over the years! This one is the best by twenty five million miles x Pure x
@domg2323
This song gives me goosebumps every time I hear it, one of my favourite songs from my younger days
@wainuikeepanepia63
Rememeber hearing this album in the 90s, my mum would inject all genre's of music into my life. 20years later this album is still one of my absolute favourites and this song still fills my heart with so much emotion, I'm moved to tears everytime I hear it. Absolutely timeless 💙
@mydigicraftscrafts8649
Try the 80s lol
@seanlaw39
this album has consistantly been my favourite for over 20 years.....please someone put the whole thing up
@mousepotato66
Just one of the most well written and beautifully sung songs I ever heard. I've loved this album ever since it was released, and Eddi Reader's later work with the Patron Saints of Imperfection is great too. Perfect voice, she has. :)