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.
Moon On The Rain
Fairground Attraction Lyrics
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Drunk too much, spent too much, penniless again
Oh sweetheart where are you tonight
I remember when we used to walk by the Thames
The lights on the embankment like jewels on chains
I'll never forget what you said at the start
You said â??I'll put a string of lights 'round your heartâ??
Tucked in my pocket, all tattered by time
Oh sweetheart who's with you tonight
Are you there at the roundabouts, down in the park
Where you sneak through the railings, when it's locked after dark
Is she learning the song you taught me at the start
The one the bells and the banjos played on our hearts
Now the bars are all empty, everybody's gone home
Perhaps I'll walk down the embankment alone
Oh sweetheart I'm glad that we met
And that there's jazz in the basement bars
And jewels on chains
'Cause I've drunk too much
And spent too much
But there's moon on the rain
The lyrics to "Moon On The Rain" by Fairground Attraction are a poignant and nostalgic reflection on lost love and happier times. The singer, who is clearly in a troubled state, finds solace in the memory of a past lover and the times they used to spend together. The song opens with a scene of jazz music in a dingy basement bar, with the sad image of the moon obscured by rain. The singer has clearly made some bad choices, having drunk and spent too much money, leaving them with no one but their thoughts and memories. They ask where their former love is, wondering if they're thinking of their own memories of the Thames and the embankment lit up at night.
The second verse finds the singer thinking about their lost love's whereabouts and activities. They imagine the possibility of them being in a park after hours, teaching the same song they once taught the singer. They hold on to the hope that, despite everything, their past love still cherishes the memories they share. The song comes full circle in the final verse, as the singer finds comfort in knowing that, even in their current state, they can find beauty in jazz bars and the twinkling lights of the embankment. They express gratitude for having met their former love, even if things did not work out as planned.
Line by Line Meaning
Jazz in a basement bar, the moon's on the rain
The singer is in a basement bar listening to jazz music while it is raining outside.
Drunk too much, spent too much, penniless again
The singer has consumed too much alcohol and spent too much money, leaving them broke once again.
Oh sweetheart where are you tonight
The singer is wondering where their significant other is on this particular night.
I remember when we used to walk by the Thames
The artist recalls a previous time when they walked by the River Thames.
The lights on the embankment like jewels on chains
The artist is comparing the lights along the embankment to glittering jewels
I'll never forget what you said at the start
The singer will always remember something their significant other said to them in the beginning of their relationship.
You said â??I'll put a string of lights 'round your heart'â??
The significant other promised to fill the singer's heart with light and love.
I've got your photograph, the one that you signed
The artist has a photo of their significant other that was signed by them.
Tucked in my pocket, all tattered by time
The photo is old and worn from being carried around in the artist's pocket.
Oh sweetheart who's with you tonight
The artist wonders who is with their significant other on this particular night.
Are you there at the roundabouts, down in the park
The singer wonders if their significant other is at a nearby park.
Where you sneak through the railings, when it's locked after dark
The park has railings that are normally locked at night, but the significant other sneaks through them.
Is she learning the song you taught me at the start
The singer wonders if the new person is learning the song that their significant other had previously taught to them.
The one the bells and the banjos played on our hearts
The song is one that played during a special moment with their significant other and it left an impression on both of them.
Now the bars are all empty, everybody's gone home
The bars have closed and everyone has gone home for the night.
Perhaps I'll walk down the embankment alone
The artist may walk alone along the embankment.
Oh sweetheart I'm glad that we met
The artist is grateful to have met their significant other.
And that there's jazz in the basement bars
The singer appreciates the presence of jazz music in basement bars.
And jewels on chains
The singer finds the lights along the embankment to be like glittering jewels on chains.
'Cause I've drunk too much
The artist has had too much to drink.
And spent too much
The artist has spent more money than they intended.
But there's moon on the rain
Despite everything, it is still a beautiful night with the moon shining in the rain.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind