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.
Mythology
Fairground Attraction Lyrics
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Just stepped out into the world
White cotton summer dresses, hair tied in lace
Pearly button eyes in her girly little face
She married a man, what a louse like a bull
In her China dream house, with confetti in his pocket
And ice in his heart he tore that little girl's world apart
So don't go to her like the others before
With some worn out line from a film that you saw
No don't waste your time and your trouble you'll see
She don't believe in mythology
Now she's known voodoo in a kiss
And she's known witchcraft on nights like this
Like a fly in a spider's web or a rat in a trap
Whispers as lethal as a switchblade attack
No don't go to her like the others before
With some worn out line from a film that you saw
No don't waste your time or your trouble you'll see
She don't believe in mythology, in mythology
No don't waste your time and your trouble you'll see
She don't believe in mythology
The lyrics of Fairground Attraction's "Mythology" tell the story of a young girl who starts out in life with hope and optimism, only to have her dreams shattered by a cruel and heartless man. The song contrasts the innocence and vulnerability of the girl in her early days with the bitterness and cynicism she has developed as a result of her experiences.
The first verse describes the girl's initial appearance, with her white cotton dresses and "girly little face." She seems like the picture of innocence, but soon she marries a man who is "like a bull" and who tears her world apart. From there, the song takes a darker turn, describing the girl's current state as one of mistrust and bitterness. She has learned the ways of voodoo and witchcraft, and her whispers are "lethal as a switchblade attack."
The chorus of the song warns against trying to approach this woman with the same tired lines that may have worked on other women before. She is no longer interested in playing by the rules of traditional romance, and she no longer believes in the fairy tale mythologies that many people cling to when it comes to love.
Overall, "Mythology" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of putting too much faith in love and romance, and about how damaged people can become when their dreams are shattered.
Line by Line Meaning
Fragile featured little girl
A delicate, small girl who is new to the world.
Just stepped out into the world
She is venturing out into the world for the first time.
White cotton summer dresses, hair tied in lace
She dresses in light, airy summer clothes with pretty laced hair.
Pearly button eyes in her girly little face
She has innocent, girlish features with large, bright eyes.
She married a man, what a louse like a bull
She married a terrible man, like a bully.
In her China dream house, with confetti in his pocket
They live in her ideal home, but he carries deception with him.
And ice in his heart he tore that little girl's world apart
He was cold and cruel, and he destroyed her world.
So don't go to her like the others before
Do not approach her similarly to how others have before.
With some worn out line from a film that you saw
Do not try to use a cliche film line on her.
No don't waste your time and your trouble you'll see
It is not worth your time or effort.
She don't believe in mythology
She does not believe in false or unrealistic stories.
Now she's known voodoo in a kiss
She has experienced the power of love in a kiss.
And she's known witchcraft on nights like this
She has been lured into darkness on certain nights.
Like a fly in a spider's web or a rat in a trap
She has been trapped or ensnared like a helpless insect or rodent.
Whispers as lethal as a switchblade attack
Words spoken to her can be as dangerous as a physical attack.
No don't waste your time or your trouble you'll see
It is not worth your time or effort, you will realize.
She don't believe in mythology, in mythology
She does not believe in fabricated stories, in fabricated stories.
No don't waste your time and your trouble you'll see
It is not worth your time or effort, you will realize.
She don't believe in mythology
She does not believe in made-up stories.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK EDWARD CASCIAN NEVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind