Fairground Attraction were a Scottish acoustic pop group from Glasgow, best… Read Full Bio ↴Fairground Attraction were a Scottish acoustic pop group from Glasgow, best-known for the hit single "Perfect", and for helping to launch the career of its lead singer, Eddi Reader.

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.

The Wind Knows My Name
Fairground Attraction Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wish me well, say goodbye
I'll never tell I saw you cry
Understand you're not to blame
It's just that the wind, the wind knows my name

And it's calling me
Calling me
Calling me again

I think that you knew right from the start
There was this restlessness in my heart
It's a feeling that I have tried to tame
But it's hard when the wind, when the wind knows your name

And it's calling me
Calling me
Calling me again

It's a cruel wind that tears us apart
But a worse thing is a tired and bitter heart

So dry your eyes, no more tears
Hold me once and I'll walk out of here
Who knows one day we'll meet again
But don't wait for me 'cause the wind knows my name

And it's calling me
Calling me
Calling me again

Yes it's calling me

Calling me
Calling me again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fairground Attraction's song "The Wind Knows My Name" convey the idea of an internal struggle between one's restlessness and the desire to settle down with another person. The singer acknowledges that the wind knows their name and is calling them, representing the restlessness they feel within themselves. They wish to be wished farewell and say goodbye without revealing the tears they saw from the other person because it's their own inner turmoil driving them away, not the actions of others.

The second verse continues along the same lines, with the singer expressing the idea that the person they are leaving behind likely knew about their restlessness all along. Despite trying to tame their own feelings, it's difficult when the wind, a representation of their own restlessness, knows their name. The chorus repeats the idea that the wind is calling the singer, indicating that the restlessness is something that they cannot ignore.

The final verse is a farewell that acknowledges the pain caused by the "cruel wind" that tears people apart, but recognizes that it would be worse to stay and let a "bitter heart" take over. The singer asks the other person to dry their eyes, saying that they will hold them once and then leave. They leave the possibility open that they may meet again one day, but not to wait for them as they cannot deny the call of the wind.

Line by Line Meaning

Wish me well, say goodbye
Bid me farewell and goodbye

I'll never tell I saw you cry
I won't reveal I saw you crying

Understand you're not to blame
Know that you're not responsible

It's just that the wind, the wind knows my name
The wind is familiar with me

And it's calling me
It's summoning me

Calling me
Urging me

Calling me again
Summoning me another time

I think that you knew right from the start
I believe you knew early on

There was this restlessness in my heart
My heart was filled with anxiety

It's a feeling that I have tried to tame
I've attempted to control it

But it's hard when the wind, when the wind knows your name
It's a challenge when the wind is familiar with you