1) A British… Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists using this name, chronologically:
1) A British rock band (1967 - 1973)
2) A disco group signed to New York Salsoul Records (1970's-1980's)
3) A Spanish indie pop band (1991 - 1993)
1) Family was British rock band from Leicester, England, active between 1967-1973. Their music has been described as a masterful blend of Blues-Rock, Prog-Rock, Art Rock and Psychedelia.
Family's debut single "Scene Through The Eye Of A Lens/Gypsy Woman" was released by Liberty in the autumn of 1967. While the single received praise from critics, it received very little airplay, due to its rather complex, uncommercial nature. Family's debut album, Music in a Doll's House, was released in July 1968 and it was produced by Traffic's Dave Mason and Jimmy Miller on a 4-track machine at Olympic Studios, London. The band's line-up: Roger Chapman (vocals/harmonica/tenor saxophone), Charlie Whitney (guitars/vocals), Rick Grech (bass/violin/cello/vocals), Rob Townsend (drums/percussion), and Jim King saxophone/flute/harmonica/vocals). Bandleader Tubby Hayes and his brass section played on "Old Songs New Songs". An extraordinarily ambitious album, 'Music In A Doll's House' marked an audacious beginning of what was a rather mixed career for Family. Many of the sounds conjured up in the studio had never been heard before - more incredible given that the album was created on a 4-track. The band's ability clearly transcended the available technology. Chapman's unusual vibrating delivery did not appeal to everyone, but it's a remarkable voice all the same. The musicianship and the unusual arrangements on this album found favour with fans who regarded it as a rather surreal musical feast. Music In A Doll's House is a truly innovative album and years ahead of it's time. The album charted respectably in the UK (reaching No. 35 in the UK album charts) and received considerable airplay from well-known British radio personality John Peel. It did not chart in the US. Interestingly, Mike Batt got his first big break in record production on this album by arranging "Mellowing Grey".
Family's 1969 follow-up, Family Entertainment, toned down the psychedelics of their previous offering, and featured their first UK hit "The Weaver's Answer." For the 1970 release A Song For Me, they developed a more aggressive sound, gaining them a larger European following. That year they played at several major rock festivals including the Isle Of Wight music festival and Holland's Kralingen Festival. Both of which were included in the documentary films Message To Love and Stomping Ground. The next release, Anyway, featured a side of a live performance of new material at Fairfield Hall in Croydon, England, as well as a side of new studio recordings.
The bar was raised in 1971 with Fearless, but the band's biggest success was yet to come, in 1972's Bandstand, featuring hits "Burlesque" and "My Friend the Sun". This was followed by the underrated but enjoyable It's Only a Movie, where the band's sound was augmented by Tony Ashton of Ashton Gardner and Dyke on piano.
Family disbanded in 1973 and former members went on to play in the bands King Crimson, the Streetwalkers and Stud.
2) Family were a disco group who formed in the 1970's and released the single 'Music (Listen To The Music)', on the Salsoul label which was later re-released on the Suss'd 2007 compilation 'Deep Disco Culture Vol. 2'.
3) Family was a Spanish indie band active 1991-1993 formed by Javier Aramburu and Iñaki Gametxogoikoetxea. They released just one album in 1993 titled Un soplo en el corazón," a tribute to the film by Louis Malle. In 2003 Spanish magazine Rockdelux released an album with the same songs played by other Spanish bands to celebrate 10 years from probably one of the best Spanish albums of 90's.
Anyway
Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sun just going down the red without a face
A mist falls on the water through the curtain lace
** anyplace
A white to hurt the eyes stretches the fields afar
The brightness of the full moon, footprints show where you are
The snow becomes a mirror for the northerns tar
** there you are
Oh mountains far, your bigness makes me near to you
And flowers small your gentleness is how you grew
But those teardrops on your petals, are they only dew?
** wish I knew
A man holds tight his lady in the evening glade
His coat around her shoulders keeps the chill away
A willow spreads its limbs to make a lovers shade
** anyway...
The lyrics of Family's song "Anyway" paint vivid pictures of nature, love and life. The first verse describes a mist that falls on the water and stretches fields afar, signaling the end of a day as the sun goes down. The second verse highlights the beauty of the moonlight as it reflects off the snow, creating a mirror-like effect. The third verse contemplates the mysteries of life - from the bigness of mountains to the gentleness of flowers, and the teardrops on petals that may either be dew or something else entirely. The final verse talks about a man holding his lady in the evening glade, seeking warmth in his coat and shade under a willow tree. The repeated refrain of "anyway" suggests a philosophical acceptance of life's impermanence, beauty and uncertainty.
Overall, the lyrics of "Anyway" are open to interpretation and could mean different things to different listeners. The imagery of nature and love evokes a sense of nostalgia and romanticism, while the questioning tone of the third verse suggests a deeper contemplation of life's mysteries. The repeated "anyway" at the end of each verse may mean that, despite the uncertainties and the fleeting nature of life's moments, it is still worth experiencing and savoring them anyway.
Line by Line Meaning
A mist comes o'er the shore, from out of the sea's embrace
The shore is covered in mist that emerged from the sea
The sun just going down the red without a face
As the sun sets, the sky turns red, but the sun itself is no longer visible
A mist falls on the water through the curtain lace
A mist drapes over the water and passes through the lace curtain
A white to hurt the eyes stretches the fields afar
The whiteness of the fields in the distance is so intense it hurts the eyes
The brightness of the full moon, footprints show where you are
The full moon illuminates footprints, indicating the presence of someone
The snow becomes a mirror for the northerns tar
The snow's reflective quality makes it resemble northern tar
Oh mountains far, your bigness makes me near to you
Even though the mountains are far away, their grandeur makes them feel close
And flowers small your gentleness is how you grew
Despite their size, flowers grow with kindness
But those teardrops on your petals, are they only dew?
The water droplets on the flowers' petals may be dew or tears, and it's unclear
A man holds tight his lady in the evening glade
A man embraces his partner in a peaceful meadow at night
His coat around her shoulders keeps the chill away
He covers her shoulders with his coat to protect her from the cold
A willow spreads its limbs to make a lovers shade
The willow's branches create a romantic canopy for lovers
Anyway...
Despite the various scenes described, life goes on, and time passes 'anyway'
Contributed by Jeremiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.