Album sleeve artwork for his four Marillion albums and most of his solo albums has been done by Mark Wilkinson.
Fish is not to be confused with Phish, Chris Squire (“The Fish”), Barry Melton ("the Fish" of Country Joe & the Fish), Grossa or Bradley Fish.
He has worked with many other artists, including Tony Banks (Genesis) and Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s (Ayreon) as the Highlander in Into the Electric Castle.
2. Fish is a Chinese experimental electronic musician.
3. fish is the name of a Soundcloud account used by electronic musician Gupi.
Tilted Cross
Fish Lyrics
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In the long grass by a stranger
Who's passed this way before
Planted seed from which we reap
A bitter harvest from his long forgotten war
I left my love in a grave
And I marked it with a cross
It's not alone in the shade of the valley
They're what remains of the ones we once knew
Walk with me, my child, but tread softly on this earth
Keep a close eye where your feet, they touch the ground
Watch out for the signs, and heed what they say
One false step and all is lost
In the land of the tilted cross
They lie beneath the needles of the forest
In the fields, where only shadows dare to play
Washed down from the slopes of the mountains
In the spring, when the snow melts away
So be sure when you go on your journey
Carry sticks; mark the place where they are found
Make a cross, and be sure that it's tilted
So that others don't step on this ground
Walk with me, my child, but tread softly on this earth
Keep a close eye where your feet, they touch the ground
Watch out for the signs, and heed what they say
One false step and all is lost
In the land of the tilted cross
I left my love in a grave
And I marked it with a cross
That stands so straight and true
The lyrics of Fish's song Tilted Cross describe the aftermath of a forgotten war and the need for caution in navigating through the land where it was fought. The opening lines describe a message left by a stranger in the long grass, a warning of the bitter harvest that was sowed by the past conflict. The singer then shares that they have had to bury someone they loved and marked their grave with a cross that stands tall and true, in the company of the many other crosses that were used to mark the graves of those who have been lost.
The chorus brings together the ideas of caution and respect for the land where the war was fought, urging the listener to walk softly and watch out for the signs that the past has left behind. The land is described as the "land of the tilted cross," with crosses marking the graves where ammunition and explosives still remain buried beneath the surface. The song ends on a reiteration of the central message, with the singer again expressing their grief and marking their loved one's grave with a cross that will stand as a testament to their life.
The lyrics illustrate the haunting effects of war long after it has ended, and the need to respect its memory and exercise caution when interacting with its remnants. The image of the tilted cross is a powerful symbol of the ongoing impact that the conflict has on the land and its people.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a message that's been left
There is a message waiting to be found
In the long grass by a stranger
It's hidden in the long grass, left by someone unknown
Who's passed this way before
Someone has been here before and left a warning
Planted seed from which we reap
Their actions have caused consequences for us today
A bitter harvest from his long forgotten war
Their past actions have caused a negative impact that still lingers
I left my love in a grave
My loved one has passed away
And I marked it with a cross
I made a grave marker using a cross
That will stand so straight and true
It's a stable and accurate representation of the grave
It's not alone in the shade of the valley
There are other graves nearby
They're what remains of the ones we once knew
These graves are a reminder of those we have lost
Walk with me, my child, but tread softly on this earth
Join me on this journey, but be mindful of your surroundings
Keep a close eye where your feet, they touch the ground
Pay attention to where you step to avoid danger or disrespect
Watch out for the signs, and heed what they say
Be aware of any warnings and act accordingly
One false step and all is lost
A single mistake can have dire consequences
In the land of the tilted cross
This is a dangerous place, where one must proceed with caution
They lie beneath the needles of the forest
The graves are hidden beneath trees and debris
In the fields, where only shadows dare to play
This place is deserted and eerie
Washed down from the slopes of the mountains
The graves have been impacted by natural forces, like water
In the spring, when the snow melts away
This happens at a specific time of year
So be sure when you go on your journey
Prepare yourself before embarking on this adventure
Carry sticks; mark the place where they are found
Use tools to identify hazardous areas
Make a cross, and be sure that it's tilted
Create a marker so that others can be aware
So that others don't step on this ground
To prevent further disrespect
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WILLIAM DICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind