Gavin Friday (b. Fionan Hanvey, 8 Oct 1959, in Dublin, Ireland). In early l… Read Full Bio ↴Gavin Friday (b. Fionan Hanvey, 8 Oct 1959, in Dublin, Ireland). In early life, he survived a Christian Brothers education to become a singer, composer & painter. His latest release is "catholic" (22 April 2011, Rubyworks).

In 1977, Friday was a founder of Virgin Prunes (legendary avant-garde post-punk group). 1987-2005 he composed & performed with, musical partner, Maurice Seezer. He released his 4th solo album CATHOLIC in April 2011.

Gavin Friday & The Man Seezer albums (with Maurice), inc: "Each Man Kills The Thing He Loves" (1989), "Adam 'N' Eve" (1992) & "Shag Tobacco" (1995).

Film scores & soundtracks include Get Rich or Die Tryin', In America, In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, Disco Pigs, Short Cuts and Romeo + Juliet. Gavin worked with producer Hal Willner on the music for director Abel Ferrera's movie Chelsea on the Rocks (2008). He has also collaborated with the English composer Gavin Bryars, setting Shakespeare's sonnets to music.

Stage Shows include the Kurt Weill Extravaganza Ich Liebe Dich, the one man show I didn't come up the Liffey in a bubble and Gavin's tribute to German music, Tomorrow belongs to me.

Gavin Friday played the character Billy Hatchet in Neil Jordan's film Breakfast in Pluto (2006). He recorded three songs for the film, two of which are featured on the soundtrack album: 'Sand' and 'Wig Wam Bam'.

Sites: Discogs, YouTube and Official Site

For Annie
Gavin Friday Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Thank Heaven! the crisis-
The danger is past,
And the lingering illness
Is over at last-
And the fever called "Living"
Is conquered at last.

Sadly, I know

I am shorn of my strength,
And no muscle I move
As I lie at full length-
But no matter!-I feel
I am better at length.

And I rest so composedly,
Now, in my bed
That any beholder
Might fancy me dead-
Might start at beholding me,
Thinking me dead.

The moaning and groaning,
The sighing and sobbing,
Are quieted now,
With that horrible throbbing
At heart:- ah, that horrible,
Horrible throbbing!

The sickness- the nausea-
The pitiless pain-
Have ceased, with the fever
That maddened my brain-

With the fever called "Living"
That burned in my brain.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gavin Friday's song "For Annie" depict a sense of relief and triumph after overcoming a difficult and turbulent period of life. The singer mentions that they have conquered the fever of "Living" which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggles and challenges of existence. The lines "And the lingering illness is over at last" and "The sickness - the nausea- / The pitiless pain- / Have ceased with the fever" further support this idea.

The singer also acknowledges their physical weakness and inability to move, but they are grateful for the eventual triumph over their illness. The lines "But no matter!-I feel / I am better at length" reveal that even though the singer's physical body may still be weak, there is a sense of mental and emotional growth and strength. The final stanza of the song reaffirms the newfound peace and quietness after overcoming a tumultuous time, with the singer stating that the "moaning and groaning, / The sighing and sobbing, / Are quieted now".

Overall, "For Annie" can be interpreted as a reflection on the human experience of struggling through difficult times and eventually conquering them. The fever called "Living" can be seen as a metaphor for the struggles of life, and the song inspires a sense of hope and perseverance in overcoming them.

Line by Line Meaning

Thank Heaven! the crisis-
Thank goodness, the difficult situation is over

The danger is past,
The risk is gone

And the lingering illness
The illness that was lasting a long time

Is over at last-
Finally, the illness is finished

And the fever called "Living"
The intense pressure or stress from work and life

Is conquered at last.
Finally, the pressure is overcome

Sadly, I know
Unfortunately, I am aware

I am shorn of my strength,
I have lost my energy

And no muscle I move
I am so weak that I cannot move

As I lie at full length-
As I lay flat

But no matter!-I feel
But it doesn't matter! I am experiencing