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
The Fly
Gavin Friday Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight
They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by a moon
You know I don't see you when she walks in the room
It's no secret that a friend is someone who lets you help
They say a secret is something you tell one other person
So I'm telling you, child
A man will beg
A man will crawl
On the sheer face of love
Like a fly on a wall
It's no secret at all
It's no secret that a conscience can sometimes be a pest
It's no secret ambition bites the nails of success
Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief
All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief
Over love
A man will rise
A man will fall
From the sheer face of love
Like a fly from a wall
It's no secret at all
Love we shine like a
Burning star
We're falling from the sky
Tonight
A man will rise
A man will fall
From the sheer face of love
Like a fly from a wall
It's no secret at all
Oh, yeah!
It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
The universe exploded 'cause of one man's lie
Look, I gotta go, yeah I'm running outta change
There's a lot of things, if I could I'd rearrange
The Fly by Gavin Friday is a song that delves into the theme of secrets, love, and the correlation between the two. The song starts with the lines “Oh, baby child, it's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky, it's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight”. In these lines, the singer is addressing their lover, suggesting that things are not going well and the universe seems to be in chaos. The singer then goes on to talk about how a friend is someone who lets you help and a liar won't believe anyone else. This suggests that the singer values honesty and integrity in their relationships.
The song continues with the idea that secrets are things that can often cause problems in a relationship. The lines “They say a secret is something you tell one other person, so I'm telling you, child” show that the singer is trying to open up to their lover, perhaps with the hope that it will bring them closer. The singer then goes on to talk about how love can be both a beautiful and painful thing. The lines “A man will beg, a man will crawl on the sheer face of love, like a fly on a wall” suggest that love can sometimes feel desperate and can cause people to do things they wouldn’t normally do.
The overall theme of the song is that secrets and love, while often intertwined, can also be destructive. The singer seems to be struggling with their own secrets while also trying to maintain their relationship with their lover. The ending lines, “It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky, the universe exploded 'cause of one man's lie, look, I gotta go, yeah I'm running outta change, there's a lot of things, if I could I'd rearrange” suggest that the singer is aware of the chaos in the universe but is also aware that their own personal problems require attention.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, baby child
Addressing the listener in a gentle and affectionate manner
It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
Acknowledging the decline in society and the struggles we face
It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight
Highlighting the negativity and hopelessness of the present time
They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by a moon
Referring to the cyclical nature of good times and bad times
You know I don't see you when she walks in the room
Implying that the person addressed is being ignored or overlooked
It's no secret that a friend is someone who lets you help
Defining the true meaning of a friend
It's no secret that a liar won't believe anyone else
Stating how lies lead to distrust
They say a secret is something you tell one other person
Defining the concept of confidentiality
So I'm telling you, child
Breaking this confidentiality to confide something personal
A man will beg
Describing how desperate love can make someone
A man will crawl
Depicting the extent someone might go for love
On the sheer face of love
Continuing the comparison of love to a physical barrier
Like a fly on a wall
Emphasizing the helplessness and insignificance of a lover
It's no secret at all
Reiterating the point made earlier that love is not a secret
It's no secret that a conscience can sometimes be a pest
Acknowledging that guilt can have an adverse effect on the psyche
It's no secret ambition bites the nails of success
Implying that success comes with its own set of challenges
Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief
Drawing a parallel between art and theft
All kill their inspiration and sing about their grief
Suggesting that artists draw from painful experiences to make art
Over love
Ending this passage on a melancholic note
A man will rise
Introducing a new phase to the metaphor
A man will fall
Continuing to describe the ups and downs of love
From the sheer face of love
Reiterating the metaphor of love as a physical obstacle
Like a fly from a wall
Draws from the earlier metaphor of a fly being insignificant and helpless
It's no secret at all
Repeating the earlier idea that there are no secrets in love
Love we shine like a
Introducing a more positive phase
Burning star
A simile for passionate love
We're falling from the sky
Using the metaphor of falling to describe emotional vulnerability
Tonight
Emphasizing the immediacy of the feeling
It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky
Returning to the opening motif, now with a different implication
The universe exploded 'cause of one man's lie
Suggesting that a single lie can have a disastrous impact
Look, I gotta go, yeah I'm running outta change
Ending the song with a colloquialism, implying that the conversation is over
There's a lot of things, if I could I'd rearrange
Leaving the song with a sense of wistfulness and regret
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CLIFFORD RAY SMITH, HALDANE BROWNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Snyder
When you hear someone else do a U2 song, you really start to grasp how great of a band they really are, no matter how solid the cover of their song is.
Claus Larsen Æ
One of the best cover version's I've heard in a long long time...and I want Gavin's voice in my next life!
Penny Cofield
Brilliant version!!!
Lizzibear
Love this!
Kenneth Fox
I love how he brought in the riff near the end of the song such a great choice.
devane85
Oooh I really like this cover. I like Gavin Friday as it is and I feel he's done a good job covering his best friend's song.
Eli Peter
This is so damn good.
Derek Hunter
Great cover. It's always cool to see a friend cover their mates' song. I actually prefer Friday's version. I wished his most recent album, Catholic, sounded more like this.
jasecarter1
The Fly....turned inside out, upside down, and on its head.....and it sounds amazing Gavin Friday!
gusphisto
Para mi este es el mejor cover de todo el disco!!!!! simplemente EXCELENTE VERSIÓN!!!