In 1978 Ian Gillan had become dissatisfied with the jazz fusion style of his band called Ian Gillan Band and dissolved it, retaining only keyboard player Colin Towns, and formed a new band entitled Gillan. He added Steve Byrd on guitar, Liam Glenocky on drums and John McCoy (ex-zzebra) on bass, and initially pursued a progressive rock direction, releasing their eponymous debut in 1978, although they could only get a record deal in Japan. This recording has subsequently become more widely available as THE JAPANESE ALBUM.
The album was sufficiently successful to attract more attention and in 1979 the band secured a European deal with Acrobat Records. Before a new album was recorded, Byrd was replaced by Bernie Tormé and Glenocky by Mick Underwood, Ian Gillan's former colleague in Episode Six. Torme's "screaming guitar" sound fundamentally altered the dynamics and Gillan took a heavy metal direction. This lineup's first album was released as MR. UNIVERSE and contained many re-worked songs from The Japanese Album. The band caught the rise of the NWOBHM at just the right time and the group gained popularity in Europe. At Christmas Gillan turned down an offer from Ritchie Blackmore to join Rainbow, but Blackmore did make a "legendary" guest appearance for Gillan at their Christmas show. It was the first time Ian Gillan and Blackmore had performed together since 1973.
In 1980 Gillan reached the peak of their success, releasing the successful GLORY ROAD album with the limited edition "free" LP for gillan fans only. However the band remained unknown in North America and were unable to raise any interest there despite tours.
By 1981 the band members were becoming disgruntled that their European and Japanese success was not translating into increased pay, and after the FUTURE SHOCK album tour, Torme walked out just before the band were due to appear on Top of the Pops. He was replaced by White Spirit guitarist Janick Gers and this line up releaed the live/studio combi double album DOUBLE TROUBLE at the end of the year. In 1982 final album MAGIC followed. By this time, tension over money had reached fever-pitch and Ian Gillan needed time to have nodes removed from his vocal chords. He also received and accepted an offer to replace Ronnie James Dio in Black Sabbath. After the Magic tour Ian Gillan dissolved the band to the incredulity of the other members, particularly McCoy, and the acrimony remained into the 21st century.
McCoy subsequently released compilations of studio out-takes to which he had the rights, beginning with Gillan Tapes, Vol. 1, and ensured that revenues were distributed fairly amongst the band.
For Your Dreams
Gillan Lyrics
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With the lips of an orchid
And the eyes of a distant dream
She's got the hands of a lover
And the arms of a mother
And the eyes of a future dream
If there's more than she's showing
In her eyes with a secret dream
We live in the wrong time we're barely alive
There must be a better life
We've to many people too many bodies
How can we all survive
One day no mortality
No more human tragedy
Touch me and I will fight for your dreams
She has a smile of a Princess
But she cries in the darkness
With the tears of another dream
When the old fears are growing
And the terror of knowing
Take us back to our ancient dreams
It's been such a long time yet nothing is done
We're leading a wasted life
We've too many people too many bodies
Fighting all to survive
We live in the wrong time we're barely alive
There must be a better life
We've too many people too many bodies
How can we all survive
One day no mortality
No more human tragedy
Touch me and I will fight for your dreams
Gillan's song "For Your Dreams" describes a woman who has the appearance of a street kid with the beauty of an orchid and the eyes of a dreamer. She possesses both the tenderness of a lover and the protective instincts of a mother. The lyrics question whether there is more to her than meets the eye; deep down, does she hold secrets and ambitions that she has yet to reveal? The song then transition to the greater humanity, with a commentary on how we live in the wrong time, suggesting that we barely survive, as there are too many people and not enough resources. The chorus provides a glimmer of hope, imagining a day where there's no longer mortality or human tragedy. The lyrics implore the listener to touch the singer, and he'll fight for their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
She's got a face of a street kid
She has a face that reflects the challenges of living on the streets
With the lips of an orchid
But her lips are as beautiful and delicate as an orchid
And the eyes of a distant dream
Her eyes are looking far beyond the reality of her current life
She's got the hands of a lover
Her hands are gentle and caring, like that of a lover
And the arms of a mother
But her arms hold a maternal love and protectiveness
And the eyes of a future dream
And she looks into the future with hope and dreams
Is there some way of knowing
Is there a way to truly understand
If there's more than she's showing
If there is more to her than what meets the eye
In her eyes with a secret dream
Hidden behind her eyes is a dream that she keeps to herself
We live in the wrong time we're barely alive
We are living in a time that is not conducive to true living, and are barely surviving
There must be a better life
Surely there is a life that is more fulfilling and happier
We've to many people too many bodies
There are too many people in the world, too many bodies that are struggling
How can we all survive
It's difficult to see how everyone can survive in this current state of things
One day no mortality
Perhaps one day we will overcome mortality
No more human tragedy
And we will cease to have tragic and difficult lives
Touch me and I will fight for your dreams
If you support me, I will do everything in my power to help you achieve your own dreams
She has a smile of a Princess
Her smile is as beautiful and radiant as that of a princess
But she cries in the darkness
But she hides her pain and sorrow in the darkness
With the tears of another dream
As she sheds tears for a dream that she longs for, but may never achieve
When the old fears are growing
As old fears and anxieties start to resurface
And the terror of knowing
And the realization of harsh truths and current struggles
Take us back to our ancient dreams
We long to escape to a simpler, more ancient way of life
It's been such a long time yet nothing is done
It feels like we've been struggling forever, yet nothing has changed
We're leading a wasted life
We feel like our lives are being wasted and we're not achieving what we were meant to
How can we all survive
It's difficult to comprehend how everyone can make it through these struggles
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.