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.
Time and Again
Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With all of my heart and everything
But I don't need you to drag me down
If you make me uneasy then I'll start to sing
I'm leaving, I'm leaving
I won't see you no more
We do it time and again
Feeling good I'm on the road again
I tell myself
I can live without you now
I don't need you and there's no pain
But I'm dreaming, dreaming
Baby I love you so
It happens time and again
I think we'd better stay together
It's the best thing for you and me
I'll be your slave and we'll love forever
You'll have my body, but my mind stays free
But I'm dreaming, dreaming
Baby I love you so
We do it time and again
You're always causing me pain
We do it time and again
You always damage my brain
The lyrics of Gillan's song Time and Again depict a person who is in love with someone, but at the same time, the relationship is toxic for them. They confess their love for their partner but also indicate that they have to leave them. The reason behind this decision is that if their partner continues to make them uneasy, they will start to sing, meaning they will start to complain, and that will lead to a fight. Therefore, it's better for them to end it and move on.
The person acknowledges that they can live without their partner and will feel good once they leave them behind. However, the love they have for them is so intense that they keep dreaming of them. They admit the relationship is a cycle of 'we do it time and again,' causing them pain and damage to their brain. In the end, the person proposes that they should stay together for the best, and they will love each other forever. However, their mind will still stay free, indicating they will end it again if it goes wrong.
In conclusion, the song's lyrics portray a toxic relationship that keeps repeating itself, causing pain and damage to both partners. The person conveys their love for their partner, but at the same time, they have to leave them. The song delivers a strong message about relationships and how they can affect one's mental state.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I can love you baby
It is possible that I could love you, my dear
With all of my heart and everything
I would love you with my entire being
But I don't need you to drag me down
I don't want you to bring me down or make me feel worse
If you make me uneasy then I'll start to sing
If you make me uncomfortable, I will express my feelings through song
I'm leaving, I'm leaving
I have decided to depart from this situation
I won't see you no more
I will not be in your presence again
We do it time and again
We keep repeating the same actions and outcomes
I get along without you now
I am doing fine without you currently
Feeling good I'm on the road again
I feel great and am on the path to something new
I tell myself
I remind myself
I can live without you now
I am strong enough to exist without you at the moment
I don't need you and there's no pain
I do not rely on you and am not experiencing any suffering
But I'm dreaming, dreaming
However, I am still imagining
Baby I love you so
I have strong feelings of affection towards you
It happens time and again
This cycle repeats
I think we'd better stay together
Perhaps we should remain united
It's the best thing for you and me
This would be in our best interest
I'll be your slave and we'll love forever
I would devote myself to you and we could love perpetually
You'll have my body, but my mind stays free
You can have my physical self, but my thoughts will remain independent
You're always causing me pain
You consistently bring me discomfort
You always damage my brain
You cause harm to my mental state
Contributed by Kayla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.