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.
WOMAN FROM TOKYO
Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Faces, smiling everyone
Yeah, she is a whole new tradition
I feel it in my heart
My woman from Tokyo
She makes me see
My woman from Tokyo
Talk about her like a Queen
Dancing in a Eastern Dream
Yeah, she makes me feel like a river
That carries me away
My woman from Tokyo
She makes me see
My woman from Tokyo
She's so good to me
But I'm at home and I just don't belong
So far away from the garden we love
She is what moves in the soul of a dove
Soon I shall see just how black was my night
When we're alone in Her City of light
Rising from the neon gloom
Shining like a crazy moon
Yeah, she turns me on like a fire
I get high
My woman from Tokyo
She makes me see
My woman from Tokyo
She's so good to me
The lyrics of Gillan's song "Woman from Tokyo" tell the story of a man who meets a woman from Tokyo and she completely changes his life. The song's opening lines - "Fly into the rising sun, Faces, smiling everyone" - set the scene for a journey of sorts. As he lands in Tokyo, he is greeted with warm smiles and friendly faces.
The man then goes on to describe the woman he met and how she is a "whole new tradition" that he feels in his heart. He compares her to a queen dancing in an Eastern dream and feels like she's a river that carries him away. For him, his woman from Tokyo is everything, as she's good to him and makes him see things differently.
In the chorus, he repeats the line "My woman from Tokyo, She makes me see", emphasizing how she's been able to change his perspective and bring new light into his life. The woman has become a central figure in his life, and he talks about how he feels at home with her. However, despite this new love, he still feels a sense of distance from his past life, as he sings, "But I'm at home and I just don't belong, So far away from the garden we love".
The bridge of the song shifts to a darker place, as the man talks about how the woman from Tokyo is his salvation, and how she "is what moves in the soul of a dove". He knows that when he's with her, she'll help him find the light in his darkness - "Soon I shall see just how black was my night, When we're alone in Her City of light". The song ends with him describing her as a shining moon and how he gets high just thinking about her.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly into the rising sun,
Start of a journey, heading towards a new beginning or opportunity
Faces, smiling everyone
Everyone seems welcoming and friendly, creating a sense of belonging
Yeah, she is a whole new tradition
The woman from Tokyo represents a new, exciting experience, unlike anything previously known
I feel it in my heart
The experience is deeply felt and meaningful to the artist
My woman from Tokyo
Referring to the person who embodies this exciting new experience
She makes me see
The woman from Tokyo opens up a new perspective for the singer
She's so good to me
Being with her is a positive experience, bringing happiness and fulfillment
Talk about her like a Queen
She is esteemed and respected, like royalty
Dancing in a Eastern Dream
Living in a fantastical world full of mystery and allure
Yeah, she makes me feel like a river
The woman from Tokyo guides and inspires the artist, moving him forward like a river flows
That carries me away
The experience with her is so powerful that it takes the singer completely out of himself
But I'm at home and I just don't belong
The artist feels out of place in his current environment, craving the excitement and meaning he found with her
So far away from the garden we love
The singer and the woman from Tokyo long for a shared place of belonging, which is currently out of reach
She is what moves in the soul of a dove
The woman from Tokyo is perceived as gentle, peaceful, and spiritual
Soon I shall see just how black was my night
The singer realizes that his life before meeting her was lacking in comparison
When we're alone in Her City of light
The woman from Tokyo's home city is seen as a bright, shining, and magical place to escape to
Rising from the neon gloom
Leaving the dull and ordinary behind, and approaching something more vibrant and exciting
Shining like a crazy moon
The woman from Tokyo stands out and is eye-catching, like a brightly shining and eccentric moon
Yeah, she turns me on like a fire
The woman from Tokyo ignites the singer's passion and desire like a burning fire
I get high
The experience with her is euphoric and exhilarating, like the feeling of being high
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger D Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind