Glass Tiger's debut album The Thin Red Line (1986) produced two hit international singles, "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" [#2 on Billboard] and "Someday," [#5 on Billboard], and featured additional singles "I Will Be There [#34 Billboard] and domestic single "You're What I Look For". The album set a record for being the fastest selling debut recording in Canadian history, going gold within weeks of its release. To date, this album has received four Platinum records in Canada and went Gold in the United States.
Glass Tiger's sophomore release Diamond Sun, spawned domestic Canadian singles "Diamond Sun," "I'm Still Searching," "My Song," and "(Watching) Worlds Crumble," and achieved Double Platinum status in Canada.
Simple Mission, their third album, was not formally released in the USA, but it went Platinum in Canada and featured the singles "Animal Heart", and the Celtic duet "My Town" with Rod Stewart. "My Town" was also featured on a special 'Back-To-Back' series compilation in the early 90's and sold through EMI-Capitol's Special Market's division.
Several of Glass Tiger's songs were co-written and produced by Bryan Adams' collaborator, Jim Vallance. In fact, Adams makes a cameo in their top single "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)". The band won three Juno Awards in 1986 and two more in 1987. They were also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1987. In late 1988, Chris McNeill (drums), a sought after session drummer joined the band, and the foursome have been touring and playing ever since.
Glass Tiger released a special DVD 'No Turning Back' in 2005, which is a special commemorative 20th Anniversary DVD collection featuring their many videos and a couple of new songs, "No Turning Back" and "Give It Away". It also features footage of the band touring in Europe supporting Tina Turner in 1987 and in Ireland performing with The Chieftains.
On June 23, 2005, Glass Tiger appeared on the NBC show Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, performing their classic hit "Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone)" and covering "Everything You Want" by Vertical Horizon. Although they lost the audience voting to Thelma Houston, Glass Tiger were judged the winners by online voters.
In early 2006 Glass Tiger released their first live CD, GT Live which was recorded in 2005 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto. The band is currently working on a special TV production and is very active touring and performing, with over 50 shows a year. In 2008 lead singer Alan Frew published "The Action Sandwich", lessons from a tour bus, with his perspective and insight into the trials and tribulations of life in a rock band on the road. The band did a special support trip to visit the Canadian troops in Afghanistan in March, 2009, accompanied by many of the NHL's hockey legends.
www.GlassTiger.ca
Ecstacy
Glass Tiger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you look in the mirror?
Stealing years it takes
Not a giver
Have you taken refuge
From its charm?
Do you cry as dreams
Of things you've done
And all that you never?
Living in the shadows
Of the stars
Ooh, yeah
Oh, you're in ecstasy
Ecstasy, ecstasy forever
With crying eyes you tell me you're leaving
Aging mind, are you still believing?
Breaking my heart
I know what you're feeling
I can't stop the mirror from stealing
I have taken refuge from its charms
Ooh, yeah
Oh, you're in ecstasy
Ecstasy, ecstasy forever
Oh, ah-ah-ah
Now you're in your golden years
Your golden years
Ah-ah-ah
Oh, you're in ecstasy
Ecstasy, ecstasy forever
Ecstasy, ecstasy, ecstasy forever
Ah-ah-ah
Ecstasy, ecstasy, ecstasy forever
Forever
Forever
Forever
In Glass Tiger's song "Ecstasy," the lyrics speak about the struggle of accepting oneself and the effects of time on one's life. The opening lines of "Do you hold your breath, when you look in the mirror?" allude to the fear of aging and its impact on one's perception of self. The next lines "Stealing years it takes, not a giver, have you taken refuge from its charm?" add to this message, with the idea of time's impact on physical beauty affecting the way one sees themselves; despite a life full of accomplishments and experiences, people may still look in the mirror and feel regret or disappointment, realizing that they cannot turn back time.
The next verse, "Do you cry as dreams go past you forever? Of things you've done and all that you never?" speaks to the passage of time and the way it affects personal goals and aspirations. This verse adds another layer of the emotional consequences of time's unforgiving nature while highlighting the regrets over things one cannot change. The phrase "Living in the shadows of the stars" could suggest that people feel like they are living in the shadow of other people's successes or what they wish they had achieved instead of enjoying their own accomplishments.
The chorus emphasizes the ecstasy and joy people can experience in their lives, despite the struggles of aging and the passage of time. The lyrics "Oh, you're in ecstasy, ecstasy, ecstasy forever" suggests that we should focus on the moments of happiness we experience and cherish them instead of dwelling on the negatives. The final lines of the song repeat the entire phrase "ecstasy forever," as if to emphasize that this joy is eternal.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you hold your breath
Do you stop breathing for a moment to avoid seeing yourself in the mirror?
When you look in the mirror?
Is looking at yourself in the mirror difficult for you?
Stealing years it takes
Looking at yourself in the mirror can be draining and make you feel older?
Not a giver
The mirror does not give anything positive, only negative self-reflection?
Have you taken refuge
Have you tried to avoid the mirror or negative self-reflection?
From its charm?
From the mirror's captivating but negative effects?
Do you cry as dreams
Do you get upset seeing your dreams pass you by?
Go past you forever?
Do you feel like you'll never achieve your goals or dreams?
Of things you've done
Do you regret things you have done in the past?
And all that you never?
Do you regret things that you never got the chance to do?
Living in the shadows
Do you feel like you're living in someone else's shadow, or unable to achieve the same level of success as someone else?
Of the stars
Of celebrities or people you admire?
Oh, you're in ecstasy
Despite feeling negatively about yourself and your life, you are in a state of bliss?
Ecstasy, ecstasy forever
You feel this way all the time, and it is permanent?
With crying eyes you tell me you're leaving
You are leaving or saying goodbye to someone while crying?
Aging mind, are you still believing?
Despite getting older, you still have hope for your future?
Breaking my heart
Your actions are hurting the person you are leaving?
I know what you're feeling
Someone else knows what you are going through?
I can't stop the mirror from stealing
No one can stop you from feeling negatively about yourself?
Now you're in your golden years
You are now older, with a deeper sense of maturity and perspective?
Your golden years
This period of your life is important and valuable?
Oh, you're in ecstasy
You continue to feel a state of bliss, even as you age?
Ecstasy, ecstasy forever
This feeling will continue to persist throughout your life?
Forever
This feeling is everlasting?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Al Connelly, Alan Graham Frew, Sam Reid
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind