Despite producing an excellent, melodic, catchy and very Magnum-like self-titled album the band was relatively short-lived with Clarkin announcing it's demise around 1999. The album "Hard Rain" (1997), follows the previous Magnum formula with Catley's superb vocals, Clarkin's guitars and use of backing keyboards in the older "prog rock" tradition; as well as a slightly funkier beat and harmonic backing vocals (Sue McCloskey). A second, more experimental album, "When the Good Times Come" followed in 1999.
In 1981, two tracks were written and produced by Clarkin and were sung by Sue McCloskey, a friend of Magnum. They were entitled "Really Need Your Love" and "Lost Inside Myself". After Catley left Hard Rain, Clarkin continued to write material with McCloskey. Some of these songs were broadcast on radio during an interview with Clarkin. Two of these songs surfaced as Magnum songs, "Still" and "Dream About You" on Magnum's 2002 studio album, Breath of Life.
Often overlooked but if you are a long-standing fan of Magnum then you're very likely to want the album "Hard Rain" in your collection as it rivals the best that the former band had to offer.
Another Nice Mess
Hard Rain Lyrics
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They know it by heart and defend
In stone, every clause, every statement
You'd better believe it, some pretend
We don't need someone to be screaming
They all know to the day it will end
I need that old fashioned feeling
Like a bridge across a river
Like the earth around the sun
We won't be here forever
Better start having fun
Black dreams only last for a minute
Don't need that pain every day
Wake up, ain't no way to finish
You're in trouble, bad religion in your way
We don't need someone to be screaming
They all know to the day it will end
I need that old fashioned feeling
The wind blows, we're all going to bend
Like a bridge across a river
Like the earth around the sun
We won't be here forever
Better start having fun
Like a bridge across a river
Like the earth around the sun
We won't be here forever
Better start having fun
Like a bridge across a river
Like the earth around the sun
We won't be here forever
Kingdom come, thy will be done
"That's another nice mess you've gotten me into"
The lyrics to Hard Rain's "Another Nice Mess" seem to allude to the sense of confusion and disillusionment experienced by the singer as a result of attempts to decipher the complexities of religious revelations presented to them. The lines "Confused all about revelations / They know it by heart and defend / In stone, every clause, every statement / You'd better believe it, some pretend" indicate a sense of frustration towards those who vehemently defend religious doctrines with little room for interpretation or questioning.
However, amidst the confusion and pessimism, the singer suggests a need for positivity and emotional release. The lines "I need that old-fashioned feeling / The wind blows, we're all going to bend" convey the desire for a sense of nostalgia and simplicity, while also alluding to the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of change.
The chorus, which repeats the lines "Like a bridge across a river / Like the earth around the sun / We won't be here forever / Better start having fun," further emphasizes the theme of impermanence and prompts the listener to appreciate and enjoy life before it's too late.
Overall, the lyrics of "Another Nice Mess" convey a complex mix of emotions including frustration, confusion, nostalgia, and a desire for positivity and joie de vivre in the face of life's uncertainties.
Line by Line Meaning
Confused all about revelations
Feeling overwhelmed and unsure about what the future holds in store
They know it by heart and defend
Some people believe so strongly in their religious beliefs that they will defend them vehemently
In stone, every clause, every statement
Religious texts are often seen as absolute, unchanging truths that cannot be questioned or altered
You'd better believe it, some pretend
Some people truly believe in their religion, while others only pretend to for various reasons
We don't need someone to be screaming
It's not necessary for someone to be preaching and shouting about the end of the world
They all know to the day it will end
Many people have heard predictions about the end of the world, and some believe that they know the exact date it will happen
I need that old fashioned feeling
The singer longs for a simpler time when they didn't feel so overwhelmed and lost
The wind blows, we're all going to bend
Life is unpredictable, and we must be prepared to adapt to change and face challenges when they come
Like a bridge across a river
Life is a journey with many obstacles to overcome, and we must build bridges to get past them
Like the earth around the sun
We are all part of a bigger picture, a cycle of life and death that repeats itself endlessly
We won't be here forever
None of us are immortal, and we must make the most of the time we have on this earth
Better start having fun
Life is short, so we should try to enjoy it while we can
Black dreams only last for a minute
Bad things may happen, but they will eventually pass and give way to better times
Don't need that pain every day
No one wants to live in a state of constant suffering or misery
Wake up, ain't no way to finish
We must face reality and accept that there is no clear endpoint or finish line
You're in trouble, bad religion in your way
Some religious beliefs can be harmful or oppressive, causing problems and making life difficult for those who do not subscribe to them
Kingdom come, thy will be done
An expression of submission to a higher power, accepting whatever fate or judgment may come
"That's another nice mess you've gotten me into"
A humorous way of expressing frustration or disappointment with a difficult situation, while acknowledging that life is often messy and unpredictable
Contributed by Camilla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.