Gillan was born in Hounslow, Middlesex, England. He joined the band Deep Purple in 1969. In 1970, he sang the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar. After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, he went into brief retirement before forming the Ian Gillan Band. The early band sound had a distinct jazz-rock aspect which proved unpopular and was replaced by a more high powered hard rock sound as Gillan reformed the lineup and shortened the groups name to Gillan. With the release of Mr. Universe Ian Gillan was back in the UK charts and through several more line up changes released a string of hit singles and successful albums including Glory Road, Future Shock, Double Trouble, and finally Magic.
Then he announced the band would fold as he needed to rest his damaged vocal cords. In 1983 he joined Black Sabbath to record the Born Again album before rejoining a reunited Deep Purple shortly after completing the Born Again tour in early 1984. He left Purple again in 1989, but rejoined for good in 1992. He remains in the band today.
Gillan is now working on a project to document his 40-year career, tentatively called Gillan's Inn. Tony Iommi, Jeff Healey, various members of Deep Purple and many others will be featured on this 2006 DVD project.
Nothing But the Best
Ian Gillan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I climb on the bus even though it's not going my way
As luck would have it I took a longer look today
And saw your brown eyes peeping up over your book
You had a little look
Do you mind if I say hello
Maybe I could ask your name
I don't suppose there's the slightest chance
Put on your high heel shoes and your long black dress
Why don't you try to put my imagination to the test
What you want is what you get
I'm gonna give you nothing but the best...
...thing to happen was meeting like this
You know there's one or two things babe I can't resist
It might sound crazy but babe I believe in destiny
You bring out the best of me
I'll give you everything
And not just tonight
I'll give you champagne and limousines
For the rest of your life
Put on your high heel shoes and your long black dress
Why don't you try to put my imagination to the test
What you want is what you get
I'm gonna give you nothing but the best...
The lyrics of Ian Gillan’s song “Nothing But the Best” depict a chance encounter with someone special, who catches the singer’s eye on their daily bus route. Despite recognizing the slim likelihood of a connection forming, the singer takes a chance and approaches the person, asking their name and hoping to see that smile again. The song then shifts to the singer’s determination to give this person everything they want, starting with a request to see them in high heel shoes and a long black dress. The singer’s conviction in the power of destiny and their willingness to provide a life of luxury solidify their commitment to this person, promising to give them nothing but the best.
The song’s lyrics portray an empowered romantic pursuit, where the singer doesn’t shy away from the risk of rejection, instead choosing to actively pursue the person who has caught their attention. The use of imagery in the lyrics, such as the brown eyes peering over the book and the request for a high heel and black dress, creates a vivid sense of the singer’s desire and admiration for this person. The theme of destiny and the promise of lavish material possessions underlines the text, building a sense of grandeur around the singer’s intentions, almost as if their attraction is fated and promised.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you on the same route every day
I noticed that you take the same route every day.
I climb on the bus even though it's not going my way
I get on the bus even though it's not my usual route, hoping to see you again.
As luck would have it I took a longer look today
Fortunately, today I had a chance to take a closer look at you.
And saw your brown eyes peeping up over your book
I saw your beautiful brown eyes looking up from the book you were reading.
You had a little look
You glanced at me briefly.
Do you mind if I say hello
Would it be okay if I introduce myself?
Maybe I could ask your name
May I know your name, please?
I don't suppose there's the slightest chance
I know it's unlikely, but I still hope to see your smile again.
Of running that smile again
To see your beautiful smile once more.
Put on your high heel shoes and your long black dress
Get ready for a special night, wear your best outfit.
Why don't you try to put my imagination to the test
Let's see what we can do to make this night unforgettable.
What you want is what you get
I want to give you everything you desire.
I'm gonna give you nothing but the best...
I will give you the best of everything I have to offer.
Thing to happen was meeting like this
This meeting is the best thing that ever happened to me.
You know there's one or two things babe I can't resist
There are a few things that I can never resist, and you are one of them.
It might sound crazy but babe I believe in destiny
It may sound crazy, but I believe that our meeting was meant to be.
You bring out the best of me
You inspire me to be the best version of myself.
I'll give you everything
I will give you everything you need and more.
And not just tonight
Our time together is not limited to just this one night.
I'll give you champagne and limousines
I will give you the luxurious lifestyle that you deserve.
For the rest of your life
I want to be with you for the rest of our lives.
Contributed by Andrew S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.