After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all ended in failure. This fact, combined with a warm reception to his guest appearance at the Butterfly Ball in 1975 prompted him to resume a singing career and form a new band.
Initially called Shand Grenade, Gillan was persuaded to change the band's name to the Ian Gillan Band. He recruited guitarist Ray Fenwick, bass player John Gustafson, keyboard player Mike Moran and Elf drummer Mark Nauseef. Using Roger Glover as producer and session musician, this lineup released their first album Child In Time in 1976. In that year Moran was replaced by Micky Lee Soule (ex-Elf and Rainbow), but for the recording of follow-up album Clear Air Turbulence he was dropped in favour of Colin Towns.
The band had some success in Japan but none at all in North America and only cult status in Europe, their jazz fusion direction unappealing to pop and rock fans alike. Their next album, Scarabus (1977), had more of a rock sound but retained the jazz fusion direction. Released at the height of punk rock, there was no success beyond Japan and their label Island Records dropped them.
The following year (1978) Ian Gillan dissolved the band but retained Colin Towns and formed a new band called simply Gillan. A live album was released posthumously.
Lay Me Down
Ian Gillan Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said it's a sin
Started to pray while she did her thing
She had to move
Had to curse me
I's coming firstly
I ain't complaining
Understand
I ain't religious
Or dogmatic
But it don't happen automatic
She don't believe
In getting paid
Specially when she's getting laid
She whacked it in
She whacked it out
She took my love and threw it about
Gets nice
I knew it would
I shouldn't feel so good
She kicks her feet
And wags her tail
She rolls her eyes and starts to wail
The lyrics of Ian Gillan Band's song Lay Me Down portray a sexual encounter between two people, with the singer describing the experience from his perspective. He feels conflicted as he believes that what they are doing is sinful, but the woman continues to pray while they engage in sexual activity. The woman is described as being energetic and powerful, taking control of the situation and "cursing" the singer. Despite this, he is not complaining and seems to enjoy the experience.
The singer's perspective on the encounter is complex, with him expressing both positive and negative emotions. Although he enjoys the experience, he is aware that it is not entirely consensual, with the woman taking control and "whacking" his love around. He also acknowledges that the encounter is not something that can happen automatically or without consequences. The woman's perspective is not clear, although it is suggested that she is not interested in being paid for her services.
Overall, the lyrics of Lay Me Down suggest a complex and emotionally charged encounter between two people with different perspectives and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
She lay me down
She initiated the sexual encounter by laying me down
I said it's a sin
Although I went along with it, I felt guilty about the sinful nature of the act
Started to pray while she did her thing
While she engaged in the sexual act, I began to pray for forgiveness
She had to move
She needed to change positions during the sexual encounter
Had to curse me
She used profanity towards me during the sexual encounter
I's coming firstly
I was close to climaxing before her
I ain't complaining
I am not complaining about the sexual encounter
Understand
I hope you understand my perspective on the situation
But she did it underhand
I feel like she was deceitful in some way during the sexual encounter
I ain't religious
I do not follow any particular religion
Or dogmatic
I am not rigid in my beliefs
But it don't happen automatic
Sexual acts do not happen without effort and intention
She don't believe
She does not believe in receiving payment for sexual acts
In getting paid
She does not believe in receiving payment for sexual acts
Specially when she's getting laid
Especially when she is enjoying the sexual encounter
She whacked it in
She abruptly inserted my penis into her vagina
She whacked it out
She abruptly removed my penis from her vagina
She took my love and threw it about
She was careless with my feelings and emotions during the sexual encounter
Gets nice
It feels good
I knew it would
I expected to feel good during the sexual encounter
I shouldn't feel so good
I feel guilty for enjoying the sinful sexual encounter
She kicks her feet
She involuntarily moves her feet during the sexual encounter
And wags her tail
She is enjoying the sexual encounter
She rolls her eyes and starts to wail
She moans and expresses pleasure during the sexual encounter
Writer(s): Ian Gillan, John Frederick Gustafson, Ray Fenwick, Mark J. Nauseef
Contributed by Riley I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
metallooney
Happy 67th birthday Ian!!(08/19/2012)!!!
ольга к.
Через неделю 75!!!! Невозможно поверить, но это так! Gillan Forever!!!!
Nebo D
November 2018 now he has 74 !!!!!
GODWILL *
👍👍👍👍👍
Mark Rago
So was it Fenwick and Gustafson, from the beginning? I know they were gone when Gillan started.