Hunter began his musical career on the bass guitar. An early foray into music was as an entrant in a talent competition at one of Butlin's holiday camps, performing "Blue Moon" as part of a skiffle group with Colen York and Colin Broome.
Hunter memorialized how he left his family in a later song, "23A Swan Hill," the address of his teenage home in Shrewsbury above a police station where his father was the Station Sergeant. He notes in concert that "my Dad was real mean" and did not approve of his son's artistic direction, in contrast to his "grand dad", referenced in "Cleveland Rocks", as "he was a rocker and I am, too".
So Hunter took off for Butlin's and "never looked back". Bandmates York and Broome came from Northampton, and were in a band called The Apex, which Hunter soon joined to play rhythm guitar. In 1963, while living in Northampton, he formed his own band, Hurricane Henry and the Shriekers. With Tony Marriott and guitarist Julian Coulter, the Shriekers worked steadily in Northampton, and by 1965 had picked up Freddie 'Fingers' Lee as a pianist and frontman. In a 2004 DVD interview Hunter volunteers Lee and their gigs in Hamburg as a major turning point, when he first began to "actually think maybe I could do this instead of working in factories".
In 1966 Hunter moved to London, where he joined The Scenery with guitarist Miller Anderson, drummer Dave Dufort, and keyboard player Dante Smith. By 1967 Smith and Dufort had left the band while John Vernon Smith joined on drums. The Scenery recorded some material with Bill Farley at Regent Sound, which was released without the band's knowledge in France and Japan. In early 1968, The Scenery had run its course and Miller Anderson joined Dave Dufort in Paper Blitz Tissue.
Also in 1968 Hunter remained in the band to back up Freddie Lee in the At Last The 1958 Rock and Roll Show, along with drummer Pete Philips and guitarist Chris Mayfield. The group got a regular booking at The Angel in Edmonton, and drew interest from both Chrysalis and NEMS but the group was never signed by them. Mayfield was soon replaced by the ever traveling Miller Anderson, and the group released a single on CBS called "I Can't Drive." As the short-lived rock and roll revival began to wane, At Last the 1958 Rock and Roll Show changed its name to Charlie Woolfe and released a final single, "Dance, Dance, Dance".
Hunter played sporadically in various other bands throughout the 1960s, including The New Yardbirds, and backed Billy Fury, The Young Idea and David McWilliams. He also worked as a journalist and staff songwriter for the firm Francis, Day & Hunter (no relation). Other jobs he took during these years included road-digging for a local council, and reporting for a local newspaper.
By 1969 Hunter was married and had two children, but was still hoping for a return to making music full time. That year he auditioned for and joined yet another band, Silence. Silence soon renamed themselves after a novel by Willard Manus, published in 1966: Mott The Hoople. By this time Hunter had taken to wearing the sunglasses that have long since become his trademark (photos of him without his "shades" are rare). The band was a live smash in England although their early U.S. tours on the coasts were slow in building a following. Whilst a critical success and despite being renowned for being an excellent live act, Mott the Hoople did not achieve sustained commercial success. After a dreary 1972 concert in a "gas cylinder" in Switzerland, they announced their disbandment.
David Bowie, a longtime fan of the band, was upset and offered them a song he had just written. As Ian recalls in a 2004 DVD interview, "He offered us 'Suffragette City', which I didn't think was good enough. And then he sat down on the floor, Regent Street it was in a publisher's office and plays 'All The Young Dudes' on an acoustic guitar." It shot to No. 3 in the UK singles chart and Mott had new life.
Mott the Hoople then had considerable commercial success with the albums All the Young Dudes (1972, produced by Bowie); Mott (1973) and The Hoople (1974). The band began to score financially with songs such as "Roll Away The Stone," "Golden Age Of Rock ´N´ Roll," "Honaloochie Boogie," "All The Way From Memphis," "Saturday Gigs," and especially "All The Young Dudes." When in 1973 original lead guitarist Mick Ralphs left to form Bad Company, Hunter began to play guitar until a replacement could be found but at the same time he was increasingly pressured to write hits for the band. Luther Grosvenor took over as lead guitarist, Grosvenor, aka Ariel Bender, was briefly replaced by Mick Ronson after the release of a live album following The Hoople. However, Hunter left the band in December 1974. The remaining members carried on under the names Mott and British Lions. Hunter has written a memoir, Diary of a Rock'n'Roll Star, detailing a U.S. tour with Mott the Hoople.
In March 1975 Ian Hunter joined forces with Mick Ronson, formerly the leading member of David Bowie's backing band The Spiders from Mars and a member of Mott the Hoople for a brief time. Hunter's first single from his eponymous solo album was the UK Top 40 hit "Once Bitten Twice Shy". Hunter's best selling solo album was You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic. It was released in 1979 with Ronson and several members from Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Two songs from You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic became successes for other artists. "Cleveland Rocks" was covered by the Presidents of the United States of America, whose version was used as the theme song for The Drew Carey Show. Also, "Ships" became a No. 9 pop hit in the USA in late 1979 for Barry Manilow.
During his solo career Hunter frequently worked with Ronson until the latter's death in 1993, but he has also had musical connections with many other artists, including Queen, Mick Jones (The Clash), Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Jaco Pastorius, Dennis Elliot (Foreigner), and David Bowie.
His album, Rant (2001), received wide critical acclaim and he won Classic Rock Magazine Songwriter's Award in October 2005.
In 2007 his latest album "Shrunken Heads" was released and it clearly shows that Ian Hunter is still very much alive.
Walk On Water
Ian Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tried to get lost in all that rock and roll
Came crashing through here like some hurricane
Too much, too soon for you little flame
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water, don't try
Like a lamb to the slaughter
Little flame caught that savage sound
He liked to turn it upside down
Well, I think I know what you were talking about
I'm just so sorry that your flame went out
Fun with no conscience, tracks with no tears
The rich get richer and the devil's got no fears
Sounds his call, political lies
There ain't no virtue without sacrifice
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on water
You can't walk on
You can't walk on
You can't walk on
In "Walk On Water," Ian Hunter tells the story of a "tormented soul" in the form of a "little flame" who tried to find solace in rock and roll music but ultimately crashed and burned. The lyrics convey a sense of caution, warning the listener not to get too caught up in the hype and excess of the rock star lifestyle, as it ultimately leads to destruction. The chorus repeats the phrase "you can't walk on water" as a metaphor for the impossible nature of the expectations placed on those who seek fame and fortune.
The song is a commentary on the darker side of the music industry, highlighting the culture of excess, corruption, and greed that can overshadow the artistic and creative aspects. Hunter's lyrics suggest that even those who try to maintain their integrity and authenticity will inevitably be consumed by the machine. The line "there ain't no virtue without sacrifice" suggests that there is a price to be paid for chasing success at any cost.
Overall, "Walk On Water" is a powerful cautionary tale about the pitfalls of fame and the importance of staying grounded in the face of temptation and excess.
Line by Line Meaning
Little flame tormented soul
A person with a restless and troubled soul.
Tried to get lost in all that rock and roll
Attempted to escape from reality by indulging in rock and roll.
Came crashing through here like some hurricane
Entered the scene abruptly and destructively like a hurricane.
Too much, too soon for you little flame
The sudden fame and fortune was too overwhelming for the person.
You can't walk on water
You cannot hope to achieve the impossible.
You can't walk on water, don't try
Advice to avoid unrealistic expectations or actions.
Like a lamb to the slaughter
Helplessness and vulnerability in the face of danger.
Oh, but for the grace of God, go, I
Gratitude for being spared a similar fate.
Little flame caught that savage sound
The person was drawn to the raw and intense sound of rock and roll.
He liked to turn it upside down
The person enjoyed subverting traditional norms and expectations.
Well, I think I know what you were talking about
Understanding the person's message or intention.
I'm just so sorry that your flame went out
Empathy for the person's downfall or loss of fortune.
Fun with no conscience, tracks with no tears
Lack of morality and emotion in pursuing pleasure or success.
The rich get richer and the devil's got no fears
The corrupt and powerful have no qualms about their actions.
Sounds his call, political lies
Mendacious political propaganda and manipulation.
There ain't no virtue without sacrifice
The attainment of goodness requires effort and selflessness.
You can't walk on water
Reiteration of the impossibility of unrealistic expectations.
You can't walk on water
Affirmation of the previous statement.
You can't walk on water
Final declaration of the song's thesis.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IAN HUNTER, ROBBIE MCNASTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind