The band originated with vocalist Stephen Holt (vocals) and guitarist Graham Lambert. Another uncredited founding member, was basist Glenn Chesworth. His partnership with the band lasted only a couple of years. The band emerged alongside The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays from the indie scene of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Bassist, Martyn Walsh, and drummer, Craig Gill, joined in 1984. Playing garage rock, they were joined by keyboardist, Clint Boon, who changed their sound based around harmonic (and often psychedelic) keyboards and jangly guitars.
After a couple of singles on a local indie label, Holt left the group and was replaced by Tom Hingley. The band were propelled to fame after being 'discovered' by the Radio 1 DJ John Peel and had their greatest chart success in the UK with a single entitled This is How it Feels, which is a song about loneliness and unemployment.
At the time of their initial success, the band earned some notoriety for their squiggly-eyed cow 'Cool as Fuck' T-shirts; a student at Oxford Polytechnic was prosecuted on obscenity charges for wearing one. One of their roadies, Noel Gallagher, went on to great success with the band Oasis. The band is named after an Inspiral Carpets tour poster which included the venue Swindon Oasis.
They reworked their single Find Out Why as the theme tune to early 90's kids TV show 'The 8:15 From Manchester'. Another release I Want You was used by Sony to advertise their in-car entertainment systems on this advert ; an early example of advertising agencies co-opting and promoting non-mainstream music to add kudos to mainstream brands (a trend that has increased significantly).
After the release of their 4th studio album, Devil Hopping, they started to record new, more darker-sounding demos in 1995 which their label, Mute Records rejected. An amicable split followed but they re-formed in 2003 for a tour and new compilation. For the next several years, they played gigs on and off, until Hingley could no longer give his 100% commitment so original vocalist, Stephen Holt, rejoined in March 2011.
St Kilda
Inspiral Carpets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slowly stroke through windswept moors, tempted by the vice on shore
But now the time has come, I'm not sure what we have done
MISTY MOOR (MISTY MOOR)
MOUNTAIN PATH (MOUNTAIN PATH)
WE SING THE SONGS, THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK
(THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK)
GOLDEN DREAM, WINTER LEAVES (I'LL HEED THE DREAM)
All aboard and gather round, father's appeared, made no sound
The Lord tells us no one must stay, father threw his friend in the bay
With no real intent, so we prayed our pastor's sweet lament
MISTY MOOR (MISTY MOOR)
MOUNTAIN PATH (MOUNTAIN PATH)
WE SING THE SONGS, THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK
(THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK)
GOLDEN DREAM, WINTER LEAVES (I'LL HEED THE DREAM)
WE'LL NEVER FORGET A SINGLE THING
Slowly as the land goes down
We'll roll uphill there, sit and sing as we gather round
MISTY MOOR (MISTY MOOR)
MOUNTAIN PATH (MOUNTAIN PATH)
WE SING THE SONGS, THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK
(THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK)
GOLDEN DREAM, WINTER LEAVES (I'LL HEED THE DREAM)
WE'LL NEVER FORGET A SINGLE
MISTY MOOR (MISTY MOOR)
MOUNTAIN PATH (MOUNTAIN PATH)
WE SING THE SONGS, THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK
(THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK)
GOLDEN DREAM, WINTER LEAVES (I'LL HEED THE DREAM)
WE'LL NEVER FORGET A SINGLE THING
The lyrics of "St Kilda" by Inspiral Carpets paint a vivid picture of a mysterious and haunting journey through an unknown landscape. The opening lines suggest a sudden awakening and interaction with a stranger, setting a tone of uncertainty and disorientation. The mention of windswept moors and temptation highlights a sense of being lured or drawn towards something unknown or potentially dangerous, possibly symbolizing a moral dilemma or internal conflict.
The repetition of the phrases "MISTY MOOR" and "MOUNTAIN PATH" creates a sense of ritualistic chanting or recounting of events, emphasizing the significance of the journey and the experiences encountered along the way. The lines "WE SING THE SONGS, THEY'LL NEVER COME BACK" evoke a sense of nostalgia and loss, suggesting that the memories or moments being sung about are forever gone or impossible to reclaim.
The narrative takes a darker turn with references to a father figure who appears without making a sound and an ominous incident where someone is thrown into the bay. This sudden shift towards violence and betrayal adds a layer of unease and tension to the song, hinting at hidden motives and a sense of impending doom.
As the journey continues, the lyrics convey a feeling of acceptance and resignation towards the inevitable, with the imagery of rolling uphill and gathering to sing suggesting a sense of unity and shared experience despite the challenges faced. The repetition of the phrases "GOLDEN DREAM, WINTER LEAVES" and "I'LL HEED THE DREAM" hints at holding onto hope or aspirations amidst difficult circumstances, emphasizing the resilience and determination to persevere despite the odds.
Overall, "St Kilda" by Inspiral Carpets explores themes of mystery, lost innocence, betrayal, and resilience through its enigmatic lyrics and haunting atmosphere. The song invites listeners to unravel its layered meanings and immerse themselves in its evocative storytelling, leaving space for interpretation and introspection on the complexities of human experiences and emotional journeys.
Line by Line Meaning
We all rose when the pouring broke, I opened my eyes when a stranger spoke
We all stood up when the rain started, I woke up when a stranger talked to me
Slowly stroke through windswept moors, tempted by the vice on shore
We moved slowly through the windy moors, drawn in by the temptation on the coast
But now the time has come, I'm not sure what we have done
But now that the moment has arrived, I am unsure of our actions
All aboard and gather round, father's appeared, made no sound
Everyone get on board and gather around, father has arrived without saying a word
The Lord tells us no one must stay, father threw his friend in the bay
The Lord instructs us that no one should remain, father threw his friend into the bay
With no real intent, so we prayed our pastor's sweet lament
Without any true purpose, we recited the sweet lament of our pastor
Slowly as the land goes down
Gradually as the land descends
We'll roll uphill there, sit and sing as we gather round
We will climb uphill, sit down, and sing as we come together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Mute Song Limited
Written by: CLINTON DAVID BOON, CRAIG DOUGLAS GILL, THOMAS WILLIAM HINGLEY, GRAHAM PAUL LAMBERT, MARTYN JOHN WALSH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Billy Bennett
Brilliant! A hidden classic
caesar smith
So many great songs too
steve inkster
'No comments yet'. This doesn't surprise me. They put this out under the radar for some reason, but this tune to me represents the best of the carpets. Great lead hammond riff, catchy chorus and fantastic 'inspired' backing vocals.
Miyuki Shijisha
100% agree...love the intro and Tom's vocals
Miyuki Shijisha
every tune from IC to me is a classic
Miyuki Shijisha
Here we go again...love it!
Hiboux On Fire
Some of the b-sides from this period should have been on The Beast Inside IMO