John Illsley was the founding bass player with the legendary 120 million al… Read Full Bio ↴John Illsley was the founding bass player with the legendary 120 million album selling Dire Straits and contributing vocalist to their Communiqué, Making Movies and Brothers in Arms albums until the group dissolved in 1995. John has released four albums of his own: Never Told A Soul (1984) and Glass (1988) while performing with Dire Straits, then Beautiful You (2008) and the best yet, Streets of Heaven (2010).

After Dire Straits disbanded, John had retired from music and moved to rural Hampshire with his family to focus on his other passion, painting. He bought a local pub, the East End Arms, and The George Hotel on the Isle of Wight, and began exhibiting his art around the world.

Everything changed when he met the Irish rock group Cunla in a pub in Leicestershire. This was in March 2005, when Greg Pearle was their singer, and the vibe was so intense that John took to the stage for the first time since 1993, joining the band to play a couple of Dire Straits' numbers. John recalls: "I was asked to play a few tunes with them. I liked their attitude and the fact that despite the large quantities of Guinness that had been consumed they could all play very well."

To coincide with an exhibition of his art in Les Baux de Provence, John was asked to perform some Dire Straits songs.

"The Mayor of the town asked me and it's not done in France to refuse the Mayor. I asked Cunla if they could learn some Dire Straits songs and it turned out that Greg was a big fan and knew a lot of the songs already".

John and Cunla played at the Festival des Alpilles, performing to 1300 people in the Cathedral D'Image in Les Baux de Provence. The show was recorded and John was "pleasantly surprised" by the results. "I initially wanted the band to have a record of their French experience but several people heard it and encouraged us to release it," wrote John. The album Live In Les Baux de Provence was released in 2007.

John and Greg became friends and John discovered that Greg was a songwriter. John wrote "We spent some time knocking his songs into shape then began recording them in Mark Knopfler's fabulous studio in Hammersmith. Wait 'til you hear them. Greg writes brilliant songs and has an amazing voice." This collaboration resulted in the 2008 album Beautiful You.

May 17th 2010 saw the release of Streets Of Heaven, John’s first solo studio album since leaving Dire Straits. With 11 tracks in total and recorded at British Grove studios, it sees old friends including Mark Knopfler contributing to some of the tracks along with John on guitar and lead vocals.

John's website www.johnillsley.com has all his latest news.

Let's Dance
John Illsley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I′ll paint you a sunrise today.
Sky high and clear.
I could show you a summer heart best.
So gentle like breathe in your ear.

Let's dance, let′s dance.
Dance the dance with me.
Let's dance.

Dance the dance with me.

I've been walking I′m dead on my feet.
I′m all tattered and torn,
But I'll paint you a sunset today.
That will last until dawn.

Let′s dance, let's dance.
Dance the dance with me.
Let′s dance.
Dance the dance with me.

I'll show you the way.

I′ll colour the end of the day.
The moonchild will sing.
We'll swim in the shadows of love.
As nightfall spreads open wings.

Let's dance, let′s dance.
Dance the dance with me.

Let′s dance.
Dance the dance with me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Illsley's song "Let's Dance" convey a sense of comfort and inspiration. The lyrics paint vivid images of the sunrise and the sunset, the moonchild singing, and the shadows of love. The singer promises to show the listener a gentle, summer heart, and to lead them into a sensual dance, even though he is himself "dead on [his] feet" and "tattered and torn." There is a sense of generosity and optimism in the song, as the singer invites the listener to experience the beauty of the world with him, and to dance with him through all the highs and lows.

The images of the sunrise and sunset, and the promises of a summer heart and a painted sky, evoke a sense of renewal and hope. The singer is willing to put aside his own exhaustion and share this sense of renewal with the listener. The metaphor of the dance, and of the moonchild and the shadows of love, suggest a deeper connection between the singer and the listener, and between all people. The song suggests that even in the darkest moments, there is a possibility of joy and beauty.

Overall, "Let's Dance" is a song that celebrates the transformative power of music and human connection. The lyrics invite the listener to join the singer in a dance that transcends time and space, and that brings them closer to the beauty of the world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

I’ll paint you a sunrise today.
I will create for you a new beginning, filled with hope and brightness.

Sky high and clear.
A beautiful, expansive canvas awaits us - vast and clear as the sky above.

I could show you a summer heart best.
The purest and kindest feelings of love, gentle and warm like the sunshine on a summer's day.

So gentle like breathe in your ear.
Love so soft and tender, whispered like a gentle breeze, meant for your ears alone.

Let’s dance, let's dance.
Let us move together, hearts beating in time, our bodies perfectly in tune.

Dance the dance with me.
Join me in a journey of passion and freedom, where we leave our worries behind and let the music guide us.

I've been walking I’m dead on my feet.
I am exhausted from life's challenges, struggling to keep moving forward.

I’m all tattered and torn,
I am battered and bruised by the hardships I have faced, worn down but not defeated.

But I'll paint you a sunset today.
Despite my struggles, I will create for you a beautiful, serene end to the day, filled with vibrant colors and warmth.

That will last until dawn.
This moment will be etched in our memories forever, a bright spot that will carry us through the night.

I'll show you the way.
I will be your guide, leading you through the twists and turns of life's journey.

I’ll colour the end of the day.
Together, we will create a colorful, vibrant conclusion to our day, filled with beauty and love.

The moonchild will sing.
The celestial embodiment of love will serenade us and guide our hearts forward.

We'll swim in the shadows of love.
Lost in the embrace of our love, we will revel in the beauty of the unknown, free to explore our hearts' deepest desires.

As nightfall spreads open wings.
The darkness of night will envelop us, spreading its wings to protect us, as we dance under the stars and lose ourselves in each other's arms.

Contributed by Aria M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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