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.
Nothing To Do
John Illsley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Built with the power of the wheel and the late.
Chimney's and factories grew from the earth.
We had pride in our work. We were proud of our birth.
Now the factories are silent. The gates locked and barred.
Machines gather dust where once they were heard.
The clock on the wall is taking its time.
Used to drink on a Friday take the kids to the zoo.
Now money's too tight, hands turning blue.
Got on my bike and formed an orderly queue.
Doint my best, but here's nothing to do.
Windows are smashed, but nobody cares.
Roof is a sieve their doing deals on the stairs.
Trolleys from stores and burnt our cars.
Cracks in the pavement and junk in the yard.
Family's split they're broken in two.
I'm loosing the light, loosing the view.
Theirs a break in the rhythm a pain in my heart.
I thought I knew the best place to start.
The song "Nothing to Do" by John Illsley talks about the industrial revolution and how it has affected society. The first stanza talks about how people moved from a rural to an urban setting, and how the industrial revolution gave rise to empires. The pride in work was high and there was a sense of patriotism. In the second stanza, the factories are now silent and abandoned. The clock on the wall continues to tick but is unaware of the struggles of the working people. The cost of living is high, and there is not much to do, leading to people engaging in destructive behavior. The third stanza talks about how families are broken and there is no hope in sight.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the changing nature of society and how it has affected people's lives. The industrial revolution, which was a major tipping point in history, brought about many changes that we cannot ignore. The song brings to light the social and economic struggles that were faced by millions of people.
Line by Line Meaning
We moved from the land and empires were made.
Human civilization evolved and developed empires through the use of technology and resources from nature.
Built with the power of the wheel and the late.
Technology, like the wheel, and hard work was essential to building empires.
Chimney's and factories grew from the earth.
Factories and industrialization thrived due to access to natural resources.
We had pride in our work. We were proud of our birth.
People took pride in their hard work and their birthplace, which helped shape their identity.
Now the factories are silent. The gates locked and barred.
Factories have shut down, and people are unable to work there anymore.
Machines gather dust where once they were heard.
Machines and other factory equipment are left unused and gathering dust.
The clock on the wall is taking its time.
Time seems to be moving slowly and unproductively, like a clock on a wall.
It doesn't know there's a mountain to climb.
Time doesn't acknowledge the struggles people face or the obstacles they must overcome.
Used to drink on a Friday take the kids to the zoo.
People used to have leisure activities like going to the zoo and drinking on Fridays.
Now money's too tight, hands turning blue.
Financial struggles have made leisure activities difficult or impossible, leading to physical suffering.
Got on my bike and formed an orderly queue.
People have to wait in orderly lines, perhaps for basic necessities that are in short supply.
Doint my best, but here's nothing to do.
Despite efforts to stay active and productive, there is a sense of boredom and futility due to a lack of opportunities and resources.
Windows are smashed, but nobody cares.
The community has become apathetic to vandalism and other types of destruction.
Roof is a sieve their doing deals on the stairs.
The building is in bad repair, but people continue to engage in illegal activities.
Trolleys from stores and burnt our cars.
Shopping carts have been taken from stores, and cars have been burned.
Cracks in the pavement and junk in the yard.
The entire neighborhood is in a state of disrepair and neglect.
Family's split they're broken in two.
Families have been separated, with some members living in different places.
I'm loosing the light, loosing the view.
The singer is losing hope and optimism, and their outlook on life is becoming bleak.
Theirs a break in the rhythm a pain in my heart.
Something has interrupted the normal flow of life, and it hurts the singer emotionally.
I thought I knew the best place to start.
The artist once believed they had a clear plan of action, but now they are lost in their despair.
Writer(s): John Illsley
Contributed by Mackenzie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alexandre Alcântara
on When God Made Time
wonderful