Miles was a member of groups "The Influence", which also included Paul Thompson, later drummer with Roxy Music and Vic Malcolm, later vocalist with Geordie and "The John Miles Set," before starting his solo career in 1971. During the 1970s he issued 18 singles and four albums, including "Rebel" (1976), "Stranger In The City" (1977), and "Zaragon" (1978). He had most success with singles; in addition to Music, he also charted with "Highfly" (1975), "Remember Yesterday" (1976), and "Slow Down" (1977). Most of his songs were co-written with his bassist Bob Marshall.
Miles has toured with Tina Turner, often filling in for Bryan Adams when the latter was unavailable to join her on tour for their duet. Miles is also a frequent guest vocalist on albums by The Alan Parsons Project.
In the 1980s he continued to record and tour. In 1983 a new radio station in the south of England, Radio Mercury, used parts from the song "Music" for their link jingles. The actual song itself also received extensive airplay on the station, leading one to speculate this was perhaps part of a deal for the usage in their jingles.
A list of Miles album releases from the 1980s and 1990s is as follows:
Sympathy (1980)
Miles High (1981)
John Miles' Music (1982)
Play On (1983)
Transition (1985)
John Miles Live In Concert (1992)
Anthology (1993)
Upfront (1993)
Master Series (1998)
Tom and Catherine (1999)
Millennium Edition (1999)
Throughout the late 80s and into the 90s John Miles was musical director to Tina Turner on her various tours, and played on several of her albums. He also played Hammond organ on Joe Cocker's album "Night Calls"(1992).
In 2002 he issued the DVD "John Miles - Live In Concert." In 2007, Miles performed in Gelsenkirchen, Germany with German band Pur and sang two songs. One of those songs, "Abenteuerland", Miles sang with Pur in German. The concert is available on the DVD, Pur-Friends-Live-Schalke-2007. In October 2008, Miles began touring once again with Tina Turner until May 2009.
In 2017, Miles was awarded an outstanding contribution to music award at the Progressive Rock awards.
Manhattan Skyline
John Miles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's all you want in cheap delights.
No good end for what you buy,
Some down and out to tell you why.
Names of those who tasted nights.
Manhattan Skyline, Broadway Lights.
Spend all your money,
Lighting the flame,
Is a part of the game.
You're in pieces.
You're down on the floor.
No-one to help you
'Cause you're outside the law.
And once you've lost your way it's hard to find.
The song "Manhattan Skyline" by John Miles is a commentary on the glitzy, alluring nature of New York City, and how it can be both captivating and dangerous. The lyrics describe the sights of Manhattan from the perspective of a tourist, highlighting the cheap thrills and bright lights of Broadway. However, the song also touches on the darker side of the city, where those who indulge in its temptations may find themselves lost and without help.
The opening line of the song sets the scene: "Manhattan Skyline, Broadway Lights." The image is one of grandeur and spectacle, with the skyline of New York providing a stunning backdrop for the neon lights of Broadway. The next line, "There's all you want in cheap delights," suggests that these attractions are easily available and tempting, but ultimately unsatisfying.
The refrain repeats the ominous warning that "Once you've lost your way it's hard to find." This line underscores the potential danger of indulging in the city's pleasures, as well as the difficulty of finding one's way back to safety once being lured into the darker side of the city. Overall, the song serves as a cautionary tale about the allure and danger of the big city.
Line by Line Meaning
Manhattan Skyline, Broadway Lights,
The bright lights of Broadway in Manhattan are illuminating and captivating.
There's all you want in cheap delights.
The city offers a lot of cheap pleasures that may seem attractive but ultimately lead to no good end.
No good end for what you buy,
Whatever you buy in this city will not lead to any good outcome.
Some down and out to tell you why.
Some people who have fallen on hard times can tell you about the negative consequences of indulging in these cheap delights.
Names of those who tasted nights.
Many people have experienced the darkness of these city nights and the destructive habits that come with them.
Manhattan Skyline, Broadway Lights.
Once again, the bright lights of Manhattan and Broadway are highlighted as both alluring and dangerous.
Spend all your money,
People often spend all their money on these cheap pleasures without realizing the consequences.
Lighting the flame,
Indulging in these pleasures ignites a flame within people, causing them to crave more and more.
Playing the wheel Is a part of the game.
Gambling is a common part of this dangerous game, leading people to take risks with their money and their lives.
You're in pieces.
After indulging in these cheap pleasures, people often feel broken and lost, unable to piece their lives back together.
You're down on the floor.
People often hit rock bottom after indulging in these vices, with nowhere to go but up.
No-one to help you.
Despite the many people around, there is no one to truly help those who have fallen victim to these cheap pleasures and their destructive consequences.
'Cause you're outside the law.
Indulging in these vices puts you outside of the law, making it difficult to seek legal or social assistance.
And once you've lost your way it's hard to find.
Once someone falls into the trap of these cheap pleasures, it's difficult to find their way back to a positive and fulfilling life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN (GB 1) MILES, ROBERT MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind