They formed in 1979 after Vangelis had been rumoured to replace Rick Wakeman in Yes a few years before. Anderson had contributed to Vangelis' albums "Heaven and Hell", "See You Later" and "Opera Sauvage".
They released a total of four albums with Anderson writing the lyrics and Vangelis composing the music: "Short Stories" in 1980, "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" in 1981, "Private Collection" in 1983, and "Page of Life" in 1991, which got re-released in 1998 with some additional tracks of which Vangelis reportedly did not approve. There are also two compilations, called "The Best of Jon & Vangelis" (1984) and "Chronicles" (1994)
Thunder
Jon & Vangelis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My favourite died in pain, by a guy, son of a gun
He jumped through the horse, I guess
Disappeared, no mess
Hell! We'll just have to rest, follow me down
If you can, follow slowly
Thus enter as we may, by a hole, in the floor
Many a rat
Tried harder as I fought, thought my life
Finally brought
Knees trembling in my legs
Wish to get out, out and about
Out and about
Here, now, fear, let me free
Now, here, now
Don't leave me fast here, oh please
You won't let me live again
This way
Come, don't be so afraid, by the fire, sit beside
Change all your whims and cares
To the tide of the night
This thought occurred to me
Did the ghost disappear?
Fire deep my heart, my soul, chase him off
Very clear, very clearly
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The lyrics of Jon & Vangelis's song Thunder are cryptic in nature and leave a lot of room for interpretation. One possible interpretation of the song is that the singer is reminiscing about a deceased friend who died in an unfortunate manner, possibly by the hands of someone else. The line "He jumped through the horse, I guess" suggests that the friend's death may have occurred in a horse riding accident or something similar. The singer expresses their grief, longing to "follow" their friend and be reunited with them.
In the second verse, the tone shifts to a more surreal and nightmarish experience. The singer seems to be descending into some kind of hole or abyss, encountering rats and feeling afraid. They plead for someone to "let me free," suggesting a feeling of being trapped and unable to escape. The final verse brings a sense of resolution, with the singer urging the listener to sit by the fire and let go of their worries. The line "Fire deep my heart, my soul, chase him off" may refer to a sense of catharsis or release, letting go of the fear and pain experienced earlier in the song.
Overall, Thunder is a song that explores themes of loss, fear, and catharsis. The surreal imagery and cryptic lyrics leave room for multiple interpretations, allowing the listener to connect with the song in their own way.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, sevens worth a say, like a lie, five and one
The number seven is important, but its meaning is elusive and possibly deceitful. A significant person died painfully at the hands of someone terrible. 5+1=6, which may be significant.
He jumped through the horse, I guess. Disappeared, no mess. Hell! We'll just have to rest, follow me down. If you can, follow slowly.
Someone or something disappeared through a horse, leaving no trace. The singer is feeling overwhelmed, but invites the listener to follow along if they can keep up and stay calm.
Thus enter as we may, by a hole, in the floor. Deep darker than the black, seemed to hear. Many a rat. Tried harder as I fought, thought my life. Finally brought.
The singer and the listener enter a dark hole in the ground and hear rats. The singer struggles to survive and eventually succumbs.
Knees trembling in my legs. Wish to get out, out and about. Out and about. Here, now, fear, let me free. Now, here, now. Don't leave me fast here, oh please. You won't let me live again. This way.
The artist is scared and wants to leave. They plead not to be abandoned and fear they will not have another chance to live.
Come, don't be so afraid, by the fire, sit beside. Change all your whims and cares to the tide of the night. This thought occurred to me: Did the ghost disappear?
The artist tries to comfort the listener by inviting them to sit by the fire and embrace the mystery of the night. They question whether a ghost has vanished.
Fire deep my heart, my soul, chase him off. Very clear, very clearly.
The singer focuses their passion and emotion to banish the ghost. They are confident and determined.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EVANGELOS PAPATHANASSIOU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind