In 1964, the same year that she arrived in the United Kingdom, she became the first solo folk performer signed to a major British record label, when she gained a recording contract with Decca Records. Within a decade she had a well-established career. In 1965 she was reportedly the first folksinger to fill the Royal Albert Hall, and was described by The Times as "Britain's First Lady of Folk".
In 1966, Felix became the resident singer on the BBC television programme The Frost Report, presented by David Frost. She hosted her own shows for the BBC from 1967 to 1970, including the series Once More With Felix (the first episode was transmitted on 9 December 1967). Among those featured on her show were The Kinks, Fleetwood Mac, Leonard Cohen and Led Zeppelin's lead guitarist, Jimmy Page (who played the "White Summer" and "Black Mountain Side" guitar solo pieces). On 1 May 1967 she appeared on the German TV show Beat-Club; in September 1968 at the International Essen Song Days. She performed at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969.
She had two UK Singles Chart hits in 1970, the first of several on the RAK label, produced by Mickie Most. The first was with the song entitled "If I Could (El Cóndor Pasa)", while the second, marginally less successful, "Heaven is Here", was written by Errol Brown and Tony Wilson of Hot Chocolate. 1990 saw the release of a new album, Bright Shadows.
Felix lived in England until her death, still recording and performing, including appearing on stage on her 80th birthday in 2018.
Moonlight
Julie Felix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You and me on the magic sea of moonlight
Wonder fills the dark
Our spirits all embark
To sail the fairytale
Just like the moon, right
Starlight, starlight
Marks his path across the night
His silver compass gleams
He navigates our dreams
To a land where morning's hand turns out each starlight
Sunshine, sunshine
Our dreams retreat
We wait to greet the sunshine
With their chariot of light
The Gods begin their flight
To reimburse the universe with sun
Heavens above the sun is love
The day's begun, all is one
In "Moonlight" by Julie Felix, the singer and her lover are metaphorically compared to sailors sailing on the magic sea of moonlight. The lyrics connote an enchanted, dreamy, and surreal world where anything is possible. The moon symbolizes the magic of the night, the wonder, and mystery. It is described as filling the dark with wonder, and the spirits of the two lovers embark on a journey that feels like sailing on a fairy tale.
As the journey continues, they encounter the stars, which are also portrayed as sailors each marking his path across the night sky. The stars shine like diamonds, and their silver compass helps guide them to the land where morning's hand turns out each starlight. The stars act as a compass and map that navigates the spirits and dreams of the lovers.
As the night draws to a close, and the sun is about to rise, the dreams of the lovers retreat, and they wait with excitement to greet the sunshine. The chariot of light symbolizes the sun, and the gods begin their flight to reimburse the universe with it. The sun represents the eternal cycle of life, the beginning of a new day, and the warmth that it brings.
Overall, "Moonlight" portrays a magical and surreal world where lovers can explore their dreams, guided by celestial bodies such as the moon and stars. The lyrics also suggest that the world as we know it is part of a more significant cosmic order.
Line by Line Meaning
Moonlight, moonlight
The opening line of the song sets the dreamy, whimsical tone, suggesting a magical adventure awaits the listener with their loved one.
You and me on the magic sea of moonlight
The lyrics paint a picture of two people sharing an enchanting journey on a sea of moonlight, a romantic metaphor for a unique connection and shared feelings experienced by lovers.
Wonder fills the dark
In the darkness, beauty and marvel exist, and this line encourages us to soak in the magic that the night provides and to feel the joy it can offer.
Our spirits all embark
Lyrically, this describes an imaginative place where two souls journey together, setting sail toward an unknown destination, driven by their own magical nature.
To sail the fairytale
The song takes the lovers out into the world of fairy tales, where enchantment and possibility are in high supply. A creative and beautiful line that makes you feel like anything is possible.
Just like the moon, right
A beautiful metaphor that likens the lovers' connection to the moon, which symbolizes romance and emotion, and reflects their love shining in the darkness.
Starlight, starlight
The song continues to use magical metaphors that evoke an imaginative, otherworldly experience. This line talks about the beauty and wonder of the stars.
Each star like a diamond sailor
In this line, the stars are described as tiny sailors guiding the way who shine like diamonds. This beautiful comparison highlights the beauty of the stars and how important they are to navigating the night.
Marks his path across the night
The stars act like maps in the dark, guiding the direction of the sailors on the sea of moonlight. Each star helps shepherd them home.
His silver compass gleams
This line portrays the stars as having their own light reflecting like silver off their surface, emphasizing their role in providing guidance in the darkness.
He navigates our dreams
The stars act as guides for deeper, more imaginative dreaming, virtually taking the lovers to places they could only otherwise visit in their own reveries.
To a land where morning's hand turns out each starlight
This line describes a distant land at the end of the lovers' journey where morning, in some mysterious way, turns off each star, signaling the end of their magical ride on the sea of moonlight.
Sunshine, sunshine
After the night of magic, the sun comes up, and the song thematically switches gears from moonlight to sunshine, emphasizing the freshness and joy of a new day.
Our dreams retreat
With the first light of day, the lovely dreams the lovers conjured all night fade away into the light, the real world taking back over.
We wait to greet the sunshine
Even though the night may have been wonderful, there is still joy in welcoming in the new day, filled with new opportunities and adventures.
With their chariot of light
This line plays with the idea of the rising sun as a chariot bringing light to the world, emphasizing the importance of light as a symbol of hope and rebirth.
The Gods begin their flight
This line speaks of the Gods--imagined creatures--taking flight to once again canvas the Earth, and re-energize the world with energy and warmth.
To reimburse the universe with sun
The final line is a lyrical way of suggesting that the universe is receiving its 'payment' in the form of the sun, which brings energy and new chances to all who bask in its light.
Heavens above the sun is love
This climactic line brings the themes of the song to a lovely conclusion - with the sun representing the pinnacle of love, and the joy it brings to the people of Earth below.
The day's begun, all is one
The song ends on a triumphant note, as the sun symbolically unites us all and bring us into harmony with one another, representing a new day that is bursting with possibility and promise.
Writer(s): JULIE FELIX
Contributed by Ruby P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.