His first serious band was The Wilde Flowers (1964-1967) with Hugh Hopper, Robert Wyatt and Richard Sinclair. This early hippie group transformed into Soft Machine. While the Softs went on, others split to form Caravan and Gong. Ayers put together his own band Kevin Ayers & The Whole World featuring Lol Coxhill, David Bedford and a very young Mike Oldfield.
Ayers' career was littered with great music and fine collaborations with more fine artists like Danny Thompson, John Cale, Nico, Brian Eno, Ollie Halsall and Wizards of Twiddly. With 18 albums to his credit Kevin Ayers was the Guru Banana
In 2007, Ayers recorded in a Glasgow studio with long-time admirers Teenage Fanclub, contributions came from Euros Childs from Gorkys Zygotic Mynci, Francis Reader from the Trash Can Sinatras, Robert Wyatt provided his eerie Wyattron in the poignant Cold Shoulder. Phil Manzanera contributed to the brooding Brainstorm, Hugh Hopper from Soft Machine played bass on the title track Unfairground and Bridget St. John, a British Folk singer beloved of the late John Peel, duetted with Ayers on Baby Come Home, the first time they had sung together since 1970 on Shooting at the Moon. The resulting album Unfairground was released in September 2007.
Ayers died, apparently in his sleep, at his home in the South of France on the 18th of February 2013. He was 68.
Unfairground
Kevin Ayers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It leaves the room for doubt
But every thing's so well defined
There's only one way out
And all the girls are on tonight
The colored wheels all spin
You're more aware than ever before
And all the funfair's will have one
That is the usual theme
No secret Jack in this box
To help the pain within
Quiet country roads and trees
Birds singing from a cage
You understand you just lost one
You step outside your rage
And what's left to believe in
The children in the lake?
I didn't see them go under
Let's try another take
Pass me the bottle, baby
One day you'll understand
We almost make the same mistakes
And hold each other's hands
Take this particular shade of gray
Just for a change I shout
There's nothing in this fairground
That couldn't be left out
There isn't much left to show you
Maybe the tunnel of love
Who knows we'll be there forever
Just like the stars above
The lyrics to Kevin Ayers's song Unfairground are full of mysterious imagery and surrealistic references that create a dreamlike atmosphere. The song begins by describing a situation that catches fire at midnight, leaving the room for doubt, but with everything so well defined that there's only one way out. This ambiguity sets the tone for the rest of the song, as if the listener is entering into a confusing and unpredictable environment. The presence of girls and colored wheels suggests a carnival or fairground, where the atmosphere is festive but also ominous. The need for a prize to win suggests a competition or game, where the stakes are high and the consequences uncertain.
As the song progresses, it becomes even more strange and surreal. References to quiet country roads, birds singing from a cage, and children in the lake add to the unsettling atmosphere. The lyrics suggest a loss or failure that is difficult to understand or accept, as if the world is slipping away from the singer. The reference to another take suggests a film or recording, as if the song is being performed or recorded as part of a larger project. The final lines suggest a sense of longing for permanence and stability, as if the carnival or fairground is a temporary escape from the challenges and uncertainties of life.
Line by Line Meaning
It catches fire at midnight
The situation becomes problematic during the night, adding to the uncertainty
It leaves the room for doubt
The situation is unclear and uncertain
But every thing's so well defined
Despite the ambiguity, everything seems to be set and structured
There's only one way out
There is only one solution to the situation which may be unclear
And all the girls are on tonight
All the females are present and engaged in the events of the night
The colored wheels all spin
The wheels of chance and gambling are all in motion
You're more aware than ever before
You are presently aware at a heightened level
You need a prize to win
You desire a reward for your efforts
And all the funfair's will have one
All fun fairs will feature a reward for success
That is the usual theme
The presence of a reward is expected and normal
No secret Jack in this box
There isn't any hidden surprise waiting to be revealed
To help the pain within
To help ease inner discomfort or agony
Quiet country roads and trees
Reclusive and peaceful rural scenery
Birds singing from a cage
Birds in captivity still sing despite their captivity
You understand you just lost one
You realize that you have just lost something
You step outside your rage
You calm down and remove yourself from a state of anger
And what's left to believe in
There is a sense of doubt around what is reliable or trustworthy
The children in the lake?
The safety of children in the water is an issue of concern
I didn't see them go under
There was no indication of when they started drowning
Let's try another take
Let's approach the situation in a different manner
Pass me the bottle, baby
Hand me the alcoholic beverage, my beloved
One day you'll understand
In a future moment, you will comprehend the current situation better
We almost make the same mistakes
We almost commit the same errors as before
And hold each other's hands
And support one another, physically or emotionally
Take this particular shade of gray
Acknowledge this particular aspect of the situation, which may be uncertain
Just for a change I shout
I shout simply because it is different from the usual silence or speech
There's nothing in this fairground
There are no true experiences, everything in this situation is a facade or a show
That couldn't be left out
Everything could be omitted and the situation would remain the same
There isn't much left to show you
Few aspects of this situation remain to be revealed or displayed
Maybe the tunnel of love
Perhaps the last remaining aspect to explore is the tunnel of love, a romantic fixture of the fair
Who knows we'll be there forever
Perhaps this may be the last moment experienced, or it could be an eternal experience such as the stars above
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KEVIN CAWLEY AYERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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RIP Kevin, brilliant songwriter.