Reilly was born in Glasgow. Her early career included singing with the Scottish Jazz Funk band Cado Belle. In 1992, she issued her debut solo album "Echoes", from which the singles "Everytime We Touch", "Tears in the Rain" and "Wait" were the most successful ones, followed by "Midnight Sun" in 1993, "Elena" in 1996, "Starcrossed" in 2000, "Save it for a Rainy Day" in 2003 and "Rowan" in 2006.
In 2006, a Eurodance-styled cover of Maggie's "Every time We Touch" by the German trio Cascada became a world-wide hit.
She has also worked with many others including Mike Batt (on his "The Hunting of the Snark" album), Jack Bruce, Dave Greenfield & Jan-Jacques Burnel, Lesiรซm, Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol (of Fairport Convention), Runrig, The Sisters of Mercy and Smokie.
Sunlight
Maggie Reilly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You smiling move towards me, under those blue skies
Waist deep in the water, you lifting up your hand
No sun was ever stronger, a golden wonderland
Here in the city, just endless gray
No rest, no silence, as you fade away
I try to find you in all my dreams
Sunlight fills my mind you're never far away
Oh how I long for you
Ask me to stay with you forever and a day
I'll run to you, I'll run to you
Now time just stands frozen
That smile fixed on your face
Reflections on the water
Two figures lost in space
Here in the city I find no sleep
I feel so helpless, I am in too deep
I've tried to find you down all the days
And you come to haunt me, take my breath away
Sunlight fills my mind you're never far away
Oh how I long for you
Ask me to stay with you forever and a day
I'll run to you, I'll run to you
Now sand and sea still touch me
Upon that distant shore
You holding out your silence
To keep for evermore
Here in the city, I can find no sleep
I feel so helpless, I am in too deep
I've tried to find you down all the days
And you came to haunt me, take my breath away
To take my breath away...
Holding out your silence to keep for evermore...
Take my breath away...
The song "Sunlight" by Maggie Reilly explores the theme of longing for someone who is far away. The first stanza sets the scene of the song's romantic setting: the sunlight reflecting on the water and the two people standing in waist-deep water under blue skies. The imagery is vivid and hopeful, with the description of the sun being a "golden wonderland." However, the second stanza contrasts sharply with the first, painting a picture of a city with no rest or silence, where the singer fades away without the one they long for. Maggie Reilly sings about lost illusions, where things are never as they seem.
As the chorus begins, the singer reflects on how sunlight fills their mind, and the person they long for is never far away, even if they are separated physically. They express their desire to be with the one they love forever and a day, ready to run to them at a moment's notice. The bridge section echoes the sentiments expressed in the second stanza, with the singer struggling to find sleep in the city, feeling helpless, and in too deep. They have tried to locate their love down all the days, but they find haunting memories that take their breath away.
The final stanza returns to the romantic imagery from the beginning of the song, with the singer still feeling the effects of the sunlight and the sea despite being so far from their love. They reminisce about the other person holding out their silence to keep for evermore, and the song ends on an emotional note.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunlight on the water, reflecting in your eyes
The sun is shining on the water, reflecting on the person's eyes.
You smiling move towards me, under those blue skies
The person is happy and moving towards the singer under a clear blue sky.
Waist deep in the water, you lifting up your hand
The person is standing in deep water and lifts up their hand.
No sun was ever stronger, a golden wonderland
The sun is incredibly bright, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Here in the city, just endless gray
The city is full of dull, monochrome buildings.
No rest, no silence, as you fade away
The person is leaving and the city is noisy and never sleeps.
I try to find you in all my dreams
The singer attempts to find the person they miss in their dreams.
Lost illusion, never as it seems
In their dreams, the person they long for is not really there, just an illusion.
Sunlight fills my mind you're never far away
The artist thinks of the person they miss and the sunshine brings them closer.
Oh how I long for you
The artist desperately wants to be with the person they miss.
Ask me to stay with you forever and a day
The singer is willing to be with the person they miss for eternity.
I'll run to you, I'll run to you
The artist will go to the person they miss no matter what.
Now time just stands frozen
Time feels as if it has stopped at a moment when the person and speaker were together.
That smile fixed on your face
The person had a big smile on their face at that moment.
Reflections on the water
The reflection of the sun on the water brings the singer back to that moment.
Two figures lost in space
The artist and the person they miss are completely immersed in their own world together.
Now sand and sea still touch me
The memories of the sand and sea still heavily affect the artist.
Upon that distant shore
The memories the singer has are from a faraway place.
You holding out your silence
The person the singer misses is quiet and contemplative.
To keep for evermore
The artist wants to hold on to the feeling of that moment forever.
To take my breath away...
The intense love the artist feels for the person they miss is breathtaking.
Holding out your silence to keep for evermore...
The person the artist longs for is quiet, but the artist wants to cherish that moment forever.
Take my breath away...
The intensity of the feelings the singer has for the person they miss is overwhelming.
Contributed by Charlie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Yiu Fai Wong
Sunlight on the water, reflecting in your eyes
You smiling move towards me, under those blue skies
Waist deep in the water, you lifting up your hand
No sun was ever stronger, a golden wonderland
Here in the city, just endless gray
No rest, no silence, as you fade away
I try to find you in all my dreams
Lost illusion, never as it seems
Sunlight fills my mind you're never far away
Oh how I long for you
Ask me to stay with you forever and a day
I'll run to you, I'll run to you
Now time just stands frozen
That smile fixed on your face
Reflections on the water
Two figures lost in space
Here in the city I find no sleep
I feel so helpless, I am in too deep
I've tried to find you down all the days
And you come to haunt me, take my breath away
Sunlight fills my mind you're never far away
Oh how I long for you
Ask me to stay with you forever and a day
I'll run to you, I'll run to you
Now sand and sea still touch me
Upon that distant shore
You holding out your silence
To keep for evermore
Here in the city, I can find no sleep
I feel so helpless, I am in too deep
I've tried to find you down all the days
And you came to haunt me, take my breath away
To take my breath away...
Holding out your silence to keep for evermore...
Take my breath away...
Gun hellsweek
Yes good