The Earth Band was, from a pop perspective, almost deliberately contrary, but combined the stylistic approach of progressive rock with Mann's keen ear for melody. Mann's interest in English 20th century classical music saw him re-create Gustav Holst's Planets Suite, garnering an unlikely UK hit with a version of the "Jupiter" movement that had lyrics added and entitled "Joybringer". Their 1973 album The Good Earth tapped into ecological concerns, a recurring theme in Mann's music in later years, and had a free gift of a piece of land in Wales with each album sold.
The membership of the Earth Band was relatively informal; Mick Rogers originally performed lead guitar and lead vocal duties before being replaced by Chris Thompson on vocals and Dave Flett on guitar. Drumming duties were fulfilled by Chris Slade, who was later to be a member of AC/DC and Asia in a long and varied career which perhaps can be summed up by his being released by AC/DC despite being, according to the rest of the band, the best musician in the band. Similarly, the technically skilled bass player Colin Pattenden, after leaving the Earth Band, became a sound consultant, running his own company designing and installing sound systems. There was much about the Earth Band that was potentially successful, but the contrariness of the band's approach and Mann's perfectionism meant that albums frequently came out with different track listings in different territories, or in alternative versions.
The breakthrough for the band in the US came when they had a No. 1 pop charts hit in early 1977 with Bruce Springsteen's "Blinded by the Light". While the Springsteen original from 1973's Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. album has a folky, acoustic sound, the Manfred Mann's Earth Band version is driving rock, combining Mann's Moog synthesizer and organ work with Flett's guitar. Manfred can be heard singing at the end of "Blinded By The Light", in the round, with Thompson - it was this feature of the song that initially attracted him. The band took advantage of the publicity and re-released another Springsteen song, "Spirit in the Night", which had been recorded the previous year on Nightingales and Bombers, originally with Rogers on vocals although for some territories it was re-recorded with a vocal from Thompson.
Nightingales and Bombers, The Roaring Silence, and Watch are considered the highlight of the Earth Band's achievement. Watch produced another hit single in "Davy's On The Road Again", and the albums were innovative and original despite the dependence on covers of other artists' songs. Nightingales and Bombers took its title from a World War II naturalist's recording of a nightingale singing in a garden as warplanes flew overhead; the recording appears in a track on the album. Roaring Silence featured a guest appearance by jazz saxophonist Barbara Thompson, and Watch included two stand-out recordings from the bands live performances of "Davy's On The Road Again" and "Mighty Quinn".
Flett left before 1979's Angel Station to be replaced by Steve Waller, sharing the vocal duties with Thompson who was also intent on pursuing a solo career. 1980's Chance showed a move towards a more electronic approach, and produced several cuts that were hits in the UK and/or saw significant airplay in both the US and UK. The songs "Lies (All Through The 80's)", "Stranded", and "For You" (another Springsteen song) still receive significant airplay over 25 years since their release.
Mann became very active in the international anti-apartheid movement, and was banned from entering South Africa, the country in which he had been born. Instead members of the band made journeys to South Africa to record African musicians for the album Somewhere in Afrika, pre-figuring Paul Simon's Graceland. The album included a cover of The Police's "Demolition Man" and a well-received version of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song", which remains in the band's set today. American versions of the album also included Ian Thomas's "The Runner", whose music video had images of the Munich and Montreal Olympic Games, and which enjoyed much airtime in the lead-up to the Los Angeles Olympics.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band has continued recording to the present day, covering tracks by artists as varied as Paul Weller, Robert Cray, Del Amitri, and The Lovin' Spoonful. Mann has also released a solo project, Plains Music, based on Native American music, and his latest album, 2006, includes collaborations with the German rapper Thomas D and tracks featuring the music of, amongst others, the Super Furry Animals. The Earth Band remain active in live performances in Europe, with a line up that includes both Manfred Mann and Mick Rogers.
Most of the band's albums have been re-released in recent years and a 4-CD set featuring many previously unissued versions of tracks was released in August 2005. This includes material from the unreleased (and thought to be lost) Manfred Mann ChapterIII Volume 3 album and the first Earth Band album, Stepping Sideways. The fourth CD in the package includes both unreleased studio material and live performances.
Solar Fire
Manfred Mann's Earth Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See the morning dancer, crossing the sky,
Turning gold to amber travelling by
He must know the answer
He must know why
Looking for an answer, look to the sky
Brightly burning starfire, life giving light
Dawning into morning
Day into night
Looking for an answer, look to the light
Sunlight streaming burn through the night
First light stealing shine solar fire
Starting from tomorrow look to the sky
There's a new day dawning passing you by
Follow aon life's dance and then you'll know why
Looking for an answer look to the sky
Sunlight etc..
The lyrics to Manfred Mann's Earth Band's song Solar Fire contain a powerfully evocative metaphor that explores the significance of the sun in human life. The opening line speaks of a "morning dancer" crossing the sky, turning "gold to amber" with its rays of light. This scene is both poetic and symbolic, suggesting that the sun is a divine entity in motion, spreading its wisdom and illumination throughout the world. The lyrics also suggest that the sun holds answers to the most pressing questions human beings face - "He must know the answer/He must know why/Looking for an answer, look to the sky".
As the song progresses, the sun's power is emphasized, with references to its "life-giving light" and its ability to transform day into night. The lyrics suggest that the sun's light is a source of strength and enlightenment, able to penetrate even the darkest shadows, casting them aside and filling the world with glowing radiance. The song ends with an invitation to embrace the sun's power for ourselves - "Starting from tomorrow look to the sky/There's a new day dawning passing you by/Follow aon life's dance and then you'll know why/Looking for an answer look to the sky". In essence, the lyrics to Solar Fire offer a powerful call to action - to seek out the sun's guidance and light as a means of unlocking our own true potential and purpose in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
See the morning dancer, crossing the sky,
Witness the sun, rising and moving across the sky
Turning gold to amber travelling by
As the sun moves, it changes the color of the sky from golden hues to amber shades
He must know the answer
The sun must know the reason for its daily journey
He must know why
The sun must have a purpose for its actions
Looking for an answer, look to the sky
If you seek answers, observe the natural world around you
Shadows getting shorter filling your sight
As the sun rises higher in the sky, the shadows cast by objects become shorter and less noticeable
Brightly burning starfire, life giving light
The sun is a bright, flaming ball of fire that provides the earth with the light and warmth necessary for life
Dawning into morning, Day into night
The sun's rise signifies the beginning of a new day, while its setting marks the end of another
Looking for an answer, look to the light
If you seek answers, study the light that illuminates the world
Sunlight streaming burn through the night
Even when the sun is not visible, its rays still have an effect on the world
First light stealing shine solar fire
As the sun rises, it outshines everything else in the sky
Starting from tomorrow look to the sky
From tomorrow on, pay attention to the sun's movements
There's a new day dawning passing you by
Every day is a new opportunity to observe the natural world
Follow on life's dance and then you'll know why
Observe the natural rhythms of life and you may discover why things happen the way they do
Looking for an answer look to the sky
To seek answers, observe the beauty and mystery of the sky and the sun
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRIS SLADE, MICK ROGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gabriela Luz
See the morning dancer crossing the sky,
Turning gold to amber traveling by.
He must know the answer, he must know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
Shadows getting shorter filling your sight,
Brightly burning starfire life giving light.
Dawning into morning, day into night,
Looking for an answer, look to the night.
Sunlight streaming burn through the night.
First light stealing shine solar fire.
Starting from tomorrow look to the sky,
There's a new day dawning passing you by.
Follow on life's dance and then you'll know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
Sunlight streaming burn through the night.
First light stealing shine solar fire.
See the morning dancer crossing the sky,
Turning gold to amber traveling by.
He must know the answer, he must know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
Starting from tomorrow look to the sky,
There's a new day dawning passing you by.
Follow on life's dance and then you'll know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
Gabriela Luz
See the morning dancer crossing the sky,
Turning gold to amber traveling by.
He must know the answer, he must know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
Shadows getting shorter filling your sight,
Brightly burning starfire life giving light.
Dawning into morning, day into night,
Looking for an answer, look to the night.
Sunlight streaming burn through the night.
First light stealing shine solar fire.
Starting from tomorrow look to the sky,
There's a new day dawning passing you by.
Follow on life's dance and then you'll know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
Sunlight streaming burn through the night.
First light stealing shine solar fire.
See the morning dancer crossing the sky,
Turning gold to amber traveling by.
He must know the answer, he must know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
Starting from tomorrow look to the sky,
There's a new day dawning passing you by.
Follow on life's dance and then you'll know why,
Looking for an answer, look to the sky.
William Kayaian
Good stuff
Mike Ryder
Great track. Such an underrated band.
Mike Ryder
@Roy Phillips Good point Roy. They certainly deserve more recognition though.
Roy Phillips
Manfreds are in most music fans top 20 bands so underrated I'm not sure ! Same league as Kinks Small Faces Stones The Move etc good solid English rock music groups
augusto cesar marques
Masterpiece !!!!
Fernando Alonso
Joder k tiempos como lo pasaba con está música, eran años donde salíamos de las cuevas y aprendimos a escuchar otra musica, se me eriza la piel, k lirismo, en fin me alegro de oír Solar Fire un saludo a todos, TEMAZO.
TransientVisions
. . . .Listening to this a couple of hours before dawn as I prepare for an early morning bike ride to a park out of town in the coming daylight...
Jörg Hagemeier
The instrumental part is so fantastic! 🤩
Olivier Boussard
Merci, quel plaisir de retrouver cette musique après plus de 30 ans !