The Fish era is often categorized as neo-progressive. They originally started as "Silmarillion" (from Tolkien's book) with heavy influences from classic Genesis but went on to develop their own distinctive sound. The band was formed in 1979 by Mick Pointer (drums), Steve Rothery (guitar), Doug 'Rastus' Irvine (bass), and others, soon adding vocalist Fish (real name Derek W. Dick), Diz Minitt (bass), and Brian Jelliman. By the time of their first album, 1983's Script for a Jester's Tear, the bass position had been taken over by Pete Trewavas and keyboards by Mark Kelly.
The studio albums Fugazi (1984), Misplaced Childhood (1985), and Clutching at Straws (1987), as well as the 1984 live album Real to Reel all sold respectably, and the band scored a hit single in Britain with Kayleigh in 1985.
When Fish left the band in 1988 after four albums he was replaced by Steve Hogarth. A former member of The Europeans and some-time collaborator with The The and Julian Cope, Hogarth brought a new energy to the band.
Across a further ten albums, Hogarth – along with existing members Rothery, Kelly, Trewavas, and Mosley – have reinvigorated and constantly redefined Marillion’s sound. They forged into new musical territories with a succession of inventive, emotional albums, displaying little regard to the vagaries of hit charts or radio playlists.
After the release of 1999’s marillion.com the band freed themselves from record company pressure once and for all by launching their own record label, the Intact imprint.
Thanks to their pioneering embrace of the Internet through their website http://marillion.com, Marillion have developed a unique and intimate relationship with their fans. From sponsoring entire tours of the USA to funding the recording of recent albums, Marillion’s global fan-base is unique in its affection and dedication. As a result, such passionate, wholesale support has allowed Marillion to step outside of the conventional music industry and find their own path.
In 2001 Anoraknophobia saw Marillion take the groundbreaking step of asking fans to pre-order an album 12 months before release. An amazing 12,000 people signed up, helping to finance the recording. The band once again took pre-orders for the 2004 release Marbles, but this time the money was channelled into a campaign fund to promote its launch. The success of singles Don't Hurt Yourself and You're Gone – the latter making it all the way to number 7 – vindicated the band's independent strategy.
Their 2007 album Somewhere Else reached number 24 in the UK album chart with their most recent single Thankyou Whoever You Are hitting the UK singles chart at number 15. The band shows no signs of fading away after more than 25 years of activity.
Their 15th album, "Happiness is the road", was physically released in October 2008 but was originally available exclusively from the band's website. It was released with little promotion and a deluxe pre-order package was made available as with Marbles. 'Happiness is the Road' is the second studio double album of a long career (2004's Marbles was the other). A UK and European tour followed the album's release, and the band is taking special effort to record every show in the "Happiness on the Road" tour, making the recordings available from the band's website.
Afraid Of Sunrise
Marillion Lyrics
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We blanked out on the Great White Way
Fingers in desire's crack
We'd bridge and tunnel into day
Abandoned to the salt of skin
Abandoned to the highway
Sand running in the hourglass
Heat of leather and mirages
So how do we now come to be afraid of sunlight
So how do we now come to be afraid of sunlight
Day-Glo Jesus on the dash
Scorch marks on the road ahead
Friendly fire in hostile waters
Keep the faith, don't lose your head
Don't lose your head
So how do we now come to be afraid of sunlight
Afraid of Sunlight
Agave flower
Sleep beside me
Driving on
Nevada's burning
Phoenix rising
Driving on
To sunlight
Day-Glo Jesus on the dash
Scorch marks on the road ahead
Friendly fire in hostile waters
Keep the faith, don't lose your head
Don't lose your head
So how do we now come to be afraid of sunlight
How do we now come to be afraid
Afraid of sunlight
The lyrics of Marillion's song "Afraid of Sunrise" are rich in emotion and imagery, describing a scene of abandonment, desire, and fear. The singer appears to be in the process of leaving something behind, possibly a city or a relationship. He is dressed all in black, with no turning back, having blanked out on the Great White Way - a reference to Broadway in New York City. The image of fingers in desire's crack is a powerful metaphor for the urgent, fleeting nature of desire, and the sense of being in the moment, living for the present.
As the singer moves further away from his past, he becomes increasingly isolated, abandoned to the salt of his skin and the heat of the leather and mirages. This line may be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's disconnection from his physical and emotional self as he tries to escape a painful past. Despite the sense of abandonment, there is also a sense of hope and possibility in the lyrics. The Agave flower symbolizes renewal, and the singer is driving towards the sunlight, a sign of new beginnings and a brighter future.
The chorus of the song repeats the question "So how do we now come to be afraid of sunlight?" The answer is not explicitly stated, but it may be interpreted as a reflection on the fear of change, the fear of the unknown, and the fear of facing one's own demons. The final line of the song, "Afraid of sunlight," seems to emphasize this fear and anxiety, while also hinting at the possibility of overcoming it and moving towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Dressed in black, no turning back
We are fully committed to our current path and cannot alter course
We blanked out on the Great White Way
We lost our sense of direction and are disorientated
Fingers in desire's crack
We're indulging in temptation and desire
We'd bridge and tunnel into day
We used to escape reality and enter a new day through unnatural means
Abandoned to the salt of skin
We're left to the harsh realities of life, including the pain and sweat that comes with it
Abandoned to the highway
We're resigned to living life on the road, with no real sense of direction
Sand running in the hourglass
Time continues to pass by, whether we're ready for it or not
Heat of leather and mirages
The hot and dry environment is playing tricks on our perception
So how do we now come to be afraid of sunlight
We're trying to understand why we're now uncomfortable with things that were once familiar
Day-Glo Jesus on the dash
A religious symbol is present in our daily lives, but it feels out of place
Scorch marks on the road ahead
Trouble is anticipated on our journey ahead
Friendly fire in hostile waters
We're experiencing conflict from those who should be our allies
Keep the faith, don't lose your head
We need to stay true to our beliefs and keep calm in difficult situations
Agave flower
A symbol of beauty and fragility
Sleep beside me
We long for a sense of comfort and peace
Driving on
We're continuing on our journey, no matter what may come
Nevada's burning
The environment around us is changing, and not for the better
Phoenix rising
Out of the destruction, there is hope for renewal
How do we now come to be afraid
We're asking ourselves how we've become so fearful
Afraid of sunlight
We're specifically afraid of the exposure and vulnerability that comes with daylight
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN HELMER, STEVE HOGARTH, MARK KELLY, IAN MOSLEY, STEVE ROTHERY, PETER TREWAVAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind