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.
Cannibal Surf Babe
Marillion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well she tied me to the headboard with a surf leash
And her wet hair hugged her body like a long-lost friend
And I really tried my best to get across to her
But nothing she would say could be defended
Well her birthday suit it was her only present
And I told her eating people wasn't pleasant
But she laughed a snake eye laugh and walked away from me
And I watched her as she walked across the coals
I watched her as she walked across the coals
Singing: I was born in nineteen sixty weird
And I'm your nightmare surfer babe
Mr. Wilson where's your sandbox and your beard
'You still looking for the perfect microwave?
So I really did my best to get across to her
I said: "One day every pebble hits the beach"
And I kissed her face and held her like a long-lost friend
But she was too far out there to be reached
To be reached
She was too far out there
She was singing: I was born in nineteen sixty weird
I'm your nightmare surfer babe
Mr. Wilson where's your sandbox and your beard
'You still looking for the perfect microwave?
And the sun came up over the mountain
And the waves rolled in across the bay
And the fabulous brightly-coloured birds flew up out of the forest
And she said "Well we're all heaven's beautiful children living together in paradise
Lie down my dear... you're going to enjoy this"
And she looked like she'd had sex
With a Tyrannosaurus Rex
Singing: I was born in nineteen sixty weird, old man
I'm your nightmare surfer babe
Mr. Wilson where's your sandbox and your beard
'You still looking for that perfect microwave?
Perfect microwave
And I watched her as she walked across the coals...
And the sun came up over the mountain
And the waves rolled in across the bay
And the fabulous brightly-coloured birds flew up out of the forest
And she said "Well we're all heaven's beautiful children living together in paradise
Lie down my dear... you have enjoyed this"
The lyrics to "Cannibal Surf Babe" by Marillion are enigmatic and difficult to decipher, but they appear to be about a sexual encounter gone awry with a woman who may be a cannibal or an otherwise dangerous and unpredictable individual. The singer describes being tied up by the woman, who is wearing only a surf leash and has wet hair hugging her body. He tries to reason with her about the danger of eating people, but she laughs and walks away. Later, she claims to be a "nightmare surfer babe" and suggests that they are all living together in paradise. The singer is left feeling confused and unable to connect with her.
There are a few possible interpretations of the song's meaning, but one popular theory is that it is a metaphor for the dangers of romantic relationships. The woman in the song may represent the thrill and excitement of a new relationship, but also the potential for that excitement to turn into something dangerous or self-destructive. The "cannibal surf babe" could also be interpreted as a symbol for addiction or other destructive behaviors that people engage in despite knowing the risks.
Line by Line Meaning
Well she tied me to the headboard with a surf leash
She constrained me to the bed with a surfing gear
And her wet hair hugged her body like a long-lost friend
Her damp hair wrapped around her physique like a former close companion
And I really tried my best to get across to her
I endeavored to communicate with her wholeheartedly
But nothing she would say could be defended
But none of her utterances were defensible
Well her birthday suit it was her only present
Her naked appearance was the only gift she had
When I looked into her eyes - no history
When I examined her eyes - no past events or experiences recounted
And I told her eating people wasn't pleasant
I advised her that consuming human beings was unpleasant
But she laughed a snake eye laugh and walked away from me
But she giggled a sly giggle and left me
And I watched her as she walked across the coals
I observed her as she strolled over the hot embers
Singing: I was born in nineteen sixty weird
Crooning: I came to this world in 1960, peculiar and odd
And I'm your nightmare surfer babe
And I'm your appalling surfer chick
Mr. Wilson where's your sandbox and your beard
Mr. Wilson, can't find your play area and beard.
'You still looking for the perfect microwave?
Are you still searching for the flawless microwave?
So I really did my best to get across to her
Therefore, I genuinely tried my utmost to get through to her
I said: "One day every pebble hits the beach"
I stated: One day, everything will come to an end
And I kissed her face and held her like a long-lost friend
And I pecked her visage and clasped her like a dearly missed mate
But she was too far out there to be reached
But she was extremely unconventional to be approached
To be reached
Too eccentric to be connected with
She was singing: I was born in nineteen sixty weird
She was humming: I came to this world in 1960, peculiar and odd
I'm your nightmare surfer babe
I'm your appalling surfer chick
Mr. Wilson where's your sandbox and your beard
Mr. Wilson, can't find your play area and beard.
'You still looking for the perfect microwave?
Are you still searching for the flawless microwave?
And the sun came up over the mountain
Then the sun rose over the mountaintop
And the waves rolled in across the bay
And the tidal swell advanced towards the bay
And the fabulous brightly-coloured birds flew up out of the forest
And the fantastic, vividly hued birds soared out of the woods
And she said "Well we're all heaven's beautiful children living together in paradise
And she stated" All of us are the delightful eternally living beings, coexisting in a haven
Lie down my dear... you're going to enjoy this"
Recline, my sweetheart... you'll delight in this"
And she looked like she'd had sex
And she appeared like she had cupid's match
With a Tyrannosaurus Rex
With an immense carnivorous dinosaur
Singing: I was born in nineteen sixty weird, old man
Chanting: I came to this world in 1960, peculiar and odd, old gentleman
I'm your nightmare surfer babe
I'm your appalling surfer chick
Mr. Wilson where's your sandbox and your beard
Mr. Wilson, can't find your play area and beard.
'You still looking for that perfect microwave?
Are you still searching for the flawless microwave?
And I watched her as she walked across the coals...
Furthermore, I monitored her as she moved over the hot embers...
And the sun came up over the mountain
Then the sun rose over the mountaintop
And the waves rolled in across the bay
And the tidal swell advanced towards the bay
And the fabulous brightly-coloured birds flew up out of the forest
And the fantastic, vividly hued birds soared out of the woods
And she said "Well we're all heaven's beautiful children living together in paradise
And she stated" All of us are the delightful eternally living beings coexisting in a haven
Lie down my dear... you have enjoyed this"
Recline, my sweetheart... you enjoyed this"
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