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.
Chelsea Monday
Marillion Lyrics
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Hiding in her cellophane world in glitter town
Awaiting the prince in his white Capri
Dynamic young Tarzan courts the bedsit queen
She's playing the actress in this bedroom scene
She's learning her lines from glossy magazines
Stringing all her pearls from her childhood dreams
Auditioning for the leading role on the silver screen
Patience my perfumed child
One day they really love you
You'll charm them with that smile
But for now it's just another Chelsea Monday
Drifting with her incense in the labyrinth of London
Playing games with faces in the neon wonderland
Perform to scattered shadows on the shattered cobbled aisles
Would she dare recite soliloquies at the risk of stark applause
She'll pray for endless Sundays as she enters saffron sunsets
Conjure phantom lovers from the tattered shreds of dawn
Fulfilled and yet forgotten the St. Tropez mirage
Fragrant aphrodisiac, the withered tuberose
Patience my tinsel angel, patience my perfumed child
One day they really love you, you'll charm them with that smile
But for now it's just another Chelsea Monday
[Hello John, did you see The Standard about four hours ago?
Fished a young chick out of The Old Father
Blond hair, blue eyes. She said she wanted to be an actress or something
Nobody knows where she came from, where she was going
Funny thing was she had a smile on her face
She was smiling, what a waste]
Catalogue princess, apprentice seductress
Buried in her cellophane world in glitter town
Of Chelsea Monday
The lyrics of Marillion's "Chelsea Monday" tell the story of a young woman caught up in the world of show business, waiting for her big break while living in a small bedsit in London. She dreams of becoming a famous actress and seducing her prince charming, represented by the "dynamic young Tarzan" who courts her while she plays the part of an actress in her bedroom. Her world is one of glitter and incense, of playing games with faces in a neon wonderland, yet it is a world that is also shattered and forgotten, one that she tries to escape by conjuring phantom lovers and praying for endless Sundays.
The song is a commentary on the seductive yet shallow nature of show business, where one's dreams can easily become illusions, and those illusions can lead to heartbreak and disappointment. The use of imagery in the lyrics is particularly strong, evoking a sense of glamour and danger, of bright lights and dark shadows. The message of the song is ultimately one of hope, however, as it urges the listener to have patience and to believe in themselves, for one day "they really love you" and you will charm them with your smile.
Line by Line Meaning
Catalogue princess, apprentice seductress
A young woman who feels like royalty and aspires to be a seductive figure, like the ones she sees in catalogs and magazines
Hiding in her cellophane world in glitter town
This young woman is living in a manufactured, artificial world of glamour and glitz, but is alone and disconnected from reality
Awaiting the prince in his white Capri
She imagines a handsome man coming to rescue her from her mundane life, but this hope is unfounded
Dynamic young Tarzan courts the bedsit queen
A charismatic man flirts with the woman living in a small rented room, but this is not true love
She's playing the actress in this bedroom scene
She is pretending to be someone else, like an actress on stage, in order to escape her current life
She's learning her lines from glossy magazines
She derives her expectations and dreams from superficial publications, which do not reflect reality
Stringing all her pearls from her childhood dreams
She clings to the naive and idealistic dreams she had in her youth, but these are not compatible with adult life
Auditioning for the leading role on the silver screen
She hopes to be a star in Hollywood, but her chances are slim and her aspirations are unrealistic
Patience my tinsel angel
Someone advises her to be patient and persistent in pursuing her unrealistic dreams
Patience my perfumed child
The same person urges her to be gentle and innocent in her demeanor, despite the harsh realities of the world
One day they really love you
The person assures her that one day she will find true love and recognition, despite the hardships she currently faces
You'll charm them with that smile
The person assures her that her looks and demeanor will attract others, eventually leading to success and happiness
But for now it's just another Chelsea Monday
The present moment is bleak and mundane, and her situation is not improving
Drifting with her incense in the labyrinth of London
She wanders aimlessly in the complicated and confusing city of London, with only her sweet smell of perfume as her company
Playing games with faces in the neon wonderland
She engages in frivolous and meaningless entertainment, like looking at the lights and people in the city
Perform to scattered shadows on the shattered cobbled aisles
She puts on a show for invisible and disinterested observers, on dirty and broken streets
Would she dare recite soliloquies at the risk of stark applause
She considers expressing her inner thoughts and feelings in a public setting, but is afraid of being criticized or mocked
She'll pray for endless Sundays as she enters saffron sunsets
She hopes for an eternal state of leisure and beauty, like a perfect summer evening, free from the harsh realities of life
Conjure phantom lovers from the tattered shreds of dawn
She fantasizes about romantic relationships that are unlikely to happen, based on fleeting moments of beauty and hope
Fulfilled and yet forgotten the St. Tropez mirage
She once experienced a fleeting moment of happiness and luxury in St. Tropez, but this memory is now fading and meaningless
Fragrant aphrodisiac, the withered tuberose
She is aware of the seductive powers of her beauty and scent, but also aware of the fleeting nature of these powers
Hello John, did you see The Standard about four hours ago?
A conversation starter, presumably between two strangers or acquaintances
Fished a young chick out of The Old Father
One of the singers mentions a recent incident where someone was supposedly rescued from danger, but the context is unclear
Blond hair, blue eyes. She said she wanted to be an actress or something
The rescued girl is described in physical terms, and her aspirations are mentioned
Nobody knows where she came from, where she was going
The exact circumstances of the incident are unclear, and the girl's backstory and destiny are unknown
Funny thing was she had a smile on her face
The smile on the girl's face, despite the dangers she faced, is ironic and perplexing to the singers
She was smiling, what a waste
One of the singers expresses a cynical attitude towards the girl's situation and aspirations
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DEREK WILLIAM DICK, DIZ MINNETT, MARK KELLY, MICHAEL POINTER, PETER TREWAVAS, STEVE ROTHERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
popkorn
The first solo is just incredibly beautiful...
Gavin FreedomLover
Possibly the best.
Marc Moingeon
All the solos are incredibly beautiful ! ;o)) It's such a melancholy magnificent song. Steve Rothery had such a mastery of his guitar on this track... I'm happy i heard them play this live once.
klistarf
Fish is a modern day urban poet. He simply mesmerises with his storytelling! And the band backed him up perfectly. In fact, this is nothing short of sheer perfection! I love it... \m/ (:o)
Jonathan Vogel
agree
Soraya Galvao
Love it!!!
Alistair Smyth
Totally agree
MAGNUM The Golden years 1974 - 88
THIS WHOLE ALBUM IS TREMENDOUS, MARILLION STILL HAVNT COME CLOSE TO REPEATING THIS...
R Myikzelf
Agreed
R Myikzelf
@Keith Bate never heard of that. What is it?