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.
Cover My Eyes
Marillion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The light falls on her face
Dangerous lines
Dangerous colors and shapes
Ferocious designs
Connected and ready to play
Buttoned up tight
Crimson and Halloween-white
She's like the girl in the movie when the Spitfire falls
Like the girl in the picture that he couldn't afford
She's like the girl with the smile in the hospital ward
Like the girl in the novel in the wind on the moors
Pain and heaven
Pain and heaven
The meaning of life
A hair falls out of place
Cover my eyes
Dangerous colors and shapes
And when she moves
Cover my eyes
She like the girl on the TV with the red guitar
Like the girl with the dealer at the end of the bar
She's like the girl with the smile in the dream in the dark
Like the girl overtaking in the open car
Pain and heaven
Pain and heaven
"Cover My Eyes" from Marillion's album "Holidays in Eden" is a song full of vivid imagery and metaphorical language that seems to be commenting on the ephemeral nature of beauty and desire. The opening lines announce the arrival of danger in the form of dangerous lines and colors that threaten to overwhelm the singer. The design is ferocious and appears to be ready to pounce like a beast, and the color of the clothes the girl wears are buttoned tight and are crimson and Halloween-white. These images suggest that the girl represents a powerful and potentially harmful force that the singer is drawn to despite the risks.
The song's refrain, "Pain and heaven," is a recurring theme throughout the song, and seems to suggest that the pleasure and beauty represented by the girl are accompanied by an underlying feeling of sadness and fear. In some ways, the girl in the song is like a character from a work of fiction, such as a novel, movie, or TV show. Her beauty and allure are like that of a character in a story, but she is also dangerous and represents a threat to the singer's emotional stability. Despite this, he cannot help but be drawn to her and is willing to accept the pain that comes with the pleasure.
Overall, "Cover My Eyes" is a haunting meditation on the nature of beauty and desire, and the ways in which they can be both pleasurable and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
Cover my eyes
I want to avoid seeing things that might influence me or make me feel uncomfortable.
The light falls on her face
The way light illuminates a person's features can make them look beautiful or dangerous.
Dangerous lines
The physical, emotional, or social cues that someone gives off can be unpredictable and difficult to navigate safely.
Dangerous colors and shapes
The visual aspects of someone's demeanor or surroundings can also be misleading, hiding danger behind a seemingly benign exterior.
Ferocious designs
The complexity and artistry of someone's character can be a source of fascination, but can also imply hidden aggression or ambition.
Connected and ready to play
Someone who is well-connected and has the ability to manipulate social situations can be very dangerous and unpredictable.
Buttoned up tight
Someone who is tightly controlled and guarded can be resistant to change or difficult to approach.
Crimson and Halloween-white
The use of colors associated with blood and death may indicate hidden danger or foreboding events.
She's like the girl in the movie when the Spitfire falls
Like a character in a movie who experiences tragedy or heartbreak, this person is captivating but potentially dangerous.
Like the girl in the picture that he couldn't afford
Someone who is unattainable, either because of their social status or their emotional inaccessibility, can be a source of fascination and frustration.
She's like the girl with the smile in the hospital ward
Like someone who is sick or injured but still manages to remain upbeat, this person may be masking their true emotions or intentions behind a cheerful facade.
Like the girl in the novel in the wind on the moors
Like a character in a book who is swept away by the elements or their own emotions, this person may be unpredictable or difficult to understand.
Pain and heaven
Life is full of both joy and suffering, and it can be difficult to distinguish between the two or understand their meaning.
The meaning of life
The ultimate purpose or significance of existence is something that every person must discover or create for themselves.
A hair falls out of place
Even small, seemingly insignificant events can have a profound impact on our lives and how we perceive ourselves and others.
And when she moves
Someone's actions and body language can be just as revealing as their words or appearance.
She like the girl on the TV with the red guitar
Like a musician who inspires passion and excitement, this person is magnetic and alluring but may also be unpredictable or difficult to pin down.
Like the girl with the dealer at the end of the bar
Like someone who is involved in shady or dangerous activities, this person may be intriguing but also potentially harmful or unpredictable.
She's like the girl with the smile in the dream in the dark
Like a character in a dream who represents the unknown or mysterious, this person may have a hidden agenda or motivation that is difficult to discern.
Like the girl overtaking in the open car
Like someone who takes risks and lives life in the fast lane, this person may be exciting and invigorating but also potentially reckless or dangerous.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVE HOGARTH, MARK KELLY, IAN MOSLEY, STEVE ROTHERY, PETER TREWAVAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind