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.
Garden Party
Marillion Lyrics
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Social climbers polish ladders, wayward sons again have fathers,
Edgy eggs and queing cumbers, rudely wakened from their slumber,
Time has come again for slaughter on the lawns by still Cam waters
Champagne corks are firing at the sun again
Swooping swallows chased by violins again
Oh God not again, not again
Apertifs consumed en masse display their owners on the grass
Couples loiter in the cloisters, social leeches quoting Chaucer
Doctor's son a parson's daughter where why not and should they oughta
Please don't lie on the grass, unless accompanied by a fellow,
(May I be so bold as to suggest Othello)
Punting on the Cam is jolly fun they say
Beagling on the downs Oh please come they say
Rugger is the tops a game for men they say
(They say)
Thank God they say
I'm punting, I'm beagling, I'm wining, reclining, I'm rucking, I'm fucking
So welcome, it's a party
Angie chalks another blue, mother smiles she did it too
Chitters chat and gossips lash
Posers pose pressmen flash, flash, flash
Smiles polluted with false charm, locking onto Royal arms,
Society columns now ensured, return to mingle with the crowds
Oh what a crowd
Punting on the Cam, oh please do come they say
Beagling on the downs, oh please so come they say
Garden party held today they say
Oh please do come, oh please do come, they say
"Garden Party" by Marillion paints a vivid picture of a posh outdoor gathering full of the upper class and those clambering to join their ranks. The song is a scathing criticism of the elite and their exclusive social circles, as well as a commentary on the emptiness and superficiality of such events. The first verse describes the arrival of the guests, as debutantes and social climbers polish ladders and wayward sons suddenly have fathers. The second verse continues with the pretentiousness and snobbery present at the event as the guests consume aperitifs en masse and quote Chaucer in the cloisters. The chorus emphasizes the status seeking and posturing of the attendees, as they boast about their pastimes such as punting, beagling, wining, reclining, rucking, and even fornicating. The final verse highlights the shallowness and superficiality of the whole affair as people pose for pressmen's cameras with fake smiles and lock on to royal arms, while society columns ensure their status remains.
Overall, "Garden Party" is a biting satire of upper-class society and the pretentiousness that often accompanies such events. Rather than celebrating the opulence and grandeur, the song highlights the emptiness and superficiality of the attendees.
Line by Line Meaning
Garden Party held today, invites call the debs to play,
Today is a Garden Party, and the invitations have been sent to the debutantes to come and participate.
Social climbers polish ladders, wayward sons again have fathers,
People who are socially ambitious are trying hard to climb the ladder, as errant sons try to reconcile with their fathers.
Edgy eggs and queing cumber, rudely wakened from their slumber,
People who are anxious and cucumber workers who are lining up are abruptly waking up from their sleep.
Time has come again for slaughter on the lawns by still Cam waters
It's time for another massacre on the lawns near the quiet waters of the Cam.
Champagne corks are firing at the sun again
The corks of the champagne bottles are popping yet again.
Swooping swallows chased by violins again
Swallows can be seen flying while violins and music accompanies them.
Straafed by Strauss they sulk in crumbling eaves again
People are made to suffer by the works of Johann Strauss, leading to sulking in the shelter of the deteriorating eaves.
Oh God not again, not again
Complaining about the repetition of the same things happening every year.
Apertifs consumed en masse display their owners on the grass
Hors d'oeuvres are being eaten in large quantities, and their owners are showing off on the grass.
Couples loiter in the cloisters, social leeches quoting Chaucer
Couples are wandering around in the archways, quoting Chaucer as social climbers approach them.
Doctor's son a parson's daughter where why not and should they oughta
The son of a doctor is with the daughter of a parson - why not, what's wrong with that, and why shouldn't they be together?
Please don't lie on the grass, unless accompanied by a fellow,
Do not lie on the grass if you are alone.
(May I be so bold as to suggest Othello)
As a bold suggestion, Othello could be an appropriate companion.
Punting on the Cam is jolly fun they say
According to the people, punting on the Cam is great fun.
Beagling on the downs Oh please come they say
People invite one to join them in chasing rabbits on the downs.
Rugger is the tops a game for men they say
Rugger is the perfect game for men.
(They say)
That’s what they say
Thank God they say
Thankfully, that's what people say
I'm punting, I'm beagling, I'm wining, reclining, I'm rucking, I'm fucking
People are boasting about the activities they're indulging in at the party.
So welcome, it's a party
Welcome to the party.
Angie chalks another blue, mother smiles she did it too
Angie is seen writing something blue and her mother is looking pleased at what she’s done.
Chitters chat and gossips lash
People are chatting and gossiping, while rumors fly around.
Posers pose pressmen flash, flash, flash
Posers are posing, and pressmen take their picture, flashing their cameras.
Smiles polluted with false charm, locking onto Royal arms,
People's smiles are contaminated with fake charm, and they are holding the arms of the Royals.
Society columns now ensured, return to mingle with the crowds
The media columns are now guaranteed and can be mingled with the crowd.
Oh what a crowd
What a passionate crowd.
Punting on the Cam, oh please do come they say
Once again people try to ask others to come punting on the Cam.
Beagling on the downs, oh please so come they say
Once again people try to ask others to come beagling on the downs.
Garden party held today they say
They say that there is a Garden Party today.
Oh please do come, oh please do come, they say
They invite people to come and join the party.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IAN MOSLEY, MARK KELLY, PETER TREWAVAS, STEVE HOGARTH, STEVE ROTHERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind