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.
Goodbye to All That
Marillion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Appeal for information on the local news
Someone must have missed her by now
A mother or a father or a friendly face to talk her down
She's heading for the great escape
Heading for the rave
Heading for the permanent holiday
I. Wave
Hold your breath 'till you feel it begin
Here it comes
Do you feel that?
Feel this?
Get used to it
She had the face of the Statue of Liberty
Oh free me
The fire and ice of Amazon and Eskimo
Take me home
The edge and the glance of high fashion
Ask me about next year
II. Mad
Tell me I'm mad
How should I know
Tell me I'm mad
I have been here for so long
Help me paint a picture
They say it's a lie
Tell me I'm mad
You're a fine one to decide
Burn me in the fires of wild heaven
Like it never never never would stop
Tell me I'm mad
Tell me I imagined that
Was it something I didn't say?
Or was it something I said
Leave that stuff alone
Use me instead
I know I'm always falling off the edge of the world
I got space in my bed
You've got Egypt in your head
I've got a headful of Troy
Chandeliers and Charlemagne
Fireworks and toys
III. The Opium Den
"Hold your breath till you feel it begin
Here it comes
Get used to it"
But you sleep like a ghost with me
It's as simple as that
So tell me I'm mad
Roll me up and breathe me in
Come to my madness
My opium den
Come to my madness
Make sense of it again
IV. The Slide
Make a drug of my senses
I'll get you out of your head
I'm sick for you
Love wastes us together
Love holds us together
Love folds us together
Flowers
V. Standing in the Swing
I don't know what you're doing here
When there's murder on the street
I appreciate your concern
But don't waste your time on me
I'm ashes on the water now
Somewhere far away
You think you came here just in time
But you're twenty years too late
You won't have long to wait
"Easy, you said I was easy. This world sharpens teeth. Eat your words..."
The lyrics of Marillion's 'Goodbye to All That' have a sense of ambiguity to them, leaving the audience to speculate about the character's behaviour and whereabouts. The first verse talks about how the town is looking for someone, presumably a missing person, someone who could use a parent, friend or any acquaintance as an anchor. This person is heading towards freedom, looking for a rave, and has decided to take a permanent vacation. The following two verses change in tone dramatically as the lead singer states "tell me I'm mad," and the song delves into complete chaos. The second and third verses are dipped in imagery and are difficult to interpret. They talk about burning someone in Wild Heaven, taking someone to an Opium Den, sliding down a dangerous path and standing on a swing wondering why someone is there right now.
Line by Line Meaning
They try to trace her in the town
People are searching for a missing person in the town.
Appeal for information on the local news
The authorities are requesting publicity on the news to help find the missing individual.
Someone must have missed her by now
It is assumed that someone would have noticed the disappearance of the missing person by now.
A mother or a father or a friendly face to talk her down
It is hoped that the missing person has found help from someone like a parent or a friend to help her get through any ordeal.
She's heading for the great escape
The missing person is trying to run away from something.
Heading for the rave
The missing person is moving towards an exciting, lively event or place.
Heading for the permanent holiday
The missing person is attempting to disappear and remove herself from everyday life.
Wave
A force or energy that one can feel or experience.
Hold your breath 'till you feel it begin
Prepare yourself for something significant that is about to happen and hold your breath until you feel it.
Here it comes
The significant event is happening right now.
Do you feel that?
Asking if the listener is experiencing the same sensation.
Feel this?
Asking the listener to experience a certain sensation.
Get used to it
You should learn to adapt to changes and accept this new reality.
She had the face of the Statue of Liberty
She had the appearance of the Statue of Liberty, often viewed as a symbol of freedom.
Oh free me
A plea to release the singer from something confining.
The fire and ice of Amazon and Eskimo
She embodies characteristics of both extremes – hot and cold, powerful and mysterious – just like the Amazon rainforests and the snow-covered landscapes of the Eskimo.
Take me home
A plea to be taken away from something.
The edge and the glance of high fashion
She has the sharpness and precision of high fashion, including the ability to quickly glance over something without missing a detail.
Ask me about next year
Asking to be questioned about the future, indicating a longing to move on and leave the present behind.
Tell me I'm mad
Asking the listener to verify if the artist is insane or not.
How should I know
The artist is unable to determine her mental state or if what she is experiencing is real or not.
I have been here for so long
The artist has been in the same state of mind for a while, unable to determine if it is real or imagined.
Help me paint a picture
Asking for assistance in creating an image of something.
They say it's a lie
Others may have said that the situation or the artist's state of mind is not real.
You're a fine one to decide
The singer doesn't believe that the listener would be able to judge her mental state better than she can.
Burn me in the fires of wild heaven
Consequence that is worthy of punishment based on one's enjoyment of the situation.
Like it never never never would stop
Indicating a continuous experience that doesn't appear like it will end anytime soon.
Tell me I imagined that
Asking someone to confirm or deny an experience that the artist may have imagined.
Was it something I didn't say?
The artist is questioning herself, unsure of whether or not she said something inappropriate.
Or was it something I said
The singer is questioning herself, unsure of whether or not she said something inappropriate.
Leave that stuff alone
A request to not dwell on negative thoughts or past experiences.
Use me instead
Asking someone to change their method of thinking and instead focus their attention on the artist.
I know I'm always falling off the edge of the world
The artist feels as though she is always on the brink of losing control.
I got space in my bed
The artist has room for someone else in her life.
You've got Egypt in your head
The person being addressed appears to be preoccupied with something, using Egypt as a metaphor.
I've got a headful of Troy
The artist is preoccupied with something, using Troy as a metaphor.
Chandeliers and Charlemagne
A description of lavish and impressive things such as luxurious light fixtures and the historical figure Charlemagne.
Fireworks and toys
A description of fun and exciting things such as fireworks and toys.
But you sleep like a ghost with me
The singer experiences the presence of someone else, even though there is no actual physical form present.
It's as simple as that
It is straightforward and uncomplicated.
Roll me up and breathe me in
Using drugs as a metaphor for the artist's desire to be consumed or taken in by someone else.
Come to my madness
Inviting someone to experience the singer's madness or frenzied state of mind.
My opium den
Using drugs as a metaphor for the singer's state of mind, indicating that it is an escape from reality.
Make sense of it again
Asking someone to help the artist re-establish order or reason in her chaotic state of mind.
Make a drug of my senses
Asking someone to help the artist feel something profound or extreme.
I'll get you out of your head
The artist believes that they can help someone escape from their negative thoughts or mindset.
I'm sick for you
The singer has an overwhelming desire or longing for the person being addressed.
Love wastes us together
Being in love with someone may lead to being wasteful or self-destructive together.
Love holds us together
Feeling and expressing love may be the only thing keeping two people together.
Love folds us together
Love may bring two people even closer together, figuratively folding them into each other.
Flowers
A symbol of life and beauty that can eventually wilt and die.
I don't know what you're doing here
The artist is questioning why the listener would be interested in someone like her.
When there's murder on the street
There are more important things happening in the world other than the artist and her problems.
I appreciate your concern
The singer acknowledges the listener's concern for her well-being.
But don't waste your time on me
The singer believes that the listener's attention and time would be better spent elsewhere rather than focusing on her.
I'm ashes on the water now
The artist is feeling hopeless and insignificant.
Somewhere far away
Figuratively, the artist is somewhere distant and unreachable.
You think you came here just in time
The listener believes that they arrived in the artist's life when she needed them the most.
But you're twenty years too late
The singer believes that it is too late for the listener to make any meaningful impact in her life.
You won't have long to wait
Indicating that the artist's downfall or demise is imminent.
'Easy, you said I was easy. This world sharpens teeth. Eat your words...'
The singer is telling someone that their words may come back to bite them and that they should be cautious when speaking to others.
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