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.
Made Again
Marillion Lyrics
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In a life I used to live
But I have never seen these streets so fresh
Washed with morning rain
I have seen this face a thousand times
Every morning of my life
But I never saw these eyes so clear
Like the whole world has been made again
I have been here many times before
In a life I used to live
And it's all because you made me see
What is false and what is true
Like the inside and the outside of me
Is being made again by you
And it's all because you made me see
What is false and what is true
Like the inside and the outside of me
Has been made again by you
Like a bright new morning
Like a bright new day
I woke up from a deep sleep
I woke up from a bad dream
To a brand new morning
To a brand new day
Like the whole world has been made again
The song Made Again by Marillion highlights the concept of rebirth and renewal. The singer has been in this city before, but it never looked this way. The streets are fresh, washed with morning rain. The face he sees every day is now different, as the eyes are clear and free of doubt and pain. It feels like the world has been made again. He says that he has lived this life before, but it is all because of someone else who made him see what is false and what is true. He feels like the inside and the outside of him has been made again by that person. The singer feels as if he has woken up from a deep sleep, from a bad dream, to a brand new morning and a brand new day.
The lyrics of the song Made Again are open to interpretation, but it appears that the singer is overwhelmed with the feeling of being reborn after somebody came into their life and showed them what was false and what was true. The song could be seen as a story of someone who is lost, but has found their way back to the right path. The mention of rain washing the streets and the singer waking up from a bad dream create a feeling of renewal and freshness. The song could be seen as a message of hope and redemption to those who might be going through a tough time.
Line by Line Meaning
I have been here many times before
I have experienced this before
In a life I used to live
In a past life
But I have never seen these streets so fresh
The streets look new and clean, like they have been washed with morning rain
Washed with morning rain
Covered in fresh rain from the morning
I have seen this face a thousand times
I am familiar with this face
Every morning of my life
Every day for as long as I can remember
But I never saw these eyes so clear
The eyes look clearer than ever before
Free of doubt and pain
Without uncertainty or suffering
Like the whole world has been made again
The world seems brand new
And it's all because you made me see
You caused me to understand
What is false and what is true
The difference between right and wrong
Like the inside and the outside of me
My inner and outer self
Is being made again by you
You have caused me to change myself
Has been made again by you
You have caused me to transform
Like a bright new morning
Like a fresh start
Like a bright new day
Like a new beginning
I woke up from a deep sleep
I became aware after a long period of unawareness
I woke up from a bad dream
I became aware after a period of negativity
To a brand new morning
A fresh start to the day
To a brand new day
A new beginning
Like the whole world has been made again
The world seems completely new
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN HELMER, STEVE HOGARTH, MARK KELLY, IAN MOSLEY, STEVE ROTHERY, PETE TREWAVAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind