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.
Margaret
Marillion Lyrics
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Moira anderson, eat your heart out!
You-ou--
You'll take the high road an' I'll take the low road, an' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never walk again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
For me an' my true-love, the drink waters' well on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm
An' row an' row all for mhairi's wedding
Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm an' row an' row all for mhairi's wedding
I said you, you, you, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the lead guitar, from yorkshire mr. stephen rothery!
I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the bass guitar, the backing vocal, from aylesbury mr. peter trawavas!
I said you, you, you, you take the high road
I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road
On the keyboards, from dublin mr. mark kelly!
I said you, you--, you'll take the high road
I said I'll, I'll--, I'll take the low road
On drums, per-cus-si-on, mr. michael "e.t." pointer!
And a very big round of applause, for yourself, one audience tonight
It takes two!
On vocals, and percussion fish! ...
A dream fulfilled!
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
I said you take the high road
An' I'll take the low road
An' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
The balcony: sweet ma- ma- ma- ma margaret
Say yer scottish: sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret
I said you'll take the high road
An' I'll take the low road
An' I'll be in scotland before you
For me and my true-love we'll never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond!
Banks of loch lomond!
Sweet margaret
Sweet margaret
Sweet ma- ma- ma- ma- margaret!
Thank you edinburgh, good night, we shall de-fi-night-ly return
"Margaret" is a song by the British rock band Marillion, released in 1987 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Clutching at Straws. The song's title is a reference to Margaret Thatcher, who was the British Prime Minister at the time of the album's release. However, the song itself does not relate to her or her politics in any way, as it is a cover of a traditional Scottish folk song about a soldier who has been captured and is being held prisoner; the lyrics focus on his thoughts and feelings as he awaits execution. The soldier's thoughts turn to his home in Scotland, and he longs to return to the "bonnie banks of Loch Lomond" with his true love. The soldier knows that he will never walk those banks again, as he will soon be executed, but he takes comfort in the fact that his spirit will return to Scotland before his true love, as his body will be buried there.
The song begins with a line from an old Scottish folk tune "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond," which is also referenced in the song's chorus. The song's opening lines, "You'll take the high road an' I'll take the low road," are a reference to two routes to Scotland; the 'high road' refers to a nobleman's route, while the 'low road' refers to the commoner's route. The two routes meet in Scotland, and the soldier is telling his love that he will arrive there before she does, as he will travel there in spirit after his death. The song's chorus, "For me and my true-love will never walk again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond," underscores the soldier's belief that he and his true love will never be reunited in life.
In conclusion, Marillion's "Margaret" is a cover of a traditional Scottish folk song that tells the story of a soldier awaiting execution and longing to return to Scotland with his true love. The lyrics focus on the soldier's thoughts and feelings as he awaits his fate, and his belief that his spirit will return to Scotland before his love ever could. The song uses classic Scottish imagery and themes to create a mournful and poetic tribute to the power of love and the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
For me and my true-love will never walk again on the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond.
I and my true love will never have the pleasure of walking on the beautiful shores of Loch Lomond again.
You'll take the high road an' I'll take the low road, an' I'll be in scotland before you
You will take the easier path while I take the harder one, but I will still reach Scotland before you.
You'll take the acid an' I'll take the dope, an' I'll be stoned before you
You will indulge in your choice of drugs while I take mine, but I will feel the effects before you.
Step we gaily on we go, heel for heel and toe for toe Arm in arm An' row an' row all for mhairi's wedding
Let us dance happily together, matching each other's steps, while holding hands and rowing a boat for Mhairi's wedding.
I said you, you, you, you'll take the high road I said I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll take the low road On the lead guitar, from yorkshire mr. stephen rothery!
I said you will take the easier path while I take the harder one. At this point, Stephen Rothery will play a lead guitar solo from Yorkshire.
And a very big round of applause, for yourself, one audience tonight It takes two!
Let's give a big round of applause for the audience tonight. It takes two to make a good show.
On vocals, and percussion fish! ... A dream fulfilled!
Fish is playing the vocals and percussion, and he feels like he has fulfilled his lifelong dream.
I said you take the high road An' I'll take the low road An' I'll be in scotland before you For me and my true-love we'll never meet again On the bonnie, bonnie banks of loch lomond
I will take the harder road and still reach Scotland before you. Unfortunately, my true love and I will never meet again on the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond.
Thank you edinburgh, good night, we shall de-fi-night-ly return
Thank you, Edinburgh. Good night. We will definitely return soon.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Derek William Dick, Mark Kelly, Michael James Pointer, Steve Rothery, Pete Trewavas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind