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.
Pseudo Silk Kimono
Marillion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wearing bracelets of smoke, naked of understanding
Nicotine smears, long, long dried tears, invisible tears
Safe in my own words, learning from my own words
Cruel joke, cruel joke
Huddled in the safety of a pseudo silk kimono
A morning mare rides, in the starless shutters of my eyes
The spirit of a misplaced childhood is rising to speak his mind
A refugee, refugee.
The lyrics to Marillion's song Pseudo Silk Kimono speak of a sense of safety in a false world, represented by the title's metaphor of a silk kimono. The singer is wearing bracelets of smoke, which could represent addiction or a hazy sense of being lost. They are "naked of understanding," which suggests a vulnerability and a lack of comprehension of the world around them. The mention of "long, long dried tears, invisible tears" is a poignant image of tears shed in the past that have been forgotten or ignored, hidden behind a facade of safety.
The singer is "safe in my own words, learning from my own words," which implies a self-contained existence, but also one in which they are isolated from the world and other perspectives. They refer to this as a "cruel joke," perhaps indicating a realization that their sense of safety is illusory, and that it is only through connecting with others that they can truly understand themselves and the world around them. The second verse speaks of a "morning mare" (a nightmare), which represents a resurgence of painful memories or feelings. The spirit of a "misplaced childhood" rises up, suggesting a sense of loss or abandonment. The singer is described as a "refugee," which adds to the theme of displacement and a longing for belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Huddled in the safety of a pseudo silk kimono
I am hiding behind a facade of comfort, pretending to be safe and protected by this imitation garment.
Wearing bracelets of smoke, naked of understanding
I am chained by my addiction to nicotine, yet I am ignorant of my true circumstances and lack comprehension of my situation.
Nicotine smears, long, long dried tears, invisible tears
My addiction has led to the smudging of my clothes and my face, masking my old tears which have long since dried up and leaving no physical evidence of my emotional pain.
Safe in my own words, learning from my own words
I have convinced myself that my own words are the only ones I can believe in and have retreated to a safe haven where I will not be exposed to any new ideas.
Cruel joke, cruel joke
I am mocking myself, seeing the irony and ridiculousness of my situation but unable to break free from it.
A morning mare rides, in the starless shutters of my eyes
I am tormented by nightmares that occur during the early morning, the time when I am half-asleep and my eyes are closed, and these nightmares feel like a never-ending cycle.
The spirit of a misplaced childhood is rising to speak his mind
My inner child, who feels misplaced and unacknowledged, is making its voice heard and expressing its frustration.
To this orphan of heartbreak, disillusioned and scarred
I am a person who has been abandoned and left with a broken heart, feeling let down and disillusioned due to past experiences.
A refugee, refugee.
I am a refugee trying to escape from my own mind, trying to find a new place where I can feel secure and unburdened from my past.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WILLIAM DICK, IAN MOSLEY, MARK KELLY, PETE TREWAVAS, STEVE ROTHERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind