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.
Sugar Mice
Marillion Lyrics
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On a Sunday in Milwaukee in the rain
Trying to piece together conversations
Trying to find out where to lay the blame
But when it comes right down to it there's no use trying to pretend
For when it gets right down to it there's no one here that's left to blame
Blame it on me, you can blame it on me
We're just sugar mice in the rain
I heard Sinatra calling me through the floorboards
Where you pay a quarter for a partnership in rhyme
To the jukebox crying in the corner
While the waitress is counting out the time
For when it comes right down to it there's no use trying to pretend
For when it gets right down to it there's no one really left to blame
Blame it on me, you can blame it on me
We're just sugar mice in the rain
'Cause I know what I feel, know what I want I know what I am
Daddy took a raincheck
'Cause I know what I want, know what I feel I know what I need
Daddy took a raincheck, your daddy took a raincheck
Ain't no one in here that's left to blame but me
Blame it on me, blame it on me
Well the toughest thing that I ever did was talk to the kids on the phone
When I heard them asking questions I knew that you were all alone
Can't you understand that the government left me out of work
I just couldn't stand the looks on their faces saying, "What a jerk"
So if you want my address it's number one at the end of the bar
Where I sit with the broken angels clutching at straws and nursing our scars
Blame it on me, blame it on me,
Sugar mice in the rain, your daddy took a raincheck
The song "Sugar Mice" is a poignant and reflective piece written and performed by the British neo-progressive rock band Marillion. The song is widely understood to be a lament over lost love, a tale of guilt and regret as the singer seeks to escape an unhappy present by dwelling on a past romance. The opening lyrics describe a man alone in a hotel room, trying to piece together conversations and figure out who to blame for his current situation. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, offers a bleak and poetic observation about the transience of love and relationships: "We're just sugar mice in the rain." The imagery of the sugar mice melting away in the rain suggests that even the sweetest and most beautiful things in life are fleeting and will eventually disappear.
The song's second verse deepens its themes of sorrow and regret. The singer hears Frank Sinatra's voice coming through the floorboards, a symbol of his desire to connect with something meaningful and beautiful from the past. Meanwhile, a jukebox cries in the corner, and a waitress counts out the time, underscoring the inevitability of change and the loss of the past. The final lines of the song offer a glimpse of hopelessness and despair, as the singer's children ask him difficult questions about his job status, and he feels unable to answer them. The song ends with a sad and beautiful image of broken angels in a bar, clinging to whatever hope they can find.
Line by Line Meaning
I was flicking through the channels on the TV
I was mindlessly switching between different programs on TV
On a Sunday in Milwaukee in the rain
It was a rainy Sunday in Milwaukee when this was happening
Trying to piece together conversations
I was attempting to make sense of the conversations I overheard
Trying to find out where to lay the blame
I was looking for someone or something to blame for a problem
But when it comes right down to it there's no use trying to pretend
There's no point in pretending or denying the truth
For when it gets right down to it there's no one here that's left to blame
In the end, there's no one to blame but ourselves
Blame it on me, you can blame it on me
It's okay to put the blame on me, I accept responsibility
We're just sugar mice in the rain
We're fragile creatures trying to survive in uncertain conditions
I heard Sinatra calling me through the floorboards
I could hear music playing through the floorboards, including songs by Frank Sinatra
Where you pay a quarter for a partnership in rhyme
At this location, you can insert a coin and play a song on the jukebox
To the jukebox crying in the corner
The jukebox is in a sad state or condition
While the waitress is counting out the time
The waitress is uninterested in her job and simply waiting for her shift to end
'Cause I know what I feel, know what I want I know what I am
I am self-aware and confident about my feelings, desires, and identity
Daddy took a raincheck
My father is unavailable or unwilling to help me right now
Ain't no one in here that's left to blame but me
There's no one else to hold responsible for the situation except for me
Well the toughest thing that I ever did was talk to the kids on the phone
The most difficult experience I had was talking to my children over the phone
When I heard them asking questions I knew that you were all alone
My kids' questions made me realize that you were lonely without me
Can't you understand that the government left me out of work
I lost my job due to government policies or actions
I just couldn't stand the looks on their faces saying, "What a jerk"
I couldn't bear to see my children's disappointed or judgmental expressions
So if you want my address it's number one at the end of the bar
If you want to find me, I'll be at the bar at the end of the street
Where I sit with the broken angels clutching at straws and nursing our scars
I am keeping company with people who are damaged and struggling to cope
Sugar mice in the rain, your daddy took a raincheck
We are like sugar mice, fragile and vulnerable in the face of challenging circumstances, and unfortunately, my father can't help us right now
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WILLIAM DICK, MARK KELLY, IAN MOSLEY, STEVE ROTHERY, PETE TREWAVAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind