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.
Waiting To Happen
Marillion Lyrics
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Listening to you sleeping
I hear the darkness breathe
And the rain against the window
After all this time
Cynical and jaded
All the stones are diamonds
Everything I've been through
All I've seen and heard
Spend so much of my life
In the spiritual third world
But you came and brought the rain here
Something waiting to happen
Something learning to fly
We can talk without talking
From inside to inside
I have waited to feel this
For the whole of my life
We took ourselves apart
We talked about our faces
You said you didn't like yours
I said I disagree
I keep the pieces separate
I clutch them in my coat
A jigsaw of an angel
I can do when I feel low
From emptiness and dryness
The famine of our days
I watch the heavens open
Wash it all away
You came and brought the rain here
Something waiting to happen
Something learning to fly
On the edge of exploding
Something wild and alive
Something waiting to happen
Any time that you like
I have waited to feel this
For the whole of my life
In Marillion’s song Waiting To Happen, the singer talks about lying awake at night listening to their partner sleeping and hearing the darkness and rain outside. The singer feels that after being cynical and jaded for so long, they are finally able to see the beauty in everything around them, that all the stones are diamonds and all the blues are faded. They reflect on all they have been through and how they spent so much of their life in the spiritual third world, but their partner brought rain into their life, signifying change and growth.
The singer goes on to talk about something waiting to happen, something learning to fly, and how they are able to communicate without words, from inside to inside. The singer has been waiting their whole life to feel this feeling of something about to happen, and it feels like they are on the edge of exploding with something wild and alive. They talk about how they took themselves apart, discussing their faces and how the singer disagrees with their partner about not liking their own face. The singer keeps the pieces they collected separate, like a jigsaw of an angel, to cling onto when they feel low. They conclude by saying they've waited their whole life to feel the excitement they feel now, ready for something to happen at any time.
Overall, the lyrics of Waiting To Happen seem to suggest that the singer has finally found something or someone who has brought them to life and given them the hope and excitement they have been longing for. They have been, in some sense, waiting for this moment their whole life, and now they are finally able to let go of the past and embrace the present and future with open arms.
Line by Line Meaning
I lie awake at night
I can't sleep, and instead stay up all night.
Listening to you sleeping
I hear your breathing as you sleep next to me.
I hear the darkness breathe
I can hear the sounds of the night, like the wind and the rain hitting the window.
And the rain against the window
Specifically, I can hear the raindrops as they hit the windowpane.
After all this time
Despite my experiences and ageing.
Cynical and jaded
I have become pessimistic and disillusioned.
All the stones are diamonds
Everything in life has gained value and importance to me.
All the blues are faded
All the sadness I felt before has diminished or disappeared.
Everything I've been through
All the good and bad experiences I've had in life.
All I've seen and heard
All that I have observed and listened to.
Spend so much of my life
A lot of time that I've lived through.
In the spiritual third world
In a place that was lacking in spiritual depth and fulfillment.
But you came and brought the rain here
But you came into my life and stirred things up and made everything feel more alive.
Something waiting to happen
A feeling that something important or exciting is about to occur.
Something learning to fly
An idea or aspiration that is taking off and coming to fruition.
We can talk without talking
We can communicate without words, via a deeper, spiritual or emotional understanding.
From inside to inside
From the essence of our beings to each other's core.
I have waited to feel this
This sense of excitement and fulfillment is something I have longed for and lacked.
For the whole of my life
For all of my existence, up until now.
We took ourselves apart
We had an honest conversation about ourselves and our issues.
We talked about our faces
We discussed our external appearance, and what we like or dislike about it.
You said you didn't like yours
You expressed that you dislike something about your physical appearance.
I said I disagree
I argued that I think they're wrong to feel that way and that I appreciate their appearance.
I keep the pieces separate
I keep parts of myself hidden and compartmentalized.
I clutch them in my coat
I hold onto these pieces of myself and their emotions close to the heart for safekeeping.
A jigsaw of an angel
A disassembled image of a celestial being, that I can put back together when I need it.
I can do when I feel low
When I feel down or despondent, I can focus on bringing the image of this angel back to a whole as a source of comfort.
From emptiness and dryness
From a void of unfulfillment and lack of inner peace.
The famine of our days
The scarcity or absence of what we need and desire in our daily lives.
I watch the heavens open
I observe with joy as the sky clears up and stars and other celestial objects become visible.
Wash it all away
I see relief and cleansing in sight, and a way to let go of stagnant or negative energy.
On the edge of exploding
About to erupt or burst with excitement, opportunities, or emotions.
Something wild and alive
Something untamed, raw, and invigorating.
Something waiting to happen
An idea full of potential, that can change and impact the course of our lives.
Any time that you like
We can make this powerful, transformative experience happen whenever we're both ready for it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVE HOGARTH, MARK KELLY, IAN MOSLEY, STEVE ROTHERY, PETE TREWAVAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind