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.
Warm Wet Circles
Marillion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where ceremonies pause at the jewelers shop display
Feigning casual silence in strained romantic interludes
Till they commit themselves to the muted journey home
And the pool player rests on another cue
Last nights hero picking up his dues
A honeymoon gambled on a ricochet
She's staring at the brochures at the holidays
Standing all your mates to another round
Laughing at the world till the barman wipes away the warm wet circles
The warm wet circles
I saw teenage girls like gaudy moths
A classrooms shabby butterflies
Flirt in the glow of stranded telephone boxes;
Planning white lace weddings from smeared hearts and token proclamations,
Rolled from stolen lipsticks across the razored webs of glass
Sharing cigarettes with experience
With her giggling jealous confidantes,
She faithfully traces his name
With quick bitten fingernails
Through the tears of condensation
That'll cry through the night
As the glancing headlights of the last bus
Kiss adolescence goodbye
In a warm wet circle
Like a mothers kiss on your first broken heart,
A warm wet circle
Like a bullit hole in central park,
A warm wet circle
And I'll always surrender to the warm wet circles
She nervously undressed in the dancing beams of the fidra lighthouse
Giving it all away before it's too late
She'll let a lovers tongue move in a warm wet circle
Giving it all away and showing no shame
She'll take a mother's kiss on her first broken heart
A warm wet circle,
She'll realise that she played her part in a warm wet circle
Teenage war brides
It was a wedding ring,
Destined to be found in a cheap hotel
Lost in a kitchen sink or thrown in a wishing well
The lyrics of Marillion's song Warm Wet Circles describe various scenes of romantic encounters taking place in different settings. The first verse depicts sidewalks where drunken men propose to arcade mannequins, and couples who struggle to communicate their feelings until they decide to head back home. The chorus mentions warm wet circles, which are likely the marks left on a table by a glass, suggesting that the scenes described took place in bars or clubs. The second verse talks about teenage girls flirting by phone booths and planning weddings in secret, stolen moments. The song culminates with a description of a woman undressing in front of a lighthouse, surrendering to passion and vulnerability.
Overall, the song seems to explore the theme of fleeting moments of intimacy and the hidden desires and hopes that people hold inside. The imagery is poetic and evocative, painting vivid pictures of mundane settings transformed by emotional tension. The warm wet circles mentioned throughout the song can be interpreted as symbols of human connection, whether through tears, alcohol, or bodily fluids.
Line by Line Meaning
On promenades where drunks propose to lonely arcade mannequins
In busy public walks, alcoholics make proposals to inanimate mannequins in arcades because of loneliness.
Where ceremonies pause at the jewelers shop display
In front of jewelry store displays, events like weddings stop to admire the beautiful items.
Feigning casual silence in strained romantic interludes
Acting like everything is normal while struggling through uncomfortable romantic moments.
Till they commit themselves to the muted journey home
Until they make a commitment to go home in silence without talking about their awkward romantic encounter.
And the pool player rests on another cue
The pool player takes a break between games by leaning on their cue stick.
Last nights hero picking up his dues
The person who did well the night before is now having to deal with the consequences.
A honeymoon gambled on a ricochet
A marriage can be a risky gamble that could end in either good or bad fortune.
She's staring at the brochures at the holidays
She is looking at travel ads and dreaming of having a vacation.
Chalking up a name in your hometown
Writing someone's name on a chalkboard to show that they are someone you care about in your hometown.
Standing all your mates to another round
Buying everyone more drinks.
Laughing at the world till the barman wipes away the warm wet circles
Laughing so hard that tears are streaming down their face and the bartender has to clean up the wet spots on the bar.
The warm wet circles
The tears that come from laughter.
I saw teenage girls like gaudy moths
Teenage girls who attract attention like brightly-colored moths.
A classrooms shabby butterflies
In a classroom, the students may not appear attractive, but they still transform like butterflies.
Flirt in the glow of stranded telephone boxes
Teens flirt near the red telephone boxes on street corners.
Planning white lace weddings from smeared hearts and token proclamations
Planning beautiful weddings with damaged hearts and meaningless promises.
Rolled from stolen lipsticks across the razored webs of glass
Lipstick messages drawn on glass with cuts from a razor blade.
Sharing cigarettes with experience
Sharing cigarettes with those who have gone through similar experiences.
With her giggling jealous confidantes
Her close and trustworthy friends who are envious and laugh with her.
She faithfully traces his name
She loyally writes his name over and over again.
With quick bitten fingernails
With nervous biting fingernails that reveal her inner feelings.
Through the tears of condensation
Through the tears of humidity that blur her vision.
That'll cry through the night
The tears that continue throughout the night.
As the glancing headlights of the last bus
The fleeting headlights of the last bus going by.
Kiss adolescence goodbye
Symbolizing the end of adolescence as one moves on to new experiences.
In a warm wet circle
In a moment of emotional connection that causes tears to flow.
Like a mothers kiss on your first broken heart,
Like a mother's comforting kiss that heals a child's emotional pain.
Like a bullit hole in central park,
Symbolizing a traumatic and jarring experience like a bullet hole.
And I'll always surrender to the warm wet circles
Embracing the emotional experiences that bring tears.
She nervously undressed in the dancing beams of the fidra lighthouse
She unbuttons nervously under the light of the Fidra Lighthouse.
Giving it all away before it's too late
Showing vulnerability and giving up everything before it's too late to enjoy it.
She'll let a lovers tongue move in a warm wet circle
She'll allow herself to be intimate with a lover and experience the warm emotional connection that comes with that.
Giving it all away and showing no shame
Giving all of herself away and being unashamed of it.
She'll take a mother's kiss on her first broken heart
Seeking comfort from a mother's kiss after experiencing heartbreak for the first time.
And realise that she played her part in a warm wet circle
Realizing that she contributed to the emotional connections and experiences that bring people to tears.
Teenage war brides
Young women who get married too soon and find themselves in stressful situations.
It was a wedding ring,
It was a ring given during a wedding ceremony.
Destined to be found in a cheap hotel
The ring was meant to be found in a cheap hotel room, likely due to infidelity.
Lost in a kitchen sink or thrown in a wishing well
The ring was lost or discarded in a mundane or ceremonial way.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DEREK WILLIAM DICK, IAN MOSLEY, MARK KELLY, PETE TREWAVAS, STEVE ROTHERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
matthew taylor
This is Beyond poetry
This is beyond words to describe just how perfect it is.
Just write out the words and actually look at the masterpiece to this song.
Every singe word paints a memory back to back genius in every line of this tune.
We think we're alright under the hammer falls and she 'nervously undressed in the dancing lights of ..lighthouse. and boom it all turns sinister.
Reminds me of my teenage years , first loves, last buses home in the rain, school kisses, heartbreaking, sexual fumbling.
The day This was written was by a God not a man.
陳威廷
On promenades where drunks propose to lonely arcade mannequins
Where ceremonies pause at the jewelers shop display
Feigning casual silence in strained romantic interludes
Till they commit themselves to the muted journey home
And the pool player rests on another cue
Last nights hero picking up his dues
A honeymoon gambled on a ricochet
She's staring at the brochures at the holidays
Chalking up a name in your hometown
Standing all your mates to another round
Laughing at the world till the barman wipes away the warm wet circles
The warm wet circles
I saw teenage girls like gaudy moths
A classroom's shabby butterflies
Flirt in the glow of stranded telephone boxes
Planning white lace weddings from smeared hearts
And token proclamations
Rolled from stolen lipsticks across the razored webs of glass
Sharing cigarettes with experience
With her giggling jealous confidantes
She faithfully traces his name
With quick bitten fingernails
Through the tears of condensation
That'll cry through the night
As the glancing headlights of the last bus
Kiss adolescence goodbye
In a warm wet circle
Like a mothers kiss on your first broken heart
A warm wet circle
Like a bullet hole in Central Park
A warm wet circle
And I'll always surrender
To the warm wet circles
She nervously undressed in the dancing beams of the Fidra lighthouse
Giving it all away before it's too late
She'll let a lover's tongue move in a warm wet circle
Giving it all away, showing no shame
She'll take a mother's kiss on her first broken heart
A warm wet circle
She'll realise that she played her part
In a warm wet circle
Tiago Patula
Sulle passeggiate dove gli ubriachi fanno proposte oscene alle mannequin delle arcate solitarie
dove le cerimonie si interrompono di fronte alle vetrine dei gioiellieri
fingendo un silenzio casule in soffocati intermezzi romantici
finché non si decidono a tornare silenziosamente verso casa
e i giocatori di biliardo si appoggiano a un’altra stecca
L’eroe delle notti scorse raccoglie ciò che gli è dovuto
una luna di miele scommessa su uno sparo
lei guarda i depliant, le vacanze
disegnando un nome nella tua citta natale
mentre sfidi tutti i tuoi amici a un altro giro
ridendo al mondo finché il barman non pulisce il banco
dai cerchi caldi e bagnati
Ho visto ragazze teenager come torme pacchiane, le farfalle consumate della classe
flirtare nell’alone di cabine telefoniche sfasciate;
programmavano matrimoni in pizzi bianchi da cuori macchiati
e proclami fasulli, arrotolati in rossetti rubati
attraverso taglienti ragnatele di vetri spezzati
Dividendo sigarette ed esperienze con le sue confidenti
gelose e ridacchianti, lei fedelmente traccia il nome di lui
con unghie morse frettolosamente attraverso le lacrime
di aria condensata che piangeranno nella notte
mentre i fari dell’ultimo autobus la osservavano dare il bacio d’addio all’adolescenza
In un cerchio caldo e bagnato
Come il bacio di una madre sul tuo primo cuore infranto, un cerchio caldo e bagnato
Come il foro di un proiettile a Centralal Park, un cerchio caldo e bagnato
e io mi arrenderò sempre ai cerchi caldi e bagnati
Si spogliò nervosamente sotto i raggi danzanti del faro di fidra
dando via tutto prima che fosse troppo tardi
Lascerà che la lingua del suo amante si muova in un cerchio caldo e bagnato
dando via tutto senza mostrare vergogna alcuna
Prenderà un bacio materno sul suo primo cuore spezzato, un cerchio caldo e bagnato
si accorgerà che non fa altro che recitare la sua parte in un cerchio caldo e bagnato
Era un anello nuziale destinato ad essere ritrovato in un alberghetto a essere perso in un lavandino di cucina o gettato in un pozzo dei desideri
Tom Andre Tidemann
Clutching at Straws is a masterpiece album!.
Mike Scriber
For such a long time Script for a Jesters Tear was my favourite Marillion Album. Today it ranks third to this, my favourite and Misplaced Childhood which is only slightly lower than Clutching at Straws. Marillion I have found over the years needs dozens of listens to appreciate the genius of these great artists
Douglas Gordon
Great memories, love this album.
Vaughan Lockett
Tidemann Xperience chalking on them used to be but because of your depression it is not any more.
Moonraker1974
This is my favourite album. And for me, I'm afraid when Fish left, Marillion died a death. No dis-respect to the other fantastic musicians, it's just that for me, Fish WAS Marillion.
Antan A
Indeed to me my favourite band died then and to be honest i never heart another song of the new marillion ever.
Cilie
Yes I totally agree.. nobody can replace Fish!! I don't listen to Marillion with the new vocalist because that's not Marillion for me. Fish was Marillion and he can't be replaced.
matthew taylor
This is Beyond poetry
This is beyond words to describe just how perfect it is.
Just write out the words and actually look at the masterpiece to this song.
Every singe word paints a memory back to back genius in every line of this tune.
We think we're alright under the hammer falls and she 'nervously undressed in the dancing lights of ..lighthouse. and boom it all turns sinister.
Reminds me of my teenage years , first loves, last buses home in the rain, school kisses, heartbreaking, sexual fumbling.
The day This was written was by a God not a man.
Ed Robinson
Steve Rothery's guitar work is legendary!
Afaq Adnan
it is funny but i grew up listening to rothery but ended up playing way more technical stuff but still after a day at office i go back to rothery,s playing ...hes is a very great guitar player and influencer to those who have ear and heart connected