With their debut, Yerself Is Steam, the band gained an underground following, particularly in the UK. 1993's Boces was critically acclaimed for its alternative sound, and the band's next album, See You on the Other Side, begins a shift away from the extremes of sonic experimentalism towards the elaborately-orchestrated classic rock blueprint of their later work.
With their early records, Mercury Rev offered experimental, psychedelic rock, which gradually shifted to a melodic, ornate sound. Mercury Rev is often compared to The Flaming Lips, and in fact share close ties: soon after the band's formation, Donahue also joined the Flaming Lips as second guitarist and appeared on two of their albums; and since the 1990 album In a Priest Driven Ambulance, Dave Fridmann has co-produced every Flaming Lips studio album to date except 1993's Transmissions from the Satellite Heart.
Despite considerable critical acclaim, their early releases never gave Mercury Rev more than cult popularity, though they appeared on the smaller second stage at some 1993 Lollapalooza stops. Baker left after their second record, Boces (1993), citing musical and personal disputes; he later recorded an album as Shady. With his departure, the darker, more experimental and less accessible features of their music began to disappear.
The band's first post-Baker album, See You on the Other Side (1995), found them in transition, and the 1998 release of the acclaimed Deserter's Songs (which featured appearances by Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band) made Mercury Rev unexpected pop stars. In the UK, NME Magazine made Deserter's Songs their Album of the Year. Donahue's earnest, high-pitched vocals and concentration on relatively concise, melodic songs gave the band's material an entirely new feel and much increased popularity (Deserter's Songs spawned three UK top 40 singles).
All Is Dream was issued in 2001. It managed a UK top 20 single, "The Dark is Rising," which reached #16 in the UK Top 40.
Mercury Rev's much-anticipated The Secret Migration was released on January 24, 2005. This was followed up in 2006 by a compilation album called The Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006 and the film soundtrack album Hello Blackbird. More recently, the band released a pair of albums on September 29, 2008: Snowflake Midnight, and a free MP3 album of instrumentals, Strange Attractor.
In 2011 the band performed Deserter's Songs in it's complete form live at several festivals in the UK.
Nite and Fog
Mercury Rev Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then the girl moves in other ways
And I, losing sight of either
night and Fog are my days
I wanted only to be gentle
But I gave her jealousy and rage
Who knows exactly what I'm after?
night and Fog are my days
Fools want gold
Sailors want water
But you want it all
I tried to guide my love by starlight
And soon my life became maze
Orian and Osirus were your favorites
night and Fog are my days
Vampires want darkness
Monsters want soles
Spiders want corners
But you want it all
She turns, half in to find me naked
But I can see she wants me in other ways
In the dark I've driven her to madness
night and Fog are my days
I hope you see your ship come in
May it find you and never lose its way
But I would make a poor captain
night and Fog are my days
Vampires want darkness
Monsters want soles
Spiders want corners
But you want it all
The lyrics to Mercury Rev's "Nite and Fog" is a melancholic tune that is quite layered with emotions. The first few lines indicate a sense of disorientation and confusion, a lot like being lost at sea. The singer is grappling with feelings of inadequacy and is unsure of his lover's wants and needs. He seems to have lost sight of what he wants and what she wants, and this has thrown him into a state of despair. The reference to "God moving across water" suggests that the singer is seeking divine intervention in his love life. The phrase "night and Fog" is repeated throughout the song and acts as a metaphor for the singer's emotional state. The night represents the darkness and confusion he feels inside, while the fog represents his inability to see clearly.
As the song progresses, the lyrics reveal that the singer's attempts at being gentle have resulted in his lover feeling jealous and rageful. There is a sense of regret and resignation in his tone as he sings about his confusion over what he is after in the situation. He seems to be lost and struggling to find his way. There is a contrast between the wise men who want fame, and the fools who want gold, which suggests that the singer is searching for something more valuable than these material gains. He tries to guide his love by starlight and ends up lost in a maze, searching for answers that seem to elude him.
The song's climax is about the singer's lover turning away from him, and how he has driven her to madness with his actions. The singer's love is not reciprocated, and his efforts have only caused pain and suffering. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer wishes the best for his lover, but he would never be able to lead her to safety as he would be a poor captain. The use of metaphorical references like vampires, monsters, and spiders, suggests that the singer is struggling to make sense of his lover's desires and needs.
Line by Line Meaning
If God moves across the water
If there is divine intervention in the world
Then the girl moves in other ways
People have their own subtle, complex motivations and actions
And I, losing sight of either
I am unable to understand or keep track of both
night and Fog are my days
My life is full of confusion and uncertainty
I wanted only to be gentle
I intended to be kind and considerate
But I gave her jealousy and rage
Unfortunately, I ended up causing negative emotions in her
Who knows exactly what I'm after?
I myself am unsure of my own desires and intentions
Wise men want fame
Smart people desire recognition and prestige
Fools want gold
Less intelligent people pursue wealth and material possessions
Sailors want water
Seafarers long for the ocean and its vastness
But you want it all
You possess an insatiable desire for everything
I tried to guide my love by starlight
I attempted to navigate my relationship using romantic, poetic ideals
And soon my life became maze
However, this approach led to confusion and bewilderment
Orian and Osirus were your favorites
You were particularly interested in these mythological figures
Vampires want darkness
Creatures of the night crave obscurity and shadows
Monsters want soles
Fearsome beings desire souls to consume or control
Spiders want corners
Arachnids seek out tight, secluded spaces
But you want it all
You possess an insatiable desire for everything
She turns, half in to find me naked
She tries to have intimacy with me, but I am emotionally exposed and vulnerable
But I can see she wants me in other ways
However, I understand that she is seeking more than just physical pleasure
In the dark I've driven her to madness
My actions or lack of clarity have caused her to become mentally unstable
I hope you see your ship come in
I wish you success and good fortune in life
May it find you and never lose its way
May it bring you fulfillment and guide you to your goals
But I would make a poor captain
However, I know that I am not capable of guiding someone else to success
night and Fog are my days
My life is full of confusion and uncertainty
Vampires want darkness
Creatures of the night crave obscurity and shadows
Monsters want soles
Fearsome beings desire souls to consume or control
Spiders want corners
Arachnids seek out tight, secluded spaces
But you want it all
You possess an insatiable desire for everything
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFFREY MERCEL, JONATHAN DONAHUE, SEAN MACKOWIAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jim West
Love this song.
Jeffrey Thames
From my favorite album of the century so far
L Lawliet
This time I will see you alive. You guys are in my top favourite bands.
Sam Haynes Synthwave / Cheekyboy mashups
Absolute classic.
X Vngs
¿Alguien más ama esta canción y este disco?
Javi Bi
Yo también
hoña
Yooo
Reverse Flash
Ah good they finally put this up