Mike & The Mechanics debuted with their stellar eponymous album in 1985 which highlighted Rutherford's innovative guitar work and the vocal talents of the two Pauls, amongst other guest vocalists. Initially, the group's albums were released between Genesis albums, all three Genesis members having solo projects of their own, most notable in the huge chart success of singer/drummer Phil Collins. This ended with the disbanding of Genesis in 1998.
The classic song "The Living Years" from the album of the same name was to be the height of their critical success to date; the #1 single was written by and about the dissension between singer BA Robertson and his father, a situation that was never rectified prior to his father's death, sung with great passion by Carrack. The album also featured the song "Nobody's Perfect" which received considerable airtime as the music to a successful television advertising campaign for Tennants bitter. Their third album "Word of Mouth" followed in 1991 with less commercial and critical success although the lead single, with vocals by Paul Young, reached the Top 20. The fourth album "Beggar On a Beach of Gold" was a high watermark in the quality of their material, with both the album and first single "Over My Shoulder" charting well with many considering the album the band's best work.
After a hiatus following Young's death from a heart attack on July 17, 2000, the band reformed in 2004 as Mike & the Mechanics featuring Paul Carrack releasing the album "Rewired".
A new Mike & the Mechanics album (titled "The Road") was released in the spring of 2011, supported by a 22-date UK tour. Replacing Carrack and Young as vocalists for the group are Andrew Roachford and Canadian actor/singer Tim Hower.
Par Avion
Mike & The Mechanics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And there's an island in the sun
To see me through
Another day in paradise
But there's no reason, there's no rhyme
Without you
Here comes the night (night)
Breathing your love in me
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the feeling I've been
Waiting here for so long
I've been waiting here for so long
There's a time and there's a place
When we can share the silver night
Silent room
In my bed an empty space
'cause there's no other in my life
Only you
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the dreaming of you
Breathing your love in me
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the feeling I've been
Waiting here for so long
I've been waiting here for so long
Here comes the night
Here comes the dreaming of you
Breathing your love in me
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the feeling I've been
Waiting here for so long
I've been waiting here for so long
The lyrics of Mike & The Mechanics's song Par Avion express a longing and a feeling of incompleteness without someone else. The singer states that "another day has passed [them] by," yet they have an "island in the sun" to get them through it. This island, however, is not enough to make their life feel like paradise. The singer says that there is "no reason, there's no rhyme without you." Without this person, their life feels empty, and they long to be with them.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "here comes the night" twice before expressing the feelings of the vocalist. They dream of this person and feel their love, and they have been waiting for this feeling for a long time. They long to be with this person, and there is "no other in [their] life, only you." The repeated phrase of "here comes the night" could symbolize a longing for something that is only present in the darkness, perhaps an emotional connection with this person.
Overall, the lyrics of Par Avion express a deep longing for someone that is missing from the singer's life. They feel incomplete without them, and they long to be with them in a silent room or share a silver night. The chorus appears to be a representation of the feeling of longing and the hopelessness that comes with it, while the verses describe the details of the singer's emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Another day has passed me by
Another day has gone by without any significant events occurring.
And there's an island in the sun
There is a beautiful place where everything seems perfect and peaceful.
To see me through
To help me cope and get through the day.
Another day in paradise
Another day in a world that is beautiful and idyllic.
But there's no reason, there's no rhyme
However, there is no logical or sensible explanation for why things are the way they are.
Without you
Without the presence or support of someone special.
Here comes the night (night)
The darkness of nighttime is approaching.
Here comes the dreaming of you
I begin to imagine and fantasize about being with you.
Breathing your love in me
Feeling overwhelmed by feelings of love and affection for another person.
Here comes the feeling I've been
Intense emotions and sensations that have been building up over time.
Waiting here for so long
Waiting for what seems like an eternity for something to happen or someone to arrive.
There's a time and there's a place
A specific moment and location that is perfect for sharing with someone special.
When we can share the silver night
A time to spend together on a peaceful and beautiful evening.
Silent room
A room without any noise or distractions.
In my bed an empty space
The empty spot next to me where someone special should be.
'cause there's no other in my life
Because there is no one else who can fill the void or provide the same level of emotional connection.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER NEIL, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Niyazi Ömer Usta
Another day has passed me by
And there's an island in the sun
To see me through
Another day in paradise
But there's no reason, there's no rhyme
Without you
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the dreaming of you
Breathing your love in me
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the feeling I've been
Waiting here for so long
I've been waiting here for so long
There's a time and there's a place
When we can share the silver night
Silent room
In my bed an empty space
'cause there's no other in my life
Only you
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the dreaming of you
Breathing your love in me
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the feeling I've been
Waiting here for so long
I've been waiting here for so long
Here comes the night
Here comes the dreaming of you
Breathing your love in me
Here comes the night (night)
Here comes the feeling I've been
Waiting here for so long
I've been waiting here for so long
djchristrent
The 80s left a taste in my mind for music and lyrics that can never be replaced.
Yes, a lot of Miami Vice episodes helped launch these songs into orbit.
Back then, the television was our computer and cell phone.
I remember when Friday Night Videos came on through the air and not cable, because we lived in the country.
You were lucky to have a soda pop, and if you had some peanuts and a radio nearby you were in heaven.
We had to drive to the mall, pretty far, to buy a cassette tape of your desire.
Things are just so instant and fast now and it makes me want to go back.
I remember the first time I heard Mike and the Mechanics, Silent Running, I was stone cold hooked.
Funny how the instruments and lyrics are used by Phil Collins on his hits.
Hope everyone is doing ok.
Joe Average
One of the most awesome 80s ballads you've never heard of 🙂
Bad Habit
When I first heard this song on Miami Vice i didn't know how a song could be this good..? Absolutely amazing song.. I don't have the words to Express how much i love this song..
Patrick Brennan
When you see an actual song (not a cover) on a TV show it can really elevate both... Miami Vice reversed the trend in the 80s of using cover versions...
Joe Chlystun
i remember this song aswell as Hanging by a thread well on miami vice
Patrick Brennan
@Joe Chlystun Oh, I do not know if I have seen Hanging by a Thread on Miami Vice --- awesome!
Morgan Ashley
This was one of the best albums of the 80's and this was one of the top love songs of the greatest decade. Any song that made it on Vice was a great hit. Long live the 80's!!!!
RexS
Agreed! Wonder why we never hear this one on the radio anymore.
scott beaudry
Was listening to this in 1985, still listening in 2022. It never gets old.
Crawdad Lando
First album I bought. Cause the radio played silent running once a week. I listened until it played again, recorded it and wrote down the lyrics until I could use internet explorer and find the album. Radio gold! Over 20 years ago.
Mike Ard
Listening in 9/8/23