Formed in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1979 by Robbie Grey (vocals), Gary McDowell (guitar, vocals), and Michael Conroy (bass, vocals), Modern English was originally known as "The Lepers". The group expanded to "Modern English" when Richard Brown (drums) and Stephen Walker (keyboards) were subsequently added to the line-up of the indie rock band (later Ted Mason, Matthew Shippley). A debut single, "Drowning Man" was released in 1980 on the Limp Records label. The band's full-length debut, called 'Mesh & Lace' and released by 4AD Records a year later, drew heavily on the gloomy gothic rock sound already patented by bands such as Bauhaus and Joy Division.
The follow-up album, titled 'After The Snow' and recorded by the same line-up, introduced warmer sounds and strong guitar harmonies (most notably on the hit "I Melt With You") in contrast to the tinny bleakness of the debut, although keeping the same post-punk dramatic focus. The August 1982 release was well received in the U.S., selling 500,000 units, and the band relocated to New York, New York to consolidate a popularity encouraged by college radio. Their subsequent album Ricochet Days had a crisper production with hits such as "Ricochet Days" and "Hands Across the Sea".
By the time of Stop Start, released in the US by Sire Records in 1986, Walker and Brown had left, and Aaron Davidson (keyboards, guitar) (later of March Violets) had joined. The band had tried too hard for commercial success, pushed by their label and subsequent producers. Grey returned to England to form a new outfit, but reconvened Modern English in 1990 with Davidson and Conroy. They released Pillow Lips on the TVT label, selling 300,000 units. Robbie Grey and band member Ted Mason co-wrote and produced a second release for TVT, recording with live strings and multiple harmonies. It received very little enthusiasm from TVT and has been seen as the least successful Modern English album. Locked into contractual obligations with TVT, Grey subsequently put the band on hold in 1991 to study and travel, and Mason handled the legal issues of getting out of the TVT deal.
In 1995, Modern English with Matthew Shipley (keyboards), Ted Mason (guitar, vocals, production) recorded Everything's Mad for the Imago label. Robbie Grey continues to tour extensively on the US club circuit with Matthew and new guitarist Steven Walker writing new songs and playing them to packed audiences across the US, and in 2001 signed a new recording contract with A.P.G. Music. The new lineup recorded a new album with legendary producer Hugh Jones who originally produced "I Melt With You." 2007 saw the repackaged–remastered re-release of Everything's Mad for the Mi5 Recordings label distributed by Caroline/EMI. A Modern English rarities album with unreleased material was expected in early 2008, but it became stalled.
The group put out their latest studio effort in 2010 with 'Soundtrack'. Said work reunited them with Hugh Jones, the producer of 'After the Snow'. As of 2013, Modern English has sold close to four million records worldwide, and they were present at the BMI awards in the Dorchester Hotel in London where Robbie Grey, Mick Conroy and guitarist Steven Walker were presented with a lifetime achievement award for 3 million radio plays of "I Melt With You."
Dawn Chorus
Modern English Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the sun fading, pastel in the breeze
the swallow swooping, migrating home
the dawning days morning with a sigh
opening windows with a wounding cry
the rainbow's lost its dreams of gold
and everything slows
the sun fading, pastel in the breeze
the swallow swooping, migrating home
and everything slows
the ______ vacuum draws you in
strange visions are loose on white ______
a wall of sound with flutes and strings
rising on a wave of voices
surrounded by your humble faith
morning's there to wake us in time
rain and sky
the world is breathing, living, but turning in its rage
when summer returns to its warm green fields
everything slows
the sun fading, pastel in the breeze
everything slows
the swallow swooping, migrating home
everything slows
The lyrics to Modern English's song "Dawn Chorus" evoke a sense of the changing of seasons and the natural cycles that come with it. The lyrics suggest that the coming of summer brings with it a certain melancholy as the days begin to fade and everything seems to slow down. The image of the swallow swooping and migrating home highlights the transient nature of life and the passing of time. The use of the phrase "opening windows with a wounding cry" suggests that there is an element of pain or sadness associated with this transition. The rainbow losing its dreams of gold underscores the fleeting nature of happiness and beauty.
The second verse of the song, which begins with the mysterious phrase "the ______ vacuum draws you in," adds a layer of surrealism to the lyrics. The imagery of strange visions, a wall of sound with flutes and strings, and rising voices creates a dreamlike atmosphere. The line "surrounded by your humble faith" could suggest a spiritual or religious element to this experience. The final lines of the verse speak of the world breathing and living, but turning in its rage, perhaps suggesting that this beauty and tranquility is fleeting and subject to the whims of a larger, more chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
When summer returns to its warm green fields
As the warmth of summer returns, life begins to flourish again
the sun fading, pastel in the breeze
The sun sets delicately, painted by the gentle breeze
the swallow swooping, migrating home
The migratory birds return to their humble abodes
the dawning days morning with a sigh
The morning of a new day is met with a heavy sigh
opening windows with a wounding cry
The sound of opening windows is jarring and painful
the rainbow's lost its dreams of gold
The once vibrant rainbow has lost its luster and hope
and everything slows
The pace of life begins to decelerate
the ______ vacuum draws you in
The vacuum of the unknown draws you closer
strange visions are loose on white ______
You see strange images on a blank slate
a wall of sound with flutes and strings
A barrier of music made from flutes and strings
rising on a wave of voices
The voices carry the music higher and higher
surrounded by your humble faith
Your unassuming belief system embraces you
morning's there to wake us in time
The morning is present to keep us on schedule
rain and sky
The natural world around us
the world is breathing, living, but turning in its rage
The world is full of life but also upset and chaotic
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY FRANCES MCDOWELL, MICHAEL FRANCES CONROY, RICHARD IAN BROWN, ROBERT JAMES GREY, STEPHEN JAMES WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Ellis
Hugh Jones did a great job producing this album.
noir plaisir
Fantastic track from a fantastic band at a fantastic record label!!!
memox808
Beautiful track!! masterpiece of an album
George Mathie
This is beautifullly melodic and isn't Robbie Grey such an underrated vocalist
Guillermo Ortega
AWESOME
yearoftherat
This band, at least the early stuff, is criminally and massively overlooked due to THAT one song. Such a shame.
yearoftherat
@1thess523 There is some good stuff on Mesh & Lace as well.
1thess523
I listen to their whole album 👍, thats why it's on my channel 😉
JohnBPhD
genius (really)
Nanci Farley
I'm trying to find a song which starts with I stand in San Sebastián and it sounds like Modern English. I haven't heard it since 1993 and it was more like a post punk 80s tune. Help!