The band was formed in 1997 by guitarist and vocalist Bryan Josh and has undergone a great many lineup changes over the band's history, too many to list in full. The earliest lineup of the band featured Heidi Widdop on lead vocals, but by the time they recorded their debut album For All We Shared in 1998 for Cyclops Records she had been replaced by Heather Findlay. The album features an eight-piece band including Iain Jennings on keyboards, Liam Davidson on rhythm and slide guitars, and Bob Faulds on violin. Angela Gordon appears as a guest musician, although she was subsequently to to join the band as a full-time member. Two further albums followed on Cyclops, The Spirit of Autumn Past (1999) and The Last Bright Light (2001). By the time of latter Bob Faulds had left the band, but they had been joined by current bassist Andy Smith. These early albums had a strong folk-rock and celtic rock flavour, with instrumental jigs sitting alongside atmospheric epics influenced strongly by the likes of Pink Floyd. The third album in particular remains a favourite with many fans, and recent live sets still drawn heavily from it.
The band then signed to Classic Rock Legends. The first release for this label, the largely instrumental Music Inspired by Lord of the Rings (2001) was not generally considered to their proper fourth album, that honour falling to Passengers (2003). This album marked a change in direction, to a polished melodic rock sound with the celtic and folk-rock elements much reduced, a direction continued with the follow-up Storms Over Still Water. They also released a number of live albums during this period, as well as the retrospective album Catch the Spirit, made up of re-recorded songs largely from from the three Cyclops albums.
2006 saw the band leave Classic Rock Legends to self-release albums funded by fan pre-orders, a business model pioneered by Marillion, and also saw the departure of founder member and significant songwriter Iain Jennings to focus on Breathing Space, to be replaced by multi-instumentalist Chris Johnson. Their first self-released album Heart Full of Sky was an eclectic mix of musical styles, and received a mixed reception from some fans. Conflicting commitments with other bands and a desire to work on a solo project (which ultimately became Parade) saw Chris Johnson leave at the end of 2007. 2008's Glass Shadows saw the band reduced to a core creative duo of Bryan and Heather, and the following tour saw another major shakeup of the lineup, seeing the departure of Angela Gordon, replaced on flute and keyboards by Anne-Marie Helder, and the return of Iain Jennings and Liam Davidson (who's left a year earlier). although neither Iain or Liam had played on the album.
2009 saw the band's first live release since leaving CRP, with the two disks Live 2009 - Part I and Live 2009 - Part II, and also saw the remastered 3-disk retrospective Pass the Clock.
At the beginning of 2010 Heather Findlay announced her departure from the band to pursue a solo career. Her final live performance with the band on 2nd April 2010 was filmed for a DVD release, released as "That Night In Leamington".
Heather's replacement is Olivia Sparnenn, who had sung backing vocals with the band since 2005 as well as fronting Breathing Space, and the band made their first live appearance with Olivia singing lead in April 2010. Their ninth studio album titled "Go Well Diamond Heart" featuring Olivia on lead vocals, again funded by fan pre-order, was released in November 2010.
In 2011 the band released another live album, Still Beautiful recorded on the spring tour. The band's tenth studio album The Ghost Moon Orchestra, is due for release in summer 2012.
Current lineup:
Bryan Josh - Lead/Backing Vocals; Lead/Rhythm/Acoustic/12 String Guitars; Keyboards; Piano
Olivia Sparnenn – Lead and backing vocals, percussion, guitar
Angela Gordon (Goldthorpe) - Flute; Keyboards; Piano; High/Low Whistles; Recorders; Backing Vocals
Iain Jennings - Keyboards; Piano; Backing Vocals
Andy Smith - Bass Guitars
Gavin Griffiths - Drums
Past Members:
Heather Findlay - Lead/Backing Vocals; Acoustic/12 String Guitars; Piano; Recorders; Percussion (left April 2010)
Liam Davison - Rhythm/Acoustic/12 String Guitars; Slide Guitars; Backing Vocals
Anne-Marie Helder - Flute; Keyboards; Piano; Acoutic Guitars; Backing Vocals
Chris Johnson - Lead/Backing Vocals; Keyboards; Piano; Rhythm/Acoustic Guitars
Stuart Carver - Bass Guitars
Bob Faulds - Violins
Kev Gibbons - High/Low Whistles
Allan Scott - Drums
Rob McNeil - Drums
Jonathon Blackmore - Drums
Andrew Jennings - Drums
Henry Bourne - Drums
Heidi Widdop - Lead Vocals
Guests:
Ben Matthews (of Thunder) - Lead and rhythm guitar
Troy Donockley - Low whistles, Penny Whistles, Uilleann pipes, Bazouki
Rachel Jones - Vocal, backing vocals
Chris Leslie - Violin
Marcus Bousefield - Violin
Marissa Claughan - Cello
Peter Knight - Violin
David Moore - Hammond Organ
hey you
Mostly Autumn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me?
Hey you! Standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles, can you feel me?
Hey you! Don't help them to bury the light
Don't give in without a fight
Hey you! Out there on your own
Hey you! With your ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out, would you touch me?
Hey you! Would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home
But it was only a fantasy
The wall was too high as you can see
No matter how he tried he could not break free
And the worms ate into his brain
Hey you! Out there on the road
Doing what you're told, can you help me?
Hey you! Out there beyond the wall
Breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me?
Hey you! Don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall
The lyrics to Mostly Autumn's song "Hey You" touches on themes of loneliness, isolation, and the universal human need for connection. The first verse speaks to someone who is out there in the cold, feeling lonely and getting old. The singer is asking if they can feel them, which is a plea for connection. The singer of the song is further asking the person not to help them bury the light, which likely speaks to not giving up hope or giving in to despair.
The song's second verse touches on a person sitting naked by the phone, waiting for someone to call and reach out to them. This imagery amplifies the sense of isolation and a lack of connection. However, the person is calling out to the individual, asking if they would help carry the stone. This request is likely symbolic of asking the person to help shoulder their burden, and again emphasizes a plea for connection. The final stanza is a warning of sorts, suggesting that if one is unable to break free from their isolation, their brain will decay and the worms will eat into it. The last line of the song indicates that together, we can overcome anything, but if we're divided, we are doomed to failure.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey you! Out there in the cold
The singer is trying to reach out to someone who is feeling lonely and depressed.
Getting lonely, getting old, can you feel me?
The singer is asking if the person can sense their presence despite being physically apart.
Hey you! Standing in the aisles
The singer is trying to connect with someone who is aimlessly wandering about.
With itchy feet and fading smiles, can you feel me?
The singer is asking if the person can relate to the feeling of being stuck and slowly losing hope.
Hey you! Don't help them to bury the light
The singer is urging the person not to let the darkness consume them or their spirit.
Don't give in without a fight
The singer is encouraging the person to fight back against their despair and find strength within themselves to persevere.
Hey you! Out there on your own
The singer is speaking to someone who feels disconnected from the world and disconnected from their own emotions.
Sitting naked by the phone, would you touch me?
The singer is asking if the person would be willing to reach out and connect to them.
Hey you! With your ear against the wall
The singer is addressing someone who is listening intently for any signs of hope or communication.
Waiting for someone to call out, would you touch me?
The singer is pleading for the person to break down their walls and allow themselves to be vulnerable.
Hey you! Would you help me to carry the stone?
The singer is requesting the person's support and assistance in overcoming difficulties.
Open your heart, I'm coming home
The singer is assuring the person that they can find comfort within themselves and that they will find their way.
But it was only a fantasy
The person realizes that their idealistic hopes and dreams may not be realistic.
The wall was too high as you can see
The obstacle to happiness and self-discovery seems insurmountable.
No matter how he tried he could not break free
Despite the person's best efforts, they are unable to escape from their own mental prison.
And the worms ate into his brain
The person feels consumed by their own negative thoughts and emotions.
Hey you! Out there on the road
The singer is addressing someone who is following the accepted path and not questioning their direction.
Doing what you're told, can you help me?
The singer is asking if the person is able to offer guidance or assistance because they have followed the same path.
Hey you! Out there beyond the wall
The singer is speaking to someone who has gone against the norm and is seen as an outsider.
Breaking bottles in the hall, can you help me?
The singer is asking if the person can relate to their struggle and offer support.
Hey you! Don't tell me there's no hope at all
The singer is insisting that hope is still present despite overwhelming obstacles.
Together we stand, divided we fall
The singer is emphasizing that only by uniting and supporting each other can they overcome their trials.
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc.
Written by: TOMMY STINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind