During Nan's teenage years in Los Angeles, according to an interview in Cosmopolitan magazine, she discovered magic mushrooms and the guitar.
She played in a late 80's band called Babooshka, and in the 90's joined the touring bands both for ex-Police guitarist Andy Summers, and ex-Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart's backing band, The Spiritual Cowboys.
After a couple years in the UK and working with producers like Ian Stanley and Dave Stewart she eventually released several collaborations, some singles and her own debut album Manta Ray for Elektra in 1995 and a beautiful version of Moon River for a Del-Fi compilation of Henry Mancini songs, Shots in the Dark.
Record company coordination, and promotional support, both in the UK and the US, were fraught with difficulty, and her US label East/West folded shortly after her debut. Little was heard from the promising Ms. Vernon after this period.
Manta Ray
Nan Vernon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the land of Manta Ray
Floating above the sity of curves
Wedding cake building are blushing
Looking beneath Antoinette's skirt
The sity where liberty came from
To the alternative priest from cologne
To whom the torso now belongs
Manta Ray
Manta Ray
Vatican bands have mobilized
In London, Rome and Paris
This world will be cannibalised
It's all over in Atlantis
Now the end is over
There was no sting in his tail
Paris puts on a pullover
As the Manta Ray sets sail
Manta Ray
Manta Ray
Thewe were not tunnels of triumph
There was no bridge of sighs
There were no towers of science
Like blunt steeples in the sky
In the land of Manta Ray
The song "Manta Ray" by Nan Vernon is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that invites the listeners to embark on a journey to the "land of Manta Ray" and explore the imagery and symbolism used throughout the lyrics. The song opens with a vivid description of the city of curves, where the wedding cake buildings appear to be blushing as the singer floats above in the land of Manta Ray. The image of Antoinette's skirt invites the notion of exploring hidden depths, secrets, and mysteries that lie beneath the surface of things.
Continuing the exploration, the lyrics suggest that the city where liberty came from has lost its statue to an alternative priest from Cologne, and the torso now belongs to him. Symbolically, the loss of the statue could be seen as a commentary on the erosion of the values that the statue represents. The song then takes an even darker tone as it suggests that Vatican bands have mobilized, and it's all over in Atlantis, referring to the idea that there is no place left to escape the cannibalistic world that we live in. The song then ends on a metaphorical note as the Manta Ray sets sail, possibly a symbol of escape or transcendence.
Overall, "Manta Ray" is a beautifully crafted song that uses vivid imagery, metaphors, and symbolism to convey a powerful message about the state of the world and the importance of seeking hidden truths and meanings beyond the surface. The song is a call to action, an invitation to explore and question the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you?
Questioning whether the listener has seen or experienced what is described in the following lyrics.
In the land of Manta Ray
Referring to a fictional location, a place where the events of the song occur.
Floating above the sity of curves
Describing a city with a lot of curves, perhaps symbolizing the twists and turns of life.
Wedding cake building are blushing
Suggesting that even buildings can have a sense of embarrassment or shame.
Looking beneath Antoinette's skirt
An unclear reference to a person named Antoinette, perhaps emphasizing the theme of voyeurism or the desire to uncover secrets.
The sity where liberty came from
Referencing the city where the Statue of Liberty stands, a symbol of freedom and democracy.
But now the statue's gone
Acknowledging the absence or loss of that symbol of freedom.
To the alternative priest from cologne
Offering an explanation for the disappearance of the statue, perhaps suggesting a political or religious motive.
To whom the torso now belongs
Finalizing the idea that the statue has been taken by someone and suggesting that it will never be whole again.
Manta Ray
The repeating phrase that gives the song its title, potentially symbolizing something unknown or mystical.
Vatican bands have mobilized
Describing a mobilization of people, potentially linked to religion or tradition.
In London, Rome and Paris
Naming specific locations where this mobilization is taking place.
This world will be cannibalised
A frightening prediction that the world will turn on itself and self-destruct.
It's all over in Atlantis
Referencing the mythological lost city of Atlantis, suggesting that a great civilization has been lost forever.
Now the end is over
A statement that the end has finally come, perhaps suggesting that this is a relief.
There was no sting in his tail
A reference to the myth of the scorpion and the frog, implying that there was no betrayal or hidden danger in this ending.
Paris puts on a pullover
A somewhat humorous detail, suggesting that life goes on even after great catastrophes.
As the Manta Ray sets sail
Finalizing the idea that the Manta Ray is a symbol of change or transition, and that it is moving on from this location.
Manta Ray
Repeating the phrase from earlier in the song, emphasizing its importance and potentially leaving the listener with a feeling of mystery or uncertainty.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JONATHAN PATRICK PERKINS, NAN VERNON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind