The band has so far produced seven studio albums and a number of singles/outtakes collections (most notably, 2006's career retrospective, All the Blue Changes).
Originally a sample-based proto-Trip hop/Ambient/Electro-Pop styled music, No-Man's sound has become more organic, diverse and band-oriented in subsequent years. The band has been lauded "Conceivably the most important English group since The Smiths" by Melody Maker music newspaper.
The name No-Man was adopted in 1990 and first used on the self-released June 1990 single release, Colours (a cover of the 1960s Donovan song). The single achieved Melody Maker and Sounds (british music paper) "Singles of the Week" accolades and was re-released by Liverpool-based label Probe Plus in October, 1990.
Between 1991 and 1994, No-Man were managed by Talk Talk's manager Keith Aspden. During this period, the band received highly positive UK music media support (including more "Singles of the Week" in Melody Maker, Sounds and Irish music paper, Hot Press), had 2 indie top 20 hits (Days in the Trees and Ocean Song), a Billboard Top 40 dance hit (the US only single, Taking It Like a Man) and had high profile contracts with One Little Indian, Hit & Run Publishing and Epic/Sony.
Subsequently, mirroring the evolution of artists such as Talk Talk, David Sylvian, Radiohead, Scott Walker and Kate Bush, with each successive release, the band has moved further away from its more conventional Pop/Rock roots.
Since the mid-1990s, No-Man has released material via Snapper Music, Third Stone/Adasam and internet label, Burning Shed (www.burningshed.com).
Included amongst the many artists and guest musicians the band has worked with are electronic artists Roger Eno, Faultline, Scanner, Muslimgauze and The Shamen, Jazz musicians Ian Carr and Theo Travis, and the legendary likes of King Crimson personnel, Robert Fripp, Pat Mastelotto and Mel Collins, and ex-Japan members, Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri and Mick Karn.
Drawing from a diverse mix of Singer-songwriter, Post Rock, Minimalist, Progressive rock, Jazz, and Contemporary Ambient sources for inspiration, No-Man's sound is distinctive, yet difficult to categorise.
As of 2012, No-Man live band members include Steven Bennett (keyboards), Pete Morgan (bass guitar), Michael Bearpark (guitar), Steve Bingham (electric violin), and Andy Booker (electronic drums).
In 2019, the duo released Love You To Bits. there first new record in over a decade.
Lighthouse
No-Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never meant anything like this.
and that's the story,
I never met anyone like you.
come to me
and make it special.
and make it real.
come to me and make it special.
come to me and make me feel.
shine your bright light over me
and help me see.
I walked on water.
I came through slaughter just for you.
come to me
and make it special.
come to me
and make it real.
come to me and make it special.
come to me and make me feel.
shine your bright light over me,
lay your dreaming at my feet.
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follow me down to where I'll always be.
The song "Lighthouse" by No-Man conveys a sense of regret and longing. The persona feels as though they have done something wrong and never meant for things to turn out the way they did. The first two lines of the song, "I never meant this, I never meant anything like this," indicates that the persona is remorseful and probably wishes that they could turn back the hands of time.
The persona also expresses how they never met someone like the addressee before. This person must have been special and made an impact on the persona. The persona pleads with the addressee to come back to them and make things special and real. The repetition of the lines, "come to me and make it special" and "come to me and make me feel," shows a sense of desperation and eagerness for the addressee to come back.
The persona concludes by asking the addressee to "shine your bright light over me, and help me see" and "lay your dreaming at my feet." These lines suggest that the persona is lost and needs the addressee's guidance to help them find their way back to where they are supposed to be.
Overall, "Lighthouse" is a poignant song that conveys feelings of regret, longing, and desperation. The persona feels as though they have made a mistake and wants the addressee to come back and help them make things right.
Line by Line Meaning
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVEN JOHN WILSON, TIMOTHY JOHN BOWNASS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind