In Dickinson, the band possessed a songwriter and lyricist of rare talent with scalpel-sharp statements emanating from gorgeously epic songs such as their breakthrough, the feedback-soaked "Black Metallic" ("…it's "Like a Hurricane" for the ‘90’s," drooled the NME). This song in particular heralded Dickinson’s ability to skillfully knit together romance, wit – and power! - in the music. Through constant evolution and a steadfast refusal to repeat themselves, Catherine Wheel grew into a swaggeringly assured, devastatingly effective, scene-setter of a band.
Criminally overlooked, (Rolling Stone famously sub-editing the review of the band's 1997 masterwork, Adam and Eve, down from 4-1/2 stars to 3-1/2), never was a band so influential and yet so invisible. Catherine Wheel quietly unleashed six brilliant albums, all an artistic development of the last, and all reflecting a musical force that could crush any band that dared share a stage - ask Radiohead or The Smashing Pumpkins about that.
And then the band vanished. No word, no explanation, no fanfare, no farewell, no best wishes, no 'best of'. "People were no longer paying attention. Going out with a bang seemed a little inappropriate," says Dickinson dryly. "I'm not bitter about the band's modest success. I view that time as an apprenticeship. It was a time when I was free to experiment and was encouraged to be 'an artist'. I consider myself lucky to have been blessed with such an opportunity."
What’s been going on with Dickinson since the Catherine Wheel was “parked”? What he has very definitely been doing is writing fantastic songs. And so begins Part I of the Resurrection. Whatever merit his past with the band may confer on him, Dickinson's inevitable stardom would appear to be as a solo artist with this breathtaking collection of music on his debut album, Fresh Wine For The Horses.
From a conversation with Venus on "My Name Is Love" to the whimsical heartbreak of "Oceans" ("As far as I can tell, you already bare the scars of love") to the emotional highs of "Towering and Flowering", Dickinson's Fresh Wine for The Horses bristles with romance but still keeps its manly charm. Says Dickinson, “This record is about recognizing and accepting the sometimes ugly truth. It's about love, devotion and enlightenment.”
Dickinson’s Resurrection Part II came after the unfortunate dissolution of the record company that first released this stunning album. Handpicked by legendary producer Bob Ezrin of Pink Floyd, Kiss, Lou Reed (and Catherine Wheel!) fame, Fresh Wine For The Horses was presented to Universal Records on a silver platter, and the second chance given to the album begins a new chapter for the audacious performer.
Part III of the Resurrection brings Rob’s magnificent new addition to the album, the song “The End of the World”. It lifts shamelessly from the soundtrack to the British cult movie Withnail & I and creates its own death-defying, all-or-nothing beauty in a song about last chances.
And out of the ashes comes Nude, the other half of Rob’s spectacular 2-CD set. At the personal request of the head of the record label, Rob has revisited six choice Catherine Wheel classics and put a new twist on these old favourites. It is easy to tell that the songs have held the test of time and that the stripped-down melodies still ring true over 15 years later. “Re-recording these songs is like reuniting with old friends,” says Dickinson. “I hope that new listeners will fall in love with them and that those familiar with Catherine Wheel will find their passion for the tunes reignited.”
Third time’s the charm.
The Storm
Rob Dickinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It merely shines
Goodbye to lonliness
And bad old times
The more you came
The more you cried
The more I failed
The more I tried
The more I lied of my ambition
Give me rage, keep me brave, keep me dignified
Give me change, give me choice, keep me satisfied
But give me love and bring no harm
Keep me safe and warm
When I'm riding out my storm
Fear never dies, it merely crumbles
Goodbye to lonliness
Tomorrow came tomorrow called
The morals fail the morals fall
A narrow bank a narrow wall
There's room to hide here
Give me rage, keep me brave, keep me dignified
Give me change, give me choice, keep me satisfied
But give me love and bring no harm
Keep me safe and warm
Believe me
That will keep me calm
Hold a photograph of me
Riding out my storm
A color photograph of me
That will keep me calm
Calm never fails
It merely shines
The lyrics of Rob Dickinson’s song “The Storm” are reflective and powerful, provoking thoughts on the human experience and how we cope with fear, loneliness, and change. The first verse speaks to the idea of calmness and how it never fails but merely shines, suggesting that calmness is always present but not always easy to find. The first stanza also speaks to the ability to say goodbye to loneliness and bad times, leaving room for new beginnings. The second verse touches on fear and how it never truly goes away, rather it crumbles. It alludes to the idea that fear is always present, but how it is dealt with will determine its power. The second verse also speaks to the importance of morals and how sometimes when they fail or fall, there is still room to find a place to hide.
The chorus of the song speaks to the importance of rage, change, and love. The artist wants to be kept brave and dignified, but also satisfied and safe. Ultimately, they desire love without harm and the warmth of safety during the storms of life. In the third verse, the artist is symbolic in their description of holding a color photograph of themselves riding out their storm. It suggests the power of remembering how we emerge from trying times, and how we can tap into that strength when we need it most.
Line by Line Meaning
Calm never fails
Being calm never leads to a failure, but it always has a positive outcome
It merely shines
Calmness always shines through and has a positive effect
Goodbye to loneliness
Leaving behind the feeling of being alone
And bad old times
Saying goodbye to the past struggles or difficult times
The more you came
The more you appeared or visited
The more you cried
The more you expressed feelings of sadness, often due to struggles and difficult times
The more I failed
The more I didn't live up to expectations or let you down
The more I tried
The more effort I put into trying to make things better
The more you changed
The more you transformed or evolved
The more I lied of my ambition
The more I exaggerated or misled about my goals and aspirations
Give me rage, keep me brave, keep me dignified
I want to feel angry, but I also want to be brave and maintain my dignity
Give me change, give me choice, keep me satisfied
I want things to change, I want to have options, and I want to feel content with my life
But give me love and bring no harm
I want to receive love without it causing any pain or harm
Keep me safe and warm
I want to feel secure and protected
When I'm riding out my storm
When I'm facing a difficult time or situation
Fear never dies, it merely crumbles
Fear may weaken, but it never goes away completely
Tomorrow came tomorrow called
The next day arrived when it was supposed to
The morals fail the morals fall
Moral principles may not hold up in challenging situations and can crumble
A narrow bank a narrow wall
Being limited or confined in resources or options
There's room to hide here
Despite the limited options, there is still the opportunity to retreat or hide
Believe me
Trust me or have faith in what I am saying
That will keep me calm
Receiving what I asked for earlier will help me remain composed
Hold a photograph of me
Have a physical image of me
Riding out my storm
Facing the difficult situation I'm currently experiencing
A color photograph of me
An image of me in full detail and vivid colors
That will keep me calm
Having this image will bring me peace of mind
Contributed by Samantha J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.