He released his first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte, in 1975 while still with Genesis, and has maintained a steady output since. He is a distinctive and versatile guitarist who also performs classical concerts and has released five classical albums in addition to many rock, progressive, and blues albums. He participated in the 1986 formation of GTR with Steve Howe.
Hackett's tours alternate between acoustic performances (often accompanied by his brother John Hackett (flute) and Roger King (keyboards) as the Steve Hackett Acoustic Trio) and more rock-oriented performances.
In 2013, Hackett teamed up with bass player Chris Squire, founding member of Yes, to form Squackett.
* Official website
Tigermoth
Steve Hackett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like his old father before him
Who served in the great war would sing
We're proud to serve Kaiser or King
They'll always find someone who's willing
To take Tigermoth chances alone
Was thrown a hundred yards
Blown into smithereens
A crowd drew near but failed to hear
Look I'm over here and still one of you wait
The young man's despondence soon halted
When gently a voice that he knew
Took shape slowly out of the blue
Flight Captain James at your service
Last month I went down in the drink
You're not as alone as you think
Here's some of your chums from last Thursday
Shot down in their prime over Rome
The boys who can never go home
Were thrown a hundred yards
Blown into smithereens
Until we meet again my friends
No regrets and Lily Marlene sings again
The song "Tigermoth" by Steve Hackett is a tribute to those who served in the great war and those who risked their lives flying Tigermoth planes. The lyrics start with a reference to the singer's father who also served and sang about being proud to serve Kaiser or King. The song then shifts its focus to the young man who took Tigermoth chances alone, despite being advised against it. Unfortunately, he crashes and is blown into smithereens. As people gather around him, he tries to tell them that he is still alive, but they fail to hear him.
However, his despondence is halted when Flight Captain James, who had himself gone down in the drink the previous month, speaks to him. The young man is reminded that he isn't alone, and his friends who were shot down in their prime over Rome are with him too. The song ends on a poignant note, with the Flight Captain bidding farewell to his friends and asking them to remember Lily Marlene, the symbol of hope and love in times of war.
The lyrics of "Tigermoth" showcase the emotional turmoil and bravery of those who were part of the great war. Steve Hackett's use of the Tigermoth plane, which was used for training pilots, adds a layer of nostalgia and sentimentality to the song, making it a worthy tribute to those who risked everything for their countries.
Line by Line Meaning
Just like his old father before him
Just like his father before him, who served in the war and sang songs about being proud to serve the Kaiser or the King.
We're proud to serve Kaiser or King
We are proud to serve our country and leaders, whether that be the Kaiser or the King.
They'll always find someone who's willing
There will always be someone willing to take risks, like the Tigermoth chances alone.
To take Tigermoth chances alone
To take risky chances alone, like flying a Tigermoth plane, without any support or backup.
The boy who should never have flown
The young man who never should have flown in the first place, due to the risks involved.
Was thrown a hundred yards
The boy was thrown a long distance, likely due to the plane crashing.
Blown into smithereens
The boy was blown into small fragments of debris, due to the plane crashing or an explosion.
A crowd drew near but failed to hear
A group of people gathered around, but they were unable to hear the boy calling out for help.
Look I'm over here and still one of you wait
The boy is still alive and asking for help, despite being ignored by those around him.
The young man's despondence soon halted
The boy's feelings of hopelessness and despair soon came to an end.
When gently a voice that he knew
The boy heard a familiar voice speaking to him, in a calming and reassuring manner.
Took shape slowly out of the blue
The voice seemed to appear out of nowhere, and gradually became more distinct.
Flight Captain James at your service
The person speaking to the boy identified themselves as Flight Captain James.
Last month I went down in the drink
Captain James experienced a similar situation last month, when his own plane crashed into the water.
You're not as alone as you think
Captain James wants the boy to know that he is not alone, and can find support among others who have experienced similar situations.
Here's some of your chums from last Thursday
Captain James introduces the boy to some of his friends who were also in a plane crash last Thursday.
Shot down in their prime over Rome
These friends of Captain James were unfortunately shot down during the prime of their lives, while flying over Rome.
The boys who can never go home
These friends will never be able to return home, due to losing their lives in the plane crash.
Until we meet again my friends
Captain James says goodbye to his friends, hoping to see them again in the future.
No regrets and Lily Marlene sings again
Captain James has no regrets about his life, and the song Lily Marlene starts playing again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE HACKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind