The album also earned the artist a Grammy Award in March 1988 in the category of 'Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male'. In that same year, D'Arby earned three Soul Train Award nominations for 'Male Album of the Year' (from releasing 'Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby'), 'Male Single of the Year' (from releasing "Wishing Well"), and 'Best New Artist'. Receiving immense critical praise for a work that became RIAA certified as mutli-platinum, fans worried that he may have peaked too early, but they found D'Arby determined to continue down his own unique musical path.
D'Arby was born in Manhattan, New York, and he joined the army after leaving college, serving in Elvis Presley's old regiment in Germany. He was formally discharged by the army in 1983 after going absent without leave. While in Germany, he also worked with the group The Touch, releasing an album of material called 'Love On Time' in 1984. That album was later re-issued in 1989 as 'Early Works'.
D'Arby's follow-up studio album, 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh', came out in 1989. It sold over two million copies and earned praise from fans. Many critical reviews, however, were mixed and faulted D'Arby for what they saw as wandering about musically with a purpose, and the artist's acrimonious disputes with his record label grated on him. Note that the album is often alternatively known as 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction',
The expectations placed on D'Arby's shoulders from his early success caused him to undertake some needed soul searching. It took four more years and a move to Los Angeles, California until his next project, 1993's 'Symphony or Damn', was released. Also known as 'Symphony or Damn: Exploring the Tension Inside the Sweetness', the work proved somewhat of a commercial comeback and peaked at #4 on the U.K. album charts while receiving many supportive reviews.
D'Arby had moved into more and more of a musical vibe influenced by gritty rock, often inspired by blues. In 1995, D'Arby released 'Vibrator', which largely followed his previous work in its musical direction. Sadly, his commercial prospects were judged by many critics to be waning.
During the mid-90s, the relations between the artist and his label, Columbia Records, had became strained to the braking point, leading to the artist's departure in 1996. This was followed by four-years on Java Records, during which he recorded an album titled 'Terence Trent D'Arby's Solar Return'. Said work, however, was never released. In 2000, he bought the rights to his unreleased album and left the record company as well as Lippman Entertainment, which was his then-management-team.
In 1999, D'Arby was briefly hired by INXS to replace his friend, late vocalist Michael Hutchence, so the band could play at the opening of facilities for the Sydney Olympics.
In 2001 D'Arby changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. The same year, he settled in Munich, Germany, and started his own independent record label, Treehouse Pub. The year also marked his first album release in six years, Wildcard (the unreleased "Solar Return"). The album, first available for free through his website, was later released through a one-album distribution deal with Universal Music.
In 2002 Maitreya moved to Milan, Italy, and began working on his next project, Angels & Vampires - Volume I.
In July 2005 Maitreya started working on Angels & Vampires - Volume II, he released chapter after chapter online as soon he finished recording the songs. In April 2006 he released the finished album; again via his website.
Since 2006, Maitreya has released five more studio albums, alongside touring and the release of a few live albums and various live shows to his YouTube channel. In 2020, Maitreya was featured on The Avalanches' single Reflecting Light which would later be on their 'We Will Always Love You' album, later that same year.
Trivia:
D'Arby/Maitreya appeared in in the TV series "Shake, Rattle And Roll" where he played the part of Jackie Wilson. His music has also been included on several movie soundtracks, most notably 1991's Frankie and Johnny.
My Dark Places
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my shadow nature there's a private room
Where I keep my fear
Every now and then never knowing when
i have to disappear
Slaying my dragons by trying to love them
Let's suspend some time together
Let's reduce our gravity
And make love convincingly
Since we're parking in each other's spaces
Would you visit me in my dark places?
Would you come and help me bring it into the light?
Would you visit me in my dark places?
Would you help me burn a candle into the night?
Come and say hello
In the belly of my superstitions are many souvenirs
From my travels through my psyches underworld
Where I disappear
Slaying my dragons by trying to love them
Let's commit our souls to silver
Let's commit our hearts to gold
And remember in every moment
That we have ourselves to hold
Since we're laughing in each other's faces
Would you visit me in my dark places?
Would you come and help me bring it into the light?
Would you visit me in my dark places?
Would you help me burn a candle into the night?
Come and say hello
Let's suspend some time together
Let's reduce our gravity
And remind ourselves of rainbows
And make love convincingly
MY DARK PLACES(2)
Since we're living in each other's graces
And we're travelling at each other's spaces
Would you visit me in my dark places?
Would you come and help me bring it into the light?
Would you visit me in my dark places?
Would you help me burn a candle into the night?
Come and say hello
"My Dark Places" by Terence Trent D'Arby is a song about the vulnerability and apprehensions we all have hidden away from others within us. The lyrics describe a private room where the artist keeps his fears hidden away from the world. He reaches out to his lover and asks them to join him in his "dark places," a metaphor for the hidden parts of himself he keeps guarded. By opening up to his partner and asking for help to face his fears and bring them into the light, he is demonstrating trust, vulnerability, and a desire for intimacy.
The artist talks about reconciling with his inner demons by trying to love them, symbolizing an effort to accept one's shortcomings and embrace them as a part of oneself. He asks his partner to commit their souls to silver and hearts to gold, to cherish the present moment, and to support him in his self-discovery. The artist then ends the song by inviting his partner to suspend time together, reduce gravity, and celebrate the rainbows of life, once again signifying the beauty of romantic intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Come and say hello
Terence Trent D'Arby is inviting someone to connect with him on a deeper level, to reach out and get to know him beyond the surface.
In my shadow nature there's a private room
He has a hidden, private side to himself that he doesn't share with just anyone.
Where I keep my fear
In this private room, he keeps the things that scare him the most.
Every now and then never knowing when I have to disappear
He sometimes feels the need to retreat from the world and isolate himself, but doesn't always know when that feeling will come.
Slaying my dragons by trying to love them
He is overcoming his fears and obstacles by confronting them with love and compassion.
Let's suspend some time together
He wants to take some time to slow down and appreciate life with the person he is speaking to.
Let's reduce our gravity
He wants to let go of the heavy burdens that weigh us down and just be present in the moment.
And remind ourselves of rainbows
He wants to find beauty and positivity in the world, even in the midst of dark times.
And make love convincingly
He wants to be genuine and sincere in his love towards others.
Since we're parking in each other's spaces
Since they are getting closer to each other, he acknowledges that there may be some overlapping boundaries and wants to make sure they are respectful of each other's personal space.
Would you visit me in my dark places?
He is asking for the person he is speaking to to be there for him during his most vulnerable and difficult moments.
Would you come and help me bring it into the light?
He wants someone to help him process and overcome his fears, and bring those fears into a place of healing and growth.
In the belly of my superstitions are many souvenirs
He has a lot of lingering doubts and fears that he carries with him, some of which he has collected over time.
From my travels through my psyches underworld where I disappear
These doubts and fears come from a dark, subconscious place that he sometimes feels like he loses himself in.
Let's commit our souls to silver
He wants to connect with the person he is speaking to on a deep and spiritual level, and to cherish and protect that connection like a valuable possession.
Let's commit our hearts to gold
He wants emotional intimacy and trust to be the foundation of their relationship, something precious and priceless that they both cherish.
And remember in every moment that we have ourselves to hold
Above all else, he wants them to remember that they are there for each other, supporting each other through whatever challenges come their way.
Since we're laughing in each other's faces
Since they are close enough to share laughter and joy with each other, he wants to make sure they are there for each other during times of struggle as well.
And we're travelling at each other's spaces
They are on a journey together, growing closer and traveling through life side-by-side.
Would you help me burn a candle into the night?
He wants help creating a light in the darkness, something to guide him through the tough times and bring hope.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind