In March 1988 their second independent single, “Be Still” was released on Harbour Sound Records, once again to critical acclaim. By this time, following various shifts in personnel, the band’s classic line-up was firmly established, with Nick and Robert now joined by Dermot Lynch (bass) and guitar player and multi-instrumentalist Tim Bradshaw.
In October 1989, The Fat Lady Sings released their third single “Arclight” on their own Fourth Base Record label. The critical and public interest in this song, and for the band’s follow-up single “Dronning Maud Land” (released January 1990), together with the enormous live following that they’d build up in both Ireland and the UK (they sold out both the National Stadium in Dublin and the Town & Country Club in London, an unprecedented feat for an unsigned band) attracted major label interest.
In 1990 the band signed to East West Records in London (Atlantic in America). Their first major label single “Man Scared” was released in October 1990. In May 1991, the band’s first album, “Twist” was released. This album spawned 3 more singles: a re-release of “Arclight” (April 1991), “Twist” (May 1991) and “Deborah” (August 1991).
Following a year of touring and promotional activity, taking in Ireland, the UK, Europe and the US, the band began preparations for their second album without drummer Robert Hamilton, who’d decided to leave and subsequently set up the “Peace Together” charity with another TFLS old boy Ali McMordie. (The charity went on to record and release a charity single version of the TFLS tune “Be Still” featuring Peter Gabriel, Nanci Griffith, Feragal Sharkey, Jah Wobble and Sinead O’Connor.)
The band’s second album “Johnson”, produced by Steve Osborne (and with Nic France on drums), was released in June 1993, preceded by the single “Show Of Myself”. The second single from the album, “Drunkard Logic” gave the band their highest ever chart placing in the UK, just falling short of the Top 40. The band once more threw themselves into a punishing 6 months of touring, culminating in a 3 month US stint that ended with a storming pre-Christmas show in New York punk mecca CBGBs.
In January 1994, the band split with Nick Kelly’s surprise announcement that he was quitting.
Following a self-imposed exile from the music industry, Nick subsequently achieved great critical acclaim for his first independently-released solo album, “Between Trapezes” (1997), which won him the accolade of “Best Solo Male Artist” at the 1998-99 Irish Music Critics Awards. Nick’s long-awaited follow-up album, “Running Dog”, released in January 2005, also on his own Self Possessed Records label, is already garnering similar plaudits.
Tim and Dermot both enjoyed Top 10 Chart success in America as members of the band Dog’s Eye View in 1995. Tim’s multi-instrumental and production / arrangement talents have been subsequently availed of by artists as diverse as Tanita Tikarem, Fatima Mansions and, most notably, David Gray, with whom he both tours and records on a full-time basis. Dermot’s recent playing career also includes stints with David Gray; in addition, in recent years he has also become established as one of the most sought-after tour and production managers in the UK, working with the likes of Keane, Fun Loving Criminals and Supergrass.
To celebrate the release of The Fat Lady Sings’ forthcoming double compilation album “The Fat Lady Singles (& Opera Obscura)”, the band have decided to reform for a one-off show in Dublin’s Vicar Street on Friday April 8th – the first time they will have appeared together onstage since the show in CBGB’s back in December 2003.
Arclight
The Fat Lady Sings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sing like a bird might sing
When he was higher than heaven
Higher than every other thing
Some kind of arclight
Sparks in the street
I know that you've no answers
All I need is for you to shine
Shine like an arclight
Like I want you to shine
I know that you've nobody
And I know that you're not mind
But the light that you are
And the light you can be
Is the only thing I want
The only light I can see
You don't have to know the words
And you don't have to know the rules
You just shine in the morning like the sun
Burn like a candle in the night
Shine like a book that's never been read
Burn like a saint who knows he's right
Shine like a shard of glass
On the forest ground
When you shine you know
You burn me down
Well I don't wear no chains
I've got no cross to bear
And I'm as free as the wind
I'm as free as the air
I'm as free as the old
I'm as cold as the dawn
And I'm as lost as you are
You are the only law
You don't have to know the words
And you don't have to know the rules
And you never had to speak
Down, down, down
You burn me down
The Fat Lady Sings released "Arclight" in 1987 as part of their album Twist. The song starts off with the lines "Shine like an arclight, Sing like a bird might sing, When he was higher than heaven, Higher than every other thing." The lyrics depict the singer's longing for someone to shine like an arclight, a bright and powerful electrical device that illuminates a large area. The image of arclight signifies the singer's desire for the other person to be a bright light in their life, shining and glowing with vitality. The song talks about how the light of the other person is the only light the singer wants to see, emphasizing the importance of this light in their life.
The second verse reinforces this desire for light to shine, "You just shine in the morning like the sun, Burn like a candle in the night, Shine like a book that's never been read, Burn like a saint who knows he's right." This depicts the singer's wish for the other person to shine like the sun during the day, and as a bright candle in the night. The song talks about the other person's light of knowledge, freedom, and lawlessness that the singer admires. Overall, the song Arclight is an ode to a bright and powerful presence in the singer's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Shine like an arclight
Radiate and glow brilliantly like a bright arc of light
Sing like a bird might sing
Express oneself melodiously, just like a bird does through their singing
When he was higher than heaven
When so exalted and elevated that the singer was beyond heavens
Higher than every other thing
Higher than everything that ever existed
Some kind of arclight
Distinctive and specific type or form of arclight
Sparks in the street
Sparkling and dazzling lights that gleam through the alleys and byways
I know that you've no answers
The singer is aware that the other person does not have the solutions
All I need is for you to shine
All the artist desires is for the other person to endure and radiate brightness
Like I want you to shine
Brilliant and dazzling shine that is in line with the dream and expectation of the artist
I know that you've nobody
The artist acknowledges that the other person is alone or unsupported
And I know that you're not mine
The singer realises that the other person is independent and not owned by him/her
But the light that you are
The artist perceives that the other person is a source of light
And the light you can be
The singer understands that the other person can possess the potential to radiate light
Is the only thing I want
The sole desire of the singer is for the other person to glow profoundly
The only light I can see
The singer only sees the other person's brightness
You just shine in the morning like the sun
Like the sun, the artist expects the other person to brighten the morning
Burn like a candle in the night
Flames flicker in the night just like how the artist expects the other person's light to radiate fervently
Shine like a book that's never been read
The singer sees the other person's light as a pristine book that has never been opened and read
Burn like a saint who knows he's right
Saints who perceive themselves as righteous flame vividly in the singer's mind when he/she thinks of the other person shining
Shine like a shard of glass
The artist visualises the other person's light to glimmer and sparkle like a piece of broken glass
On the forest ground
The glimmering shard of glass can be found in the forest's expanse
When you shine you know
When the other person burns fervently, he/she is aware of their light
You burn me down
The singer confesses that the other person's light consumes him/her thoroughly
Well I don't wear no chains
The artist is free, and no chains can hinder him/her
I've got no cross to bear
The singer is relieved that he/she does not carry any heavy burden
And I'm as free as the wind
The singer is as unrestricted as the wind
I'm as free as the air
The singer envisages himself/herself to be as free as the air
I'm as free as the old
The artist feels as liberated as the aged that have seen it all
I'm as cold as the dawn
The artist's heart is colder than the early morning's crisp breeze
And I'm as lost as you are
The singer thinks that he/she is as directionless as the other person
You are the only law
The other person has so much influence on the singer that he/she perceives the other person as a guide for all actions
Contributed by Annabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jivascampos
[ARCLIGHT]
Shine like an Arclight
Sing like a bird might sing
When he was higher than heaven
Higher than every other thing
Some kind of Arclight
Sparks in street
I know that you've no answers
All I need is for you to shine
Shine like an Arclight
Like I want you to Shine
I know that you've Nobody
And I know that You're Not Mine
But the Light that You are
and the light You can be
Is the only thing I want
The only Light I can see
You don't have to know the Words
And You don't have to know the Rules
You just Shine in the morning like the Sun
Burn like a Candle in the Night
Shine like a Book that's never been read
Burn like a saint who knows
He's right Shine like a shard of Glass on the forest ground
When you shine you know you burn me down
Well i don't wear no Chains
I've got no Cross to bear
And I'm as free as the Wind
I'm as free as the Air
I am as free as the old
I am as Cold as the Dawn
And I'm so lost as you are
You are my only law
Down, down, down
You burn me Down
@08appleseed
my name is mill,i was roadcrew with the blades till they split,then i was asked to work with these guys,i still remember the first gig,nick had a presence on stage even then,i spent a lot of time with these guys,they are like family..tim plays with david gray,dermot is one of the most sought after tour managers around,man there are some great stories around this band...these guys were above professional,twist and johnson both classics,but when you get to see songs like this in the making,bliss
@ewanboltom4059
are u still living in that sea side town😨
@eddiebolton4651
Mill it's eddie
@antonellamason
That time, even in Italy we were aware that Irish music was top one! And, I am fortunate to know and work nowadays with the drummer of the great The Fat Lady Sings band. Thank you Robert.
@cornholio1962
I went out to some of the band broken down with a puncture on the M3 at Sunbury when I was an AA man in the tour van.
Tim and Dermot kindly gave me two tickets to their London Gig ,I went and took my little brother inlaw to his first Gig at the Garage Highbury 93
@fernandov.9284
As the saying goes, "to remember is to live back the moments!" makes me a little melancholic; I remember it was in Dublin in 1990, at UCD, a winter evening, I declared my love and gave the first kiss to my best friend, a beautiful lady from Waterford, and this song was playing in the background! Sadly, the love was lost, but the memories will be in secrecy!
@LostyDublin
21 years old this week; one of Ireland's greatest ever songs.
@neilmorrow9756
31 years now
@darragh4912
I love this song. At the grand ould age of 40 something it's great to still re-connect.
@ivandecon5886
True true man keep the hits coming