The band originally consisted of Bobby Wratten (vocals, guitar) and Michael Hiscock (bass), but for most of their lifespan also included Harvey Williams (guitar), Annemari Davis (keyboards), and Mark Dobson (drums). The band split up in 1991 after an unctuous tour to promote the For Keeps album, during which lead singer/guitarist Bobby Wratten announced he was leaving. He then, along with Davis and Dobson, formed Northern Picture Library. In 1995, Wratten founded Trembling Blue Stars.
Their first EP, Emma's House was released in late 1988, but it was with their 2nd single Sensitive that they first received significant critical attention with a subsequent placing in John Peel's 1989 Festive 50.
Over a three year career the band were often dogged with the reputation of having a post C86 indie pop or generic Sarah Records sound despite producing tracks with numerous styles and influences. Early singles and even their sleeves harked back to early Factory Records bands such as New Order and The Wake, with many tracks often featuring sequencers and samples. Many of the group's recordings, notably Triangle and their epic seven-minute swan song, Missing the Moon, displayed a strong influence from the popular dance music of the time. Most of the group's records were produced by Ian Catt, who later went on to perfect the pop dance sound of Missing The Moon with Saint Etienne and many other British bands of the early to mid 1990s.
A double-album compilation of the long-deleted Field Mice releases, Where'd You Learn To Kiss That Way?, was released in 1998 on the Shinkansen label and sold more copies than any Field Mice record ever sold at the time. Their entire back catalogue was reissued on CD for the first time by LTM Records in 2005.
This Is Not Here
The Field Mice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I told you I'll miss you I was right
I wanted to kiss you not say goodbye
Say goodbye
Say goodbye
Across the lake countless lights we saw shine
A cold wind blew blew down by
A late walk home London Road feeling fine
Feeling fine
Feeling fine
She said with her with her are you
Are you in love?
To my answer she said I thought
I thought as much
I thought that she would always be the only one
Summer's gone
Summer's gone
The Field Mice's song "This Is Not Here" is about the end of a close friendship that has turned into a romantic relationship. The first verse describes the singer's deep friendship with the other person, and how they realize that they will miss them now that they have to say goodbye. The line "I wanted to kiss you not say goodbye" suggests that the singer has feelings beyond friendship, but is unable to act on them. The repetition of "say goodbye" emphasizes the finality of the situation.
In the second verse, the singer and the other person are walking home after seeing lights across the lake. The cold wind blowing down suggests a change in the season, signaling the end of summer and possibly the end of their relationship. However, the singer is feeling fine and enjoying the moment. The last part of the verse is a conversation between the singer and another person, who asks if they are in love. The singer's answer is not given, but the other person suggests that they may already know the answer.
The chorus of "Summer's gone, summer's gone" emphasizes the passing of time and the end of something enjoyable. It can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the end of a relationship that was not meant to last. Overall, "This Is Not Here" is a poignant and bittersweet reflection on the complexities of relationships and the difficulties of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
We are friends close close friends you and I
We have a close friendship, you and I.
I told you I'll miss you I was right
I predicted accurately when I said that I would miss you.
I wanted to kiss you not say goodbye
I desired to express my affection with a kiss, rather than saying farewell.
Say goodbye
The need to part is inevitable.
Across the lake countless lights we saw shine
We observed numerous lights shining across the lake.
A cold wind blew blew down by
The chilly wind swept by and caused a tremble.
By the climb (?)
Possibly referencing a physical aspect of the surroundings, the exact meaning is unclear.
A late walk home London Road feeling fine
Despite the late hour, we were joyous during our walk home on London Road.
Feeling fine
Our mood was positive and content.
She said with her with her are you
She asked whether I was in love with her or not.
Are you in love?
Are you experiencing romantic feelings?
To my answer she said I thought
In response to my reply, she said that she had already considered my feelings.
I thought as much
I had already suspected the answer you gave me.
I thought that she would always be the only one
I believed that she was the singular person for me.
Summer's gone
The season of summer has passed and time has elapsed.
Contributed by Isabella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.