The Lilac Time is a band from Birmingham, UK (though based in Malvern, Engl… Read Full Bio ↴The Lilac Time is a band from Birmingham, UK (though based in Malvern, England), formed by Stephen Duffy and his brother Nick Duffy in 1987. The name is taken from a line in the Nick Drake song River Man: "Gonna see the River Man/Gonna tell him all I can/About the plan/For Lilac Time".

The initial line-up for the debut album, entitled The Lilac Time, released in November 1987 was the two Duffys and keyboardist Michael Weston. Subsequent line-ups have revolved around the two brothers and included drummer Michael Giri, bassist Micky Harris, multi-instrumentalist Caroline Radcliffe, pianist Cara Tivey. Nick Duffy briefly left in 1990 and was replaced by guitarist Sagat Guirey. Later members post '91 split include backing vocalist & keyboardist Claire Worrall and pedal steel guitarist Melvin Duffy (no relation!).

The band's activity is intertwined with Stephen's solo career, waxing and waning as his time and attention permit. The longest gap between Lilac Time records was 8 years - 1991's Astronauts to 1999's Looking for a Day in the Night.

Now, Stephen Duffy is perhaps best known as the co-songwriter and producer for Robbie Williams, and after many years of obscurity, a series of reissues now means that the entire Lilac Time back catalogue is available to buy in the UK for the first time ever. His three later solo albums (1993's Music in Colors, 1995's Duffy & 1998's I Love My Friends) have also been reissued with extra tracks.

From 2003 to 2009 the band released records as Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time and has stabilised with the permanent line-up of Stephen Duffy, Nick Duffy and Claire Worrall (who married Stephen Duffy in 2008). Michael Giri, Micky Harris and Melvin Duffy supplement the line-up on rare occasions they play live.

April 2015 sees the return of The Lilac Time name in the form of a new album, entitled No Sad Songs.

If The Stars Shine Tonight
The Lilac Time Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I admire that point of view
But nothing is that simple
I couldn't live the way that you do
The opposite of sinful

But if the stars shine tonight
And chances are they might
Then the night won't seem so blind

When you come to mind

You really are a vestal girl
So proper and so pious
What pleasure do you get girl
From those that you deny us?

She steps down from the bus
Like she gets into her bath
And how I wish I was
Getting in with her

You think you are immortal
That ash will not become you
But for anyone to survive you
There's something that I must do

But if the stars shine tonight
And chances are they might

Then the night won't seem so blind
Mind if I have some?

Overall Meaning

The Lilac Time's song "If The Stars Shine Tonight" has a deep and ambiguous meaning that revolves around the complexity of human nature, especially the inner conflict that arises when we encounter someone who represents an ideal we admire but can't embody ourselves. The lyrics reflect the singer's admiration for a woman who seems to have a strict moral code and lives a virtuous life, but he also acknowledges that he couldn't live the way she does. The phrase "the opposite of sinful" implies that the singer is aware of his own moral shortcomings, and he sees the woman as a moral compass that he wishes he could follow.

The song's chorus is a wistful statement that expresses the singer's desire to bridge the gap between himself and the woman he admires. The mention of the stars creates a romantic and dreamy atmosphere that suggests that the singer imagines a scenario where he and the woman could be together, or where he could somehow reconcile his own desires with her moral ideals. However, the phrase "then the night won't seem so blind" suggests that this scenario is unlikely to happen, and that the singer is resigned to cherishing his unrequited infatuation.

The second half of the song introduces a contrasting character, who seems to represent a more hedonistic and pragmatic worldview. The singer reflects on the woman's denial of pleasure and wonders what she gets out of it. However, he also acknowledges the woman's undeniable allure, which is underscored by the imagery of the woman stepping down from a bus and the singer wishing he could join her. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is willing to take drastic measures to be with the woman, but it's unclear if this is a genuine declaration of passion or just a passing thought.

Line by Line Meaning

I admire that point of view
I appreciate your perspective

But nothing is that simple
However, things are rarely straightforward

I couldn't live the way that you do
I couldn't imagine living like you do

The opposite of sinful
But it's not necessarily bad or wrong

But if the stars shine tonight
But if the sky is clear and stars can be seen tonight

And chances are they might
And there's a good probability of that happening

Then the night won't seem so blind
Then the darkness won't seem as all-encompassing

When you come to mind
When I think of you

You really are a vestal girl
You're like a virgin, pure and innocent

So proper and so pious
Very well-behaved and religious

What pleasure do you get girl
What enjoyment do you get from