2 The Magnificent is also a punk band from North West England, who formed in 2008 featuring ex-members of That Fucking Tank, Kill Yourself, and Eighty Six, and following their demo released their debut album "Pay The Crimes" in 2009 on Boss Tuneage Records, contributed 3 songs to the same label's "Instant Singles Collection Volume 3" in 2010, and released a split single with Noise By Numbers on Drunken Sailor Records in 2011.
Apparently compared to Pinhead Gunpowder, The Replacements, Billy Bragg, The Clash, and Alkaline Trio, they went on to release their second album "Bad Lucky" on JSNTGM Records in 2012. A "For Fans Only" release "Live in Leeds" featuring the majority of a live show from 2010 plus old demos and out-takes was released in 2013 on the band's bandcamp page, where they explain that the reason part of the set is missing is because "...some of it just didn't get recorded. We were all really drunk."
3 The Magnificent was one of the first bands to emerge from the punk scene in Nijmegen and certainly one of the few bands from that era to reach an audience outside their home town. The roots of the band lie in the first generation punk band The Squats, formed in the late seventies of the last century. The three original members formed a new band in 1983, consisting of Toon (guitar and vocals), Bock (drums) and Gerrit (bass). Shortly afterwards Toon concentrated on guitar while Gilbert joined on lead vocals. Around that time they got in touch with British independent record labels. One of their highlights, the classic Heat of the Street, was included on Oi! The resurrection in 1986. Almost ten years later the chord sequence of this song reappears on When I Come Around from Green Day's million selling Dookie CD. Coincidence? Probably so.
Gilbert and Toon left the band, leaving Bock and Gerrit on their own. The two had developed into one of tightest rhythm sections ever to come from Grootstal, and possibly from Nijmegen. They found singer Joop and guitarist Ted willing to join a revamped Magnificent. This quartet worked on a set of strong songs and contributed one side to Skins 'n' Punks Volume 3. The recordings show a self confident band with a lot of potential. The concrete rhythm section is now expanded with Joop's extremely powerful, but never over-the-top vocals and Ted's heavy guitar sound. In 1987 Rob joined as second guitarist and by the end of that year the band spent some cold weeks in the studio for the recording of their first full album Hit and Run. The album was released early 1988 on Link Records and captures the band at its musical peak. The record showcases a set of excellent song material, played with great energy and recorded using the maximum of the limited eight-track studio facilities. The only setback was the poor sound quality of the vinyl release, which can now luckily be replaced by the CD version (taken from the original master tape with good sound quality). In the rush following the release of the album the band did a gig at the London Astoria, part of which can be found on Oi! The Main Event. While recording material for a new album in 1989, the inevitable musical and personal difficulties arose. With a US tour on the horizon, Ted was replaced by new guitarist Ernst. On the eve of the US tour, Gerrit quit the band, leaving the rest in a state of shock with a cancelled tour. Later that year, Rob quit, followed by Ernst. Bock and Joop were on their own. Against all odds, the two managed to get a new line up together with Hardy on bass and John on guitar. In 1990 the new band finally took off for a tour through the promised land. In the US, they recorded a couple of new, powerful songs that were included on the long awaited second album St. Cloud Days, together with some left-over tracks from earlier recordings made in Nijmegen. The band was in shape again and consolidated its reputation by touring Germany, adding another second guitarist in the shape of Cyril on the way. There was no real split up, the band just stopped doing gigs somewhere in 1994, with members getting involved into different things in and out of music.
Now that time overtook the band with some ten years, it is obvious that one of the strengths of the band lie in the fact that it sprang from the first wave of punk bands. The individual members had spent their formative years listening to a variety of pre-punk music, so there always was a broad perspective on the music. At the same time, the band stayed close to the chosen punk path. Despite the many personnel changes, the band always kept faithful to its original basics: a no-nonsense mentality, a professional attitude as far as the music is concerned, and above all a good sense of humour.
For several years it seemed as if the band only lived on in the memories of those who were in or around it. Then, in 2001 the Magnificent website was made available to the world. The site offers free downloads of all tracks from all the officially released albums. Besides that there's is a large archive of rehearsal tapes, taped gigs etc., which will be made available on the web soon, if not sooner, wasting precious gigabytes. Who cares, old punks never die...
Harvest Moon
The Magnificent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On those nights so long ago
Cast your bridge upon the water
Right towards us onto the shore
While it's all a long gone dream
I'm still there waiting
When it's that time of the year
Bringing back the moments we shared
You don't need a reason
It's a change of the season
But I couldn't walk away
A part of me stayed
I'm still there waiting
Under the harvest moon
The nights were getting colder
I hoped your shine would never fade
But you told me it was over
You were leaving, and I cried in pain
Cried in pain
I know your still there
When it's that time of the year
Bringing back the moments we shared
You don't need a reason
It's a change of the season
But I couldn't walk away
A part of me stayed
I'm still there waiting
Under the harvest moon
They say that time will heal the pain
But when I see your face, it's all too real
Every time I look up in the sky
It makes me wanna cry after you
When it's that time of the year
Bringing back the moments we shared
You don't need a reason
It's a change of the season
But I couldn't walk away
A part of me stayed
I know your still there
When it's that time of the year
Bringing back the moments we shared
You don't need a reason
It's a change of the season
But I couldn't walk away
A part of me stayed
I'm still there waiting
I'm still there waiting
I'm still there waiting
Under the harvest moon
The song Harvest Moon by The Magnificent is a melancholic tune that speaks of a person's longing and yearning for a love that has already ended. The song's opening lyrics perfectly set the mood, "I've seen a glimpse of heaven, on those nights so long ago". The singer is remembering a time when he felt truly happy and in love, a moment when he felt like he was in heaven. But as time passed by, the relationship ended, and he was left to look back on what once was. Despite this, he remains hopeful, "While it's all a long gone dream, I'm still there waiting under the harvest moon".
The song continues to talk about the changing seasons and how it reminds the singer of the love he once had. He remembers the moments they shared and how those memories keep him holding on, "Bringing back the moments we shared, you don't need a reason, it's a change of the season but I couldn't walk away, a part of me stayed". The final lyrics speak of the singer's struggle to move on, "They say that time will heal the pain, but when I see your face, it's all too real. Every time I look up in the sky, it makes me wanna cry after you".
In summary, The Magnificent's Harvest Moon is a nostalgic and heart-wrenching reminiscence of lost love. It speaks of how the changing seasons and the memories of a past relationship can leave a person longing and holding onto what was once had. Despite the pain, there remains hope and the realization that some parts of the singer stayed in that moment and still wait.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen a glimpse of heaven
The singer has had a beautiful experience that felt heavenly.
On those nights so long ago
The experience occurred on nights in the distant past.
Cast your bridge upon the water
Addressed to a specific person, encouraging them to connect with the singer.
Right towards us onto the shore
The hope is that the person will come towards the artist.
While it's all a long gone dream
The experience mentioned before is something that exists only in the past now.
I'm still there waiting
Despite the past, the singer is still holding out hope.
When I see you out there
The singer is talking directly to the person from earlier.
When it's that time of the year
The specific season or time of year holds significance for the artist and the person.
Bringing back the moments we shared
This season reminds the artist of happy memories with the person.
You don't need a reason
The person doesn't need an excuse to visit or connect with the artist.
It's a change of the season
The time of year is the catalyst for these emotions and memories.
But I couldn't walk away
The artist is still attached to the person and remembers them fondly.
A part of me stayed
Even though things ended, the singer still holds onto the connection they had with the person.
The nights were getting colder
The change of season is marked by colder weather.
I hoped your shine would never fade
The singer wanted the person to stay a bright and constant presence in their life.
But you told me it was over
The person ended the relationship, leaving the artist heartbroken.
You were leaving, and I cried in pain
The breakup was emotional and painful for the artist.
I know your still there
The singer believes the person is still present in their life in some way.
They say that time will heal the pain
The singer has been told that time will help them move on from the heartbreak.
But when I see your face, it's all too real
Seeing the person in person brings the pain back to the surface.
Every time I look up in the sky
The sky is a reminder of the pain and the person who caused it.
It makes me wanna cry after you
The emotions are overwhelming and painful.
I'm still there waiting
The singer is still holding out hope for a reconnection.
Under the harvest moon
The song title is repeated, emphasizing the significance of this particular time of year and the emotions it brings.
Contributed by Amelia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ariel Maldonado
La nostalgia me invade escuchando esta canción siempre no cambia el sentimiento y una lágrima trata de formarse para caer de mis ojos
DIANA PIEDRAHITA
Muchos recuerdos pero deben quedar por siempre en mi mente y no más
Hard Rock & Heavy Metal
DIANA PIEDRAHITA es una canción muy melodica con una carga nostálgica. Es raro ver por acá personas que conozcan esta canción. Felicitaciones por tu gusto musical.