The band's original lineup consisted of Wayne Hussey (vocals, guitar), Craig Adams (bass), Simon Hinckler (guitar) and Mick Brown (drums). Hussey and Adams were formerly members of The Sisters of Mercy, Mick Brown was a former member of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Hickler was a former member of Artery and Pulp. Wayne Hussey has been the only constant member of the band.
The backbone of the band's catalogue consists of seven main albums (Gods Own Medicine, Children, Carved in Sand, Masque, Neverland, Blue, Aura and God Is A Bullet) with several complementing albums, compilations and other miscellaneous releases also in existence.
The Mission attracted a faithful following band of fans, known a 'Eskimos'. Gigs typically had an energetic mosh pit (prior to the term being coined) sustained by a lot of Eskimos.
Other bandmembers:
Mark Gemini Thwaite (guitar, 1992-1996, 1999-2000, 2006-2008)
Andy Cousin (bass, 1992-1996)
Rik Carter (keyboards, 1992-1998)
Scott Garrett (drums, 1999-2002)
Rob Holliday (guitar, 2001-2005)
Richard Vernon (bass, 2002-2008)
Richard Beesley (drums, 2002)
Steve Spring (drums, 2003-2008)
In October 2007, Wayne Hussey announced the band would split after a series of early 2008 concerts at Shepherds Bush Empire in London.
In 2010, it was announced that The Mission would reform to perform at the Sinners Day Festival in Belgium on Halloween, 2011.
Hands Across The Ocean
The Mission Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The memory of leaving you is tearing me apart
No waves, no tears, no backward glance
But I'll always hold you dear
Never regret but I'll never forget
'Cause there's not enough heaven here
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
Hands, across the ocean
Ocean
And every time I'm missing you I just can't let it show
And every time I want to cry, I just can't let it go
Wine and song and masquerade and refuge holds me dear
Ribbons and lace and daisy chains
But there's not enough heaven here
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
Across the waves, across the water, reaching out for you
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
Across the waves, across the water
Hands, across the ocean
Bangles, beads and lipstick games
And comfort holds me dear
Velvet and lace and perfumed sheets
But there's not enough heaven
Not enough heaven here
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
Across the waves, across the water, reaching out for you
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
Across the waves, across the water
Hands, across the ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Ocean
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
Across the waves, across the water
Hands, across the ocean
The Mission's song "Hands Across The Ocean" is a melancholic tribute to a lost love. The opening lyrics reveal the extent of the singer's heartbreak, as he compares the memory of leaving his beloved to the final beat of his heart. He acknowledges that despite the pain, he still holds her dear and will never forget her. However, he admits that there is not enough heaven on earth to bring them back together.
The chorus of the song repeats the refrain "Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you" and expresses the singer's yearning for his lost love. He longs to bridge the physical distance between them and connect across the waves and water that separates them. The second verse describes how the singer tries to cope with his sadness by indulging in hedonistic pursuits like wine, song, and masquerades. But ultimately, these distractions prove to be fleeting and can't provide the comfort he needs.
Overall, "Hands Across The Ocean" is a poignant and sentimental song that captures the raw emotions of heartbreak and longing. It speaks to anyone who has ever experienced the pain of losing a loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I think of you it's like the last beat of my heart
Thinking of you feels like my heart is about to stop
The memory of leaving you is tearing me apart
I'm struggling to move on from the pain of leaving you
No waves, no tears, no backward glance
I didn't show emotion when I left – no tears, no goodbyes
But I'll always hold you dear
Despite leaving, I still cherish you deeply
Never regret but I'll never forget
I don't regret leaving, but I can't forget what we had
'Cause there's not enough heaven here
Life doesn't feel complete without you
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
I long for a way to connect with you, despite the distance
Across the waves, across the water
No matter how far apart we are, I still reach for you
And every time I'm missing you I just can't let it show
Even though I miss you terribly, I hide it and act normal
And every time I want to cry, I just can't let it go
I hold back tears even when I feel like crying
Wine and song and masquerade and refuge holds me dear
I distract myself with drinking, music, and pretending to be someone else
Ribbons and lace and daisy chains
I surround myself with pretty things to feel happier
But there's not enough heaven here
My life feels empty without you in it
Bangles, beads and lipstick games
I play with makeup and jewelry to pretend I'm happy
And comfort holds me dear
I find solace in familiar routines and people, even if they aren't you
Velvet and lace and perfumed sheets
I take comfort in soft, luxurious fabrics and scents
But there's not enough heaven
Despite all of this, I still feel like something is missing
Hands across the ocean, reaching out for you
I'll always try to find a way to bridge the gap between us
Across the waves, across the water, reaching out for you
No matter how far, I'll keep trying to connect with you
Hands, across the ocean
I'll always reach for you, no matter how impossible it may seem
Ocean
The vastness of the ocean reminds me of the distance between us
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CRAIG DAVID ADAMS, MICK BROWN, WAYNE HUSSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Liesel Hering Chamen
on Daddy's Going to Heaven Now
Anyone know the story behind this song?