The Mission (known as The Mission UK in the United States due to a naming c… Read Full Bio ↴The Mission (known as The Mission UK in the United States due to a naming clash with a Philadelphia R&B band) is a goth band formed in 1986 in Leeds, England from the splinters of the freshly-dissolved goth band The Sisters of Mercy.

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.

Refugee
The Mission Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't say no without hearing the question
you'll never know what you may miss
and bear in mind it's just a suggestion
but we both know what follows a kiss
let fate conspire her design
and come and put your hand in mine
I don't look back I don't reminice
'cos there is nothing that I miss

there is no dawn without a night
there is no shadow without light

What you desire is up to you
but I can make all your dreams come true
there's refuge here for a refugee
'cos in my arms there's sanctuary

Don't subscribe to flesh as temptation
surrender to the pulse of your blood
in piety there is never salvation
always the storm that brings the flood
it's no so hard to understand
with every promise comes demand

What you desire is up to you
but I can make all your dreams come true
only the guilty live their lives
looking over their shoulders with alibis in mind

there's refuge here for a refugee
'cos in my arms you'll find sanctuary

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Mission's song Refugee describe a proposition made by the singer to someone who is possibly in need of refuge or sanctuary. The first verse encourages the person to listen to the proposition before saying no because they might miss out on something. The singer suggests that fate may have brought them together and encourages the person to take their hand. The second verse is more philosophical, cautioning against subscribing to temptation and advocating surrender to the pulse of one's blood. The singer also suggests that piety does not guarantee salvation and promises always come with demands. The chorus is an invitation to the person to find refuge and sanctuary in the singer's arms, where their dreams can come true.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't say no without hearing the question
Take the time to understand the situation before rejecting it outright.

you'll never know what you may miss
If you don't give something a chance, you'll never know the potential benefits.

and bear in mind it's just a suggestion
The idea being presented is not a command or requirement, but rather a recommendation.

but we both know what follows a kiss
The outcome or consequences of a romantic gesture such as a kiss are well understood.

let fate conspire her design
Allow destiny to take its course.

and come and put your hand in mine
Take my hand and we will face the future together.

I don't look back I don't reminice
The past is not important - only the present and the future matter.

'cos there is nothing that I miss
I have no regrets or longing for things that are gone.

there is no dawn without a night
In order to experience the brightness of a new day, there must first be darkness.

there is no shadow without light
The concept of shadow is only relevant in comparison to light.

What you desire is up to you
The choice of what you want is ultimately yours to make.

but I can make all your dreams come true
I can be the one to fulfill your wishes and aspirations.

there's refuge here for a refugee
This is a safe haven for those who have been displaced and seek shelter.

'cos in my arms there's sanctuary
The comfort and protection of my embrace will provide a sense of security.

Don't subscribe to flesh as temptation
Do not view physical desire as a negative or sinful force.

surrender to the pulse of your blood
Allow yourself to be guided by your instincts and impulses.

in piety there is never salvation
Being overly righteous or moralistic will not necessarily lead to salvation or happiness.

always the storm that brings the flood
It is often the small disruptions that lead to much larger problems.

it's no so hard to understand
The concept being discussed is not overly complicated or difficult to comprehend.

with every promise comes demand
Making promises entails taking on certain responsibilities or obligations.

only the guilty live their lives
Those who are constantly looking over their shoulder or feeling guilty are not truly living in the present moment.

looking over their shoulders with alibis in mind
Always being prepared with an explanation or excuse for one's actions is not a healthy or fulfilling way to live.

there's refuge here for a refugee
This is a place of safety and comfort for those who have been forced to leave their homes.

'cos in my arms you'll find sanctuary
My embrace will provide a sense of protection and shelter from the outside world.

Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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