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.

Swim With the Dolphins
The Mission Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanna fly with Peter Pan

I wanna go with Alice to Wonderland

I wanna pitch ball to Shoeless Joe

I wanna roam the plains with the buffalo

Ohoh, ohoh, and before I die

Ohoh, ohoh, and before I die all I wanna do

Is swim with the dolphins

I wanna fly with Peter Pan

I wanna go with Alice to Wonderland

I wanna walk the Yellow Brick Road

I wanna buy back the dreams I sold

Ohoh, ohoh, and before I die

Ohoh, ohoh, and before I die all I wanna do

Is swim with the dolphins

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Mission's song "Swim With the Dolphins" express a longing to escape reality and explore a world of imagination and wonder. The references to Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and the Yellow Brick Road all evoke images of fantastical adventures and the possibility of escaping the confines of the mundane world. In addition to these classic tales, the lyrics also touch on the desire to connect with the natural world, as evidenced by the reference to roaming with the buffalo and swimming with the dolphins.

The repeated refrain of "and before I die, all I wanna do is swim with the dolphins" underscores the importance of experiencing all that life has to offer before it's too late. This theme of living life to the fullest is a common one in music, but the specificity of the desire to swim with dolphins adds a unique twist to the sentiment. The dolphins, with their intelligence, playfulness, and connection to the ocean, represent the ultimate embodiment of freedom and joy.

Overall, the lyrics to "Swim With the Dolphins" express a yearning for adventure, freedom, and a deeper connection to the natural world. They remind us to cherish our time on this earth and to seek out experiences that bring us joy and wonder.

Line by Line Meaning

I wanna fly with Peter Pan
I desire to experience the freedom of flight, like the fictional character Peter Pan.

I wanna go with Alice to Wonderland
I yearn to explore a fantastical alternate reality, much like Alice's adventures in Wonderland.

I wanna pitch ball to Shoeless Joe
I aspire to have a game of baseball with the legendary, but controversial, baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson.

I wanna roam the plains with the buffalo
I long to go on a journey of exploration with the American Buffalo, an animal that represents freedom and endurance.

Ohoh, ohoh, and before I die
An introspective acknowledgement of one's own mortality.

Ohoh, ohoh, and before I die all I wanna do
A reaffirmation of the urgency to fulfill one's desires before the end of their life.

Is swim with the dolphins
The ultimate goal and dream, to have a personal interaction and connection with dolphins in their natural habitat.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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