Then Jeric… Read Full Bio ↴Then Jerico were a British rock band from the late 1980s.
Then Jerico produced two outstanding albums of creative songwriting, instrumentation, arrangement and production. The singles "Big Area" and "Sugar Box" being especially memorable. The song "Big Area" was featured in the 1989 science fiction film "Slipstream" starring Mark Hamill.
The band included singer Mark Shaw, bassist Jasper Stainthorpe, drummer Steve Wren, and guitarist Scott Taylor.[2]
The band played at The Limelight Club in NYC in 1983 and signed to London Records in 1984. The single "The Big Sweep" was recorded for London but they objected to the lyrical subject matter (an anti-Robert Maxwell/Rupert Murdoch statement). It was initially released by the track's producer Martin Rushent on his own Immaculate label in 1985 and later as a limited edition by London Records along with the new song, "Fault".[2]
The band's songs "Muscle Deep" and "The Motive" charted in 1987.[2] They enjoyed success with two albums, First (The Sound of Music) (1987) co-produced by Mark Shaw and Owen Davies, which reached number 35 in the UK Albums Chart,[3] followed by The Big Area in 1989 that went gold and reached number 4 in the UK Albums Chart.[3] Producer Rick Nowels took care of about more than half of the tracks on that album which also led to the appearance of Belinda Carlisle on side vocals on the single "What Does It Take".[4]
Released in 1988, ahead of the group's second album, "Big Area" achieved their greatest chart success, peaking at number 13 in the UK Singles Chart.[3]
The original Then Jerico line-up split up in early 1990,[5] with Mark Shaw leaving the band to pursue a solo career. He released his only studio album, Almost for EMI in 1991.[6][7] It was produced by guitarist Andy Taylor and included two singles "Love So Bright" and "Under Your Spell".[7] Mark Shaw has also worked off and on with Spandau Ballet lead singer Tony Hadley and the SAS Band.[2]
In 1998, Shaw re-activated Then Jerico, writing the materials for Orgasmaphobia, a self-financed album[6][8] released on Eagle Rock. The album was co-produced by Mark Shaw and Andy Taylor with collaborations from Taylor, Simple Minds' keyboard player Mick MacNeil and author Iain Banks.[8] In 2000, a live album Alive & Exposed was released by Yeaah! Records credited to 'Then Jerico... Mark Shaw Etc.'.[9] It was a recording made in the summer of 1992 of a concert at The Grand Theatre, Clapham in London.[9][10] It contained a new song "Step into The Light".[10]
Shaw embarked on a new Then Jerico tour in 2012 with an original line-up of the band, made up of Mark Shaw, guitarists Rob Downes and Scott Taylor, bass player Jasper Stainthorpe and drummer Steve Wren.[11]
A Reprise Tour was launched for 2013[12] to promote the release of the 'Reprise' compilation album[12] on Warner / Rhino Music with a number of appearances including at Henley's Rewind the 80s Music[13][14] and at the Let's Rock Bristol festivals.[15]
As of February 2014 the 'original' Then Jerico called it a day; however, lead singer Mark Shaw has continued, as he vowed to do, with a new and improved line-up to fulfill Let's Rock festival dates in May, June and July. In 2015 Shaw has been playing club shows prior to a new album release in 2016 and a forthcoming performance at "Let's Rock London", Clapham Common, London, on 16 July 2016.
Blessed Days
Then Jerico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where the breathless lie
And the whole world
Seemed to close her doors and wait outside
So we fixed our eyes on paradise
And western worlds
And all the cries of pain, you know
Though you say your side is our side
And that we've got a common goal
Only them who stand in firing lines
Could ever be the ones to know
Anytime as time goes by, anytime as time goes by
Pray they'll never break us down in blessed days
And die before you let them take our blessed ways
I'm not coming back to stand that
(Crap)
When life depends a crime, defends a spoken word
And another war is won or lost in foreign blood
Another dawn, another pawn a soldier's day
Watch the skies and touch your heart and kneel and prey
Though you say your side is our side
In that we've got a common goal
Only those who stand in firing lines
Could ever be the ones to know
Anytime as time goes by, anytime as time goes by
Pray they'll never break us down in blessed days
I'd die before you'll ever take our
Blessed ways, I'm not coming back to stand that
(Crap)
Though you say your side is our side
In that we've got a common goal
Only those who stand in firing lines
Could ever be the ones to know
Anytime as time goes by, anytime as time goes by
Pray they'll never break us down in blessed days
I'd die before you'll ever take our
Pray they'll never break us down in blessed days
I'd die before you'll ever take our
Blessed ways, I'm not coming back to stand that
(Crap)
The lyrics of Then Jerico's "Blessed Days" reflect a sense of defiance and resistance to a society that is in turmoil. The opening line, "As the sun went down and kissed the ground where the breathless lie," creates a sense of despair and hopelessness, drawing attention to the many struggles of daily life that people have to face. The subsequent line, "And the whole world seemed to close her doors and wait outside," exacerbates this feeling of isolation and abandonment, as if everyone is alone in their struggle against the world.
The chorus of the song, “Pray they'll never break us down in blessed days, I'd die before you'll ever take our blessed ways," reveals the determination of the singer to hold on to his beliefs and values, in spite of all odds. He refuses to be beaten down by society's injustices and wants to hold on to the blessings that he has. The song expresses the idea that it's easy to be on the side of the privileged and to speak of shared values, but it's only those on the frontlines of a struggle who really understand the complexities and nuances of the situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "Blessed Days" urge the listener to hold fast to their values and beliefs, even in the most challenging of times. It's a call to resist oppression and stand up for what is right, even when it is difficult to do so.
Line by Line Meaning
As the sun went down and kissed the ground
As the sun set, it seemed to gracefully touch the earth.
Where the breathless lie
Where the dead are buried.
And the whole world seemed to close her doors and wait outside
It seemed as though the world stopped and was making way for something else to happen.
So we fixed our eyes on paradise and western worlds
We looked towards an ideal life and Western civilization as a source of inspiration.
And all the cries of pain, you know, I wish they heard
I wish those who are not experiencing suffering could understand the pain of others.
Though you say your side is our side
Even though you claim to be on our side.
And that we've got a common goal
And that we share a similar objective.
Only them who stand in firing lines could ever be the ones to know
Only those who have faced significant challenge and danger can truly understand what it means to fight for a cause.
Anytime as time goes by, anytime as time goes by
No matter when or how much time passes.
Pray they'll never break us down in blessed days
Let's hope our strength and resolve will never falter, especially in times of peace and prosperity.
And die before you let them take our blessed ways
We should be willing to fight to keep our way of life.
I'm not coming back to stand that (Crap)
I refuse to tolerate or accept negative situations.
When life depends a crime, defends a spoken word
When life is determined by the utterances and actions we take.
And another war is won or lost in foreign blood
When other nations are fighting and risking their citizens' lives.
Another dawn, another pawn a soldier's day
Every new day means more soldiers are drafted into the war.
Watch the skies and touch your heart and kneel and prey
Look to the sky and remember our humanity, and perhaps pray for peace.
I'd die before you'll ever take our blessed ways
I'd rather die than allow anyone to take away our way of life.
Pray they'll never break us down in blessed days
Hope that our spirit never breaks during moments of prosperity.
I'm not coming back to stand that (Crap)
I won't tolerate negative situations.
Contributed by Colton R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
michael d
I have this album on vinyl. An incredible album. Still great after all these years.
martymarts67
Fantastic band x
Z Blackerby
Criminally underrated ❤️
Mon Sun
Perfect. ♥️
Mon Sun
Wow wow wow wow. 💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋💋