Trevor Charles Rabin (born 13 January 1954) is a South African musician, si… Read Full Bio ↴Trevor Charles Rabin (born 13 January 1954) is a South African musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and film composer. Born into a musical family and raised in Johannesburg, Rabin took up the piano and guitar at an early age and became a session musician, playing and producing with a variety of artists. In 1972, he joined the rock band Rabbitt who enjoyed considerable success in South Africa, and released his first solo album, Beginnings. In 1978, Rabin moved to London to further his career, working as a solo artist and a producer for various artists including Manfred Mann's Earth Band.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1981, Rabin gained prominence as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes from 1983 to 1995. 90125 (1983), his first album with the group and developed mostly from Rabin's demos, remains their biggest selling album helped by the US number one single "Owner of a Lonely Heart". After Big Generator (1987) and Union (1991), Rabin produced Talk (1994) and left the group after its tour. During his time in Yes, Rabin acquired American citizenship.

Rabin became a prolific film composer and has since scored over 40 feature films, most notably his frequent collaborations with producer Jerry Bruckheimer. He has won numerous awards, including 11 BMI Awards. He took a short break from scoring to record his fourth solo album, Jacaranda (2012), and in 2016 to tour and record with Yes Featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman. In 2017, Rabin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes.

Rabin has received eleven Broadcast Music Incorporated film score awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Temecula Valley International Film Festival.

In June 2011, Rabin received an award at the 26th ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards in the Top Box Office Films category for The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010). On 28 June 2012 Rabin received a Henry Mancini Award at the 27th ASCAP Film & Television Music Awards. Rabin also performed "Owner of a Lonely Heart" with his son's band Grouplove.

Rabin names Bernard Herrmann as his favourite score composer. He has named Arnold Schoenberg as one of his favourite classical composers, and him and other classical composers – Beethoven, Sibelius, Elgar and Tchaikovsky – as influences. He names Jimi Hendrix, Steve Morse, Jeff Beck, and John McLaughlin as his favourite guitarists.

In 1978, Rabin married Shelley May who he first met at school. They have resided in Hollywood, Los Angeles since 1984 and have one son, Ryan. Ryan has been the drummer for The Anthem, The Outline, and currently for Grouplove. In 1991, Rabin became a naturalised US citizen.

Rabin is the godfather to Yes drummer Alan White's son.

Promises
Trevor Rabin Lyrics

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It looks so easy
To be walking close behind
Did you find it easy
To be needed all the time

And I'm looking at you now
As if you knew the way
But I cannot reach you

You're far away

It doesn't seem so easy
Like the river that flows upstream

Promises, don't give me promises
Don't give me promises when all you do is lie
No promises when all I do is cry

You look for the questions
From the minds of those who care
You'll find them waiting
And you'll learn that we can share

Losing the love, been looking out for freedom
You've been losing our love along the way

Promises, don't give me promises
Don't give me promises when all you do is lie
No promises when all I do is cry

Promises, don't give me promises

Don't give me promises when all you do is lie
No promises when all I do is cry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Trevor Rabin's song Promises seems to be about a relationship that is not working out. Initially, the singer seems to be addressing the person they are in a relationship with. They ask if the other person finds it easy to be needed all the time, to always be in the lead, while they have to follow. The singer wants to reach out to this person, but they feel distant and unreachable.

The refrain of the song revolves around the idea of broken promises. The singer accuses the other person of lying and not keeping their promises. They say that all they do is cry, suggesting the pain and hurt that this relationship has caused them. The bridge of the song talks about the need for communication and understanding in a relationship. The singer pleads for the other person to listen to the questions asked by those who care and to learn to share with them.

Overall, the song is a powerful statement about the emotional turmoil that people go through in failed relationships. Through its heartfelt lyrics, Trevor Rabin has created an anthem for anyone who has ever felt betrayed by someone they love.

Line by Line Meaning

It looks so easy
It may seem like a simple task

To be walking close behind
To follow someone closely

Did you find it easy
Did you think it was a simple task?

To be needed all the time
To always be required or wanted

And I'm looking at you now
I'm observing you at this moment

As if you knew the way
As though you have the answers

But I cannot reach you
However, I cannot connect with you

You're far away
You seem distant

It doesn't seem so easy
In reality, it isn't a simple task

Like the river that flows upstream
Like trying to move against the current

Promises, don't give me promises
Don't make assurances to me