1) U.K. were a short-lived British progressive rock supergroup active from 1977 through 1980.
In September 1976, singer/bassist John Wetton formerly of the British Psychedelic band Family (with Roger Chapman and Rick Grech) and drummer Bill Bruford, both alumni of King Crimson, worked on forming a band with Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman. The project was stopped by Wakeman's label. According to Bruford, "A&M Records were unwilling to let their 'star,' Wakeman, walk off with a used, slightly soiled King Crimson rhythm section, and the idea failed."
Determined to work together, Bruford and Wetton next asked guitarist Robert Fripp to reform King Crimson which Fripp had disbanded in 1974. When Fripp declined, Bruford and Wetton decided that each would bring in a musician of his choice to formulate a band. Wetton brought in keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson, whom Wetton knew from his work with Roxy Music in 1976 – "stealing" him from Frank Zappa. Bruford recruited guitarist Allan Holdsworth (formerly of Soft Machine and Gong) who had played guitar on Bruford's 1977 debut solo album, Feels Good to Me.
U.K. released their self-titled début album in 1978 and followed it with a supporting tour.
Following two lengthy American tours (June-October 1978), first Holdsworth and then Bruford departed U.K. over musical differences, going on to form the jazz rock fusion group Bruford. After the departure of Bruford and Holdsworth, U.K. didn't bring in another guitarist. Drummer Terry Bozzio (another one-time Frank Zappa band member) joined Wetton and Jobson, and as a result U.K. became a trio with a progressive rock lineup of keyboards/bass/drums (albeit supplemented by Jobson's violin). The trio recorded the album Danger Money, released in March 1979, and spent much of that year touring North America as opening act for Jethro Tull. A live album, Night After Night, was recorded in Japan that Spring and released in September. Following a final European tour in December 1979, and in spite of plans to record a new studio album in America in March 1980, U.K. disbanded. The reason for this was Jobson's and Wetton's different ideas on how the band should have gone on. Jobson wanted UK to go on with more long instrumental pieces, while Wetton thought that performing shorter songs was a better idea. Jobson stated that one song in particular was the reason of the band to disband: When Will You Realise?, a non-LP B-side (to date still unavailable on CD) featured on the Night After Night single, which Wetton would re-record (with slightly different lyrics) in 1980 on his solo album Caught In The Crossfire.
Throughout their brief existence, U.K.'s music was characterised by skilled musicianship, jazzy harmonies, close harmony vocals, use of odd time signatures (like 7/4 on the song In the Dead of Night), electric violin solos, and unusually varied synthesiser (Yamaha CS-80) sonorities.
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2) A folk rock side-project of members of Latvian band The Hobos. After the release of Radio Jah Jah, The Hobos decided to take some time to do other projects. Vilnis Krieviņš went back to play with the legendary Latvian hard rock band Līvi. Rolands Ūdris and Egons Kronbergs formed a side-project called U.K. and released the album KU. Finally, in year 2006 The Hobos went back to studio and a new album was expected sometime in 2009.
Nevermore
UK Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sight black forest
Cool moonlight
Blue shadows
Reflect in windows in direct
Oh, to go down to Soho
There bold spirits don't sink so low
Beer glasses, misty nights
Oh, to go down to Soho
Black tie night out or hobo outright
Singles bars cruising shark cars
Soho neon glow
When day is dawning
You wipe the sleep
Slowly from your eyes
And you remember
Soho's neon disguise
Eyes reflect in windows direct
Soho neon glow
The song Nevermore by UK tells a story of the contrast between the bleakness of the black forest and the bustling energy of Soho, a neighborhood in London known for its nightlife and entertainment. The song begins with a description of the black forest and its eerie moonlit shadows that reflect in windows. However, the mood quickly changes as the singer longs to go down to Soho, a place where bold spirits thrive and the nights are misty and full of life. The lyrics convey a sense of excitement and longing for the dynamic energy of the city, with its gold amber lights and neon glows.
The chorus serves as a reminder that the magic of Soho does not last forever. As day dawns and the sleep is wiped away from the eyes, one can only remember the neon lights and the feeling of being alive among the crowds. The repetition of the phrase "Soho neon glow" throughout the song emphasizes the magnetic allure of the city and the desire to be a part of its vibrant culture. In this way, Nevermore perfectly captures the feeling of being drawn to a place that is both exciting and fleeting.
Line by Line Meaning
Nevermore
No more, never again
The sight black forest
The darkness of the forest is a sight to behold
Cool moonlight
The moonlight is cool and comforting
Blue shadows
The shadows are tinted with a blue hue
Reflect in windows in direct
Directly reflected in windows
Oh, to go down to Soho
The desire to visit the Soho district
There bold spirits don’t sink so low
In Soho, brave souls are not prone to despair
Gold Amber of lights
The glittering light from the lamps resembles gold amber
Beer glasses, misty nights
Drinking beer on hazy nights
Black tie night out or hobo outright
Whether dressed in fancy attire or rugged clothing
Singles bars cruising shark cars
Searching for love in Soho's nightclubs and cars
Soho neon glow
The bright neon lights of Soho
When day is dawning
As sunrise approaches
You wipe the sleep
Rub the tiredness from your eyes
Slowly from your eyes
Gradually, faintly
And you remember
Recalling from memory
Soho's neon disguise
The veil of neon lights over Soho
Eyes reflect in windows direct
Directly projecting in windows
Soho neon glow
The bright neon lights of Soho
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN KENNETH WETTON, ALLAN HOLDSWORTH, EDWIN JOBSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
randydee
Nevermore
The sights
Black forest
Cool moonlight
Blue shadows
Reflect
In windows
In direct
Oh to go
Down to Soho
There bold spirits don't sink so low
Gold amber
Of lights
Beer glasses
Misty nights
Oh to go
Down to Soho
Black tie, night out, hobo outright
Singles bars
Cruising shark cars
Soho neon glow
Nevermore...
When day is dawning
You wipe the sleep slowly from your eyes
Then you remember
Soho's neon disguise
Eyes reflect
In windows direct
Soho neon glow...
Inner World Music Guitar
Allan Holdsworth, the genius, and Einstein of improvisation, one of a kind, emotional, lyrical, unpredictable and the grandmaster when it comes to so many aspects of musical communication.
Hamid Samadani
Frank Zappa once lauded him as "one of the most interesting guys on guitar on the planet",[16] while Robben Ford has said: "I think Allan Holdsworth is the John Coltrane of the guitar. I don't think anyone can do as much with the guitar as Allan Holdsworth can."[17]
Jimmy Running Dog
So true.
Limowreck
Holdsworth stated that Coltrane inspired him more than any other musician. I have heard this song 100 times and it still gives me goosebumps
Jacques Finster
@Limowreck As a instrumentist yes but as composer Stravinsky, Debussy, Copland and Bartok.
cathridge
Make sure you guys are also paying tribute to the late John Wetton as well. One of the finest lead singers in progressive rock. R.I.P. John Wetton
Leslie G Price
And monstrous Bass Players ......
Joel Smith
@Leslie G Price "Bass"
Erica Ward
EXACTLY 🙏❤️🙏
Del Engen
Allan's playing on this gets me every time. RIP, Allan.