“Marillion: Probably the Best Band in the World.” That’s the phrase adorning one of the English five-piece’s new t-shirts promoting their latest LP, Marbles, due to hit the streets in early 2004. While the humorous take on the slogan for the Grolsch brand of beer is plainly tongue-in-cheek, it’s not so far from the truth, at least as far as I’m concerned. I mean they are my favorite band, why wouldn’t I think they were the best?
Brave (1994)
But what is Marillion exactly? Have they been labeled a prog-rock band? Yup. Have they been called art-rock? Yeah, I saw that in an article once. Are they rock and roll with occasional elements of jazz, trip-hop, progressive and more thrown in simply because it sounds good? Yeah, they’re all of these, which is of course what makes them the best.
Holidays in Eden (1991)
While some bands might have a kick-ass guitarist or a great vocalist or whatever, Marillion has every piece needed to create the perfect band. Even lyrics, which are sometimes overlooked by others in favor of the hook, are just as important as any other cog in the Marillion machine. One song in particular that has had a profound effect on me is “Rich”, from their 1999 album Marillion.com.
“Reality is something that you rise above.
We don’t see things as they are,
we see them as we are…”
Penned by Marillion vocalist Steve Hogarth, or h. by those “in the know”, “Rich” has served as a mantra for my life for a couple months now.
“Avoiding danger is no safer in
the long run. The fearful fall foul
of fate is often as reckless.”
You see, people sometimes can get down on themselves because of what’s going on around them or, more to the point, what they think is going on. Sometimes we even create a world in our minds that’s a lot worse than what really is. Too often, that can cause us not to take the chances in life we need to take in order to grow. And that’s when we lose.
“You don’t need money to be rich anyhow,
spending yourself is what it’s all about.”
Of course, after graduating from college, I didn’t have any great delusions that the perfect career would just fall into my lap, but I did hope that something good would come along sooner or later that would shore me up financially and creatively. Sure, MusicTAP’s helping to fill a void, at least the latter, but you’ve got to understand, this doesn’t pay the bills, and I have a lot of bills to be paid.
Radiation (1998)
Even so, does that mean I need to be miserable? Does that mean I need to be down on myself? What about what really counts in life? What about happiness that isn’t gained from a higher credit limit or the perfect job?
I am reminded of a morning ride my brother Dan and I took some time ago through the Huber Woods Recreation Center in Middletown. It was one of those gotta-get-out-and-ride days: clear skies, low humidity, light, cool breeze – perfect for cycling. As we rode, Dan made a comment about how even though he might not be the richest person in the world monetarily, his life is full of good things and good people, good times like that unbelievably bright morning ride and that makes him far richer than someone earning more money than he ever could. At the end of the day, really, isn’t that what life’s all about?
“You can start over again at any moment,
any little time you choose.”
Sometimes, it takes someone else to tell us something we already know for it to actually sink in. I’m so stubborn, even when I know the answer, I don’t always see it. Too often I regret something I did in the past, or something someone supposedly did to me, forgetting that the most important moments are the ones happening right now and that what Dan said was really the truth; we can really start over again at any moment, at any little time we choose. We just need to realize how rich we truly are.
“Energy makes energy anyhow,
so spend yourself and get rich right now.”
Negative energy for some damn reason has such an ability to hold us so tightly, so much more than the good times, it seems. Do the negative feelings of the world feel that much more real than the positives or is it all just our perception of them? We create what we are, what we feel and think and perceive. If that’s the case, holding on to those negatives is just a waste of time, wouldn’t you agree? There’s still so much I’ve yet to experience, I can’t afford to be spending my wealth on such depressing things.
Anorak in the UK Live (2002)
If you’re not familiar with Marillion, there’s no better time to get yourself acquainted than now. You might even find a mantra of your own somewhere in their large library of music and words. Go here: www.marillion.com. Hell, it’s the name of the album the song was from; it should be easy enough to remember. I want to thank them, and my brother Dan, for the wisdom and wise words that great music and friends can bring to us. Until next time, folks, keep those emails coming, I love to hear from you.
“Get rich right now.”
marillion.com (1999)
Rich
Lyrics: Hogarth
Music: Hogarth/Kelly/Mosley/Rothery/Trewavas
Reality is something that you rise above
We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run
The fearful fall foul of fate is often as reckless
You don’t need money to be rich anyhow
Spending yourself is what it’s all about
No tears
No lies
No pain
No doubt
No darkness
No confusion
No loneliness, despair
No more, no more
It’s all illusion
If you have made mistakes
There’s always another chance for you
You can start over again at any moment
Any little time you choose
Talk about failure
To fall is not to fail
Failure isn’t about falling down
Failure is staying down
Energy makes energy anyhow
Spend yourself and get rich right now
No tears
No lies
No pain
No doubt
No darkness
No confusion
No loneliness, despair
No way, no how
It’s all illusion
Reality is something that you rise above
We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are
There’s always another chance for you
You can start over again
Start over again
Over again
Any little time you choose
Get rich right now
*All Lyrics and images originally from www.marillion.com re-appear here with kind permission.
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