Misplaced Childhood - Marillion
Track List:
Pseudo Silk Kimono
Kayleigh
Lavender
Bitter Suite
Brief Encounter
Lost Weekend
Blue Angel
Misplaced Rendezvous
Windswept Thumb
Heart of Lothian
Wide Boy
Curtain Call
Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)
Lords of the Backstage
Blind Curve
Vocal Under a Bloodlight
Passing Strangers
Mylo
Perimeter Walk
Threshold
Childhoods End?
White Feather
Before we begin
So I did see a partial description of this one when I pulled up the album. I understand this is a concept album and is somewhat autobiographical. Looking over the song list I find myself excited to see songs with multiple movements named movements. Also there is a song that shares its name with an Arthur C Clark novel, Childhood’s End. I don’t know much about the book other than it’s sci-fi. I haven’t heard Marillion before to my knowledge. I know that I’ve seen their shirts at prog rock concerts so I am anticipating something very proggy.
Pseudo Silk Kimono
The story opens bleakly with a haunting song. The only security is a dainty robe. Just helplessness. Very vivid lyrics. Perhaps this is about an orphan?
Kayleigh
I am hearing some Pink Floyd vibes. Now it transitions to some very 80’s synth pop stuff. This seems to be a letter or an apology to a former lover.
Lavender
Slow piano intro. Is this all about writing to Kayleigh.
Bitter Suite
A Suite. I am assuming that all of these songs are related.
Brief Encounter
I really like the atmosphere of this song so far. So delightfully dreadful. First We have a poet breaking the 4th wall. The poet is awaiting someone’s arrival. Given he used the term expectant father it makes me think he is waiting on a youth or someone he has tried to help render. He then ends the rather lovely imagery with a scathing comment. Obviously there are some pent up emotions here.
Lost Weekend
Now we get a change in style, no longer a Scottish poet. A woman is drinking, she works at a club. She is recalling her past and predicting her future. She had a supportive mother but an abusive father, who appears to be the poet. I think this is Kayleigh.
Blue Angel
A different style again. This is our unnamed person, going to meet a whore and picking up Kayleigh. The song ends with a new excitement.
Misplaced Rendezvous
The tone is darker. The relationship goes south when Kayleigh catches the other cheating person. Another girlfriend didn’t leave when expected and Kayeligh encountered her and discovered the infidelity. This part ends with a statement that this was like when they met.
Windswept Thumb
I think this is the excuse the reason why he was cheating is he has a compulsion to.
Heart of Lothian
And right into the next song
Wide Boy
A gang? Perhaps this is the background of the male’s perspective in the relationship?
Curtain Call
This could be a current, post breakup male perspective.
Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)
I am thinking more and more that the Wide Boys may be a gang. I like the arp. The wide boys are a taxi crime syndicate. This gives us more perspective about what’s gone on so far. The male preyed upon Kayleigh and a relationship developed. He was in a gang that would prey upon drunk women.
Lords of the Backstage
The male singing justifying his actions?
Blind Curve
Vocal Under a Bloodlight
Kayleigh’s perspective? An argument in the relationship? Not sure if he put her down or if it’s her insecurities.
Passing Strangers
I don’t know if this is in the midst of the relationship or current
Mylo
A part about loss, one of the Wide Boys got caught or arrested? The narrator is abusing drugs or attempting suicide.
Perimeter Walk
The person has an awakening experience.
Threshold
I am struggling on this one. Maybe this is part of the Wide Boys upheaval due to Mylo’s arrest.
Childhoods End?
The person in the Perimeter Walk? They are feeling better or more hopeful.
White Feather
A promise to impoverished youth that there is help out there?
Post album thoughts
That was a lot of thought. It's nearly 3 hours since I started this journey and I think that I will need to listen a few more times to figure everything out. I get that this is about a relationship. I believe the narrator is the male partner in the relationship and Kayleigh is the female. The Male is part of a group called the Wide Boys, like a good old boys network of taxi drivers who look out for each other’s infidelity and perhaps other indiscretions. He meets a girl named Kayleigh and they have a relationship. Ultimately it ends because she finds out he has been cheating on her. He is then in a bit of a crisis and either tries to kill himself or does some hallucinogenic drugs and has an awakening experience. He had referenced Kayleigh’s upbringing before but now has rediscovered his trauma and is trying to make a difference to children who are currently in dire straits as he has found success.
