To think Kayleigh is actually a bloody good song?

[MargotLovedTom1]

Watching old TOTP from the 80s and I've now realised that Kayleigh is a rollicking good song, after having dismissed it as crap for most of my life. Even more disconcerting - I also thought Fish looked rather fine in a kilt, even if his hair was a bit shite.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

All of Marillion's songs have amazing lyrics, most of them were written by Fish who has an English degree. The lyrics are amazingly complex compared to the majority of current songs.

^^This. Kayleigh is actually one of the weakest, lyrically speaking, from the Marillion stable. Still enjoy listening to it though..

[MaverickSnoopy]

Absolutely LOVE this song. I vividly remember spinning around at 4 years old to this song. It was a regular feature on our record player! Every time I hear it the volume must go up.

[TheSassyAssassin]

Awww Kayleigh is a classic....and when they played it in the last Car Share scene? Awesome! I am snowed in again...might dig out some stilettos now you've reminded me

[WhatCanIDoNowPlease]

From wikipedia:

During this period he adopted the nickname of Fish, which originated from the amount of time he spent in the bath. Fish has been quoted: "With a real name of Derek William Dick, it became very necessary to find a nickname as quickly as possible."

[WhatCanIDoNowPlease]

Oops have I tumbleweeded the thread?

[Sparklingbrook]

I love the song (haven't overthought the lyrics) as it brings back wonderful memories.

I have been listening a lot to 80s music lately, last night it was Simple Minds, some of their stuff was brilliant.

[Gide]

Love Marillion, really like the sound in the OP, but com0lex lyrics? Pmsl! I always thought it was choc hearts melting...

[LARLARLAND]

I love this.

[TheOnlyLivingMumInNewCross]

Noooo! YABU!
My DH is a fan of Fish era Marillion and went to several of their concerts in the 80s (luckily well before me). He still plays the bloody records as well (at which point I'm rather glad we have multi-room TV service).
I hadn't heard of them when we met 20 years ago as I'm younger. He has never persuaded me of their talent.
I also saw totp 85 when they showed a big chunk of the video. Fish looks like an extra from Rab C in that dirty mac/straggly hair look. He looks, unintentionally I'm sure, not like a spurned and devastated lover of the 80s model in it but like a crazed stalker!
I love me some 80s cheese but that's just too far even for me and one of my fave 80s songs is Clouds Across the Moon

[littlepill]

FISH! That was his name. For some reason I kept getting Derek - see why now. at complex lyrics, didn’t he do Lavender’s Blue Dilly Dilly, or something?! isn’t it weird how the name Kayleigh has dated? Feels like the name equivalent of a fudge brown/dusky pink bathroom suite. Yet I remember it looking like such a cool name at the time.

Clouds Across The Moon was utterly BRILLIANT!

[dotdotdotmustdash]

grin at complex lyrics, didn’t he do Lavender’s Blue Dilly Dilly

Those lyrics are taken from an old English folk song, they were only added in the chorus of the Marillion song.

[Peta11]

Possibly Outing but nevermind...
I am named Kayleigh after the song!!...33 this year! .....and i hate the name and the song!! 😕🙈

[TheOnlyLivingMumInNewCross]

Oh god yes Lavender. Those are indeed the lyrics.
It's just so Prog gone wrong bless them. I don't mind some early Prog either, I like Genesis in the Gabriel years. But Marillion it's just like the love child of pro and American hair rock.

[Haisuli]

Loved Kayleigh, it's evocative of the time and feeling. I loved it in carshare too.

[iklboo]

Oh yes. And it has to be sang LOUD!! With a pretend microphone 🎤

[sadeyedladyofthelowlands63]

I think Fish-era Marillion are a bit Marmite, but I absolutely adored them way back when (and I had an enormous crush on Fish).

[PointyBirdsAnointyNointy]

There's someone on here with the NN RaingodsWithZippos, that's the title of one of Fish's solo albums. My ex is into Marillion and Fish. He had a Sunsets On Empire t shirt, oh and Fish & Marillion posters.

[x2boys]

My sister's friend has a Kayleigh named after the song to Peta her Kayleigh is only about 15 though .

[AndNoneForGretchenWieners]

I hadn't heard of Marillion until I met my ex, who was one of their biggest fans. It is one of the only good things that came out of that relationship, an enduring love for Fish and his poetic lyrics, and having seen him live twice. When I'm feeling miserable I listen to the whole of Misplaced Childhood in the dark.

[Butterymuffin]

Haters gonna hate. It's a classic.

[GriefLeavesItsMark]

I always thought Fish was from 'drinks like a fish'?
Quite like a bit of prog, but hate Genesis.

[EastMidsMummy]

Wordy does not equal complex let alone good.

[ScreamingValenta]

I find Kayleigh (and Lavender) very evocative.

My DH is a big fan of Marillion and doesn't rate them particularly - he prefers the songs with more complex lyrics as pps have mentioned. I'm happy to go with the popular ones myself .

[TinselAngel]

They're still going and get better and better.

Here's the Guardians review of their most recent (probably most critical acclaimed) album:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/music/2016/sep/22/marillion-fear-review-prog-album

They're also doing a sold out UK tour next month. Having also recently sold out the Royal Albert Hall In a few minutes.

You might also be interested to know, they genuinely invented crowd funding:

teamrock.com/feature/2016-08-18/pledge-pioneers-how-marillion-invented-crowdfunding

I could go on all day, but my ability to bore for England about Marillion is well known.