Don't Fade Away

This is a beautiful song.

To me it's about when you first fall in love and nothing else matters. The only thing you care about is being with your loved one right here, right now. You feel on top of the world and so sure about everything. You see the rest of the world (people, responsibilities) as a sort of evil trying to break you out of your enlightenment, and you feel sorry that they aren't experiencing what you are.

To me, this song is a lamentation from someone being broken up with or left by a person who shared many life experiences and views, a deeply loved partner.

The idea of dancing through their isolation speaks of two people who were together in being shunned by society, but through their isolation, were able to watch the world go by together, and gained wisdom in their loneliness. It was a wisdom they could impart on others who shared their experience. This song always reminds me of a sort of misfit anthem.

I recently left a person with whom I had very much in common. We were both misfits in a way and lived much of our lives in isolation from the normal people of the world. Alas, the relationship had become toxic and my head wasn't in it anymore, so I decided to stop lying.

She made me a playlist with this song on it, and when I listen to it, I imagine myself as the brown-eyed girl and it is incredibly poignant and sad.

I am not sure about the song’s initial meaning, but it resonated very strongly with a particular situation that I went through. Two people meet and fall head over heals for each other, they start a passionnate and deeply loving relationship. Unfortunately, some people around them are jealous and angry, especially against the girl, they engage in a smear campaign, trying to blame her and to isolate both of them. She feels very lonely and punished just for being in love. This song is the guy talking to her.

“Don't fade away My brown-eyed girl”

Because she tends to make myself as little as possible, he says she should not fade away in the face of adversity.

“Come walk with me I'll fill your heart with joy”

He’s inviting her to find happiness in their relationship.

“And we'll dance through our isolation”

They are feeling isolated, let down by their friends, so they spend nights dancing together, just the two of them.

“Seeking solace in the wisdom we bestow”

They know they are the wise ones in this story.

“Turning thoughts to the here and everafter Consuming fears in our fiery halos”

Looking at their future (and not dwell on the present) and overcoming their fears.

“Say what you mean Mean what you say”

Him telling her to be strong and speak up for herself. And to act according to what she thinks.

“I've heard that innocence Has led us all astray”

She shouldn’t keep being innocent, and nice with those people, as this will put her even more down.

“But don't let them make you and break you”

He says to not let them define who she is by their judgements, and to not let them hurt her.

“The world is filled with their broken empty dreams”

They’re acting like this beause of their own failed relationships and dreams.

“Silence is their only virtue Locked away inside their silent screams”

The only good thing these people can do is stop talking (about her, about them) because it all comes from them projecting their own pains and issues.

“But for now Let us dance away This starry night Filled with the glow of fiery stars”

He says they should enjoy themselves, that they should dance, and be fierce.

“And with the dawn Our sun will rise Bringing a symphony of bird cries”

In the end, their love will win.

“Don't bring me down now Let me stay here for awhile You know life's too short Let me bathe here in your smile”

He asks her to not push him away, to let him be here for her.

“I'm transcending The fall from the garden”

He’s overcoming the fall of eden, the lost of paradise (their pure and innocent love).

“Goodnight”

Which is where his words have reassured her, calmed her, and she can now fall asleep…

When I was young, I used to listen to this specific song a lot. My older brother bought Towards The Within, but for a long time this was the only track I would listened to. I wasn't very good at english at the time, but the emotion that this song projected on me was.. almost magical and something I would never forget.

I would imagine that the singer (Brendan Perry) was singing to his soul mate who, as unfortunate as it may seem, was dying. Though their love was beyond anything this world had ever seen, it wasn't meant to be. They had only moments left before death would seperate them. And all he could do was trying to make the best out of those last moments. That's about when Brendan starts singing "But for now..etc". It felt like he tried to give an entire lifetime of caring to her in a manner of minutes. It made me cry.

And the funny thing of course is that the song isn't at all about that. Now I can read it and (sort of) figure out what it's about. My childhood fantasy was way off, but it still brings tears to my eyes when I listen to this song.

Yes, the above comments are great. Amazing and beautiful song. I think it is filled with love. I would love it, if someone plays a song like that to me.

The lyrics here are credited to Peter Frampton. While he does have a song with the same title, the lyrics are nothing like these. This is a Brendan Perry composition 100%. Just to let you guys know...thanks for the awesome site!