The Sun Is Often Out

Hi - Stephen was my twin brother and I have just found out about the song that Patrick had released. He was a wonderful artist and poet and suffered greatly through a huge bout of depression since his teenage years. He had a very close friendship with Patrick and alot of his poetry was influenced by his love for Patrick. His last poetry book was entitled "The Sun is Often Out" hence the song title. Stephen was deeply troubled and found solace in artists and poets like William Blake who depicted the gold water in the Thames and the moving river. He also idled Virginia Wolf who as we know took her own life in the river. Stephen committed suicide in the Thames last April, his body was found near Tower bridge. I think Patrick and Stephen have battled with many demons, Patrick has found solace in his music. Unfortunately Stephen couldnt find that peace but it is incredibly moving that he has dedicated a song in his memory.

This song is so beautiful. It makes me cry a lottt. P.S. I think it's 'Tower Bridge', not 'Parliament'.

Oh, and (???) is 'And I wait for the peregrines' :) x

This is so sad and deep. It makes me wanna start crying.

I believe youarehungryforyou is right on the Tower Bridge and peregrines parts.

it seems like stephen killed himself.

I also think he was some kind of artist ― maybe a writer or a visual artist, it really isn't relevant ―, in part because patrick mentions a "gift", but mainly for the line:

"was your work of art so heavy that it will not let you live?"

which to me means that his art will most likely be considered so obscure or gruesome or difficult that he won't ever be acknowledged as the great artist the singer believes he was. therefore, he will not live on through the art he's left to the world. still, he'll be remembered by his dear ones.

I have other interpretations, but I think this one is perfectly plausible. stephen was brilliant and tormented, and that happens and has happened so many times in our History.

this song just hit me today. I love the bachelor.

sorry, i transcribed these from a live version. when the album's released i'll post up the real lyrics.

On his Myspace it says it's in memory of Stephen Vickery. I think it sounds like he killed himself as well. Great song even though it's sad.

In his Bandstocks private gig, Patrick explained that Stephen was a poet he knew and that 'The Sun is Often Out' was the name of one of his poems.

For me this is the most moving songs on the album, the lyrics suggest disappointment and frustration aimed at stephen for giving up so easily and committing suicide, but also, in the repeated lines 'the sun is often out', the need to undrstand and forgive him. It's so full of battling emotions...perhaps one of the battles Patrick was originally going to name the album for?

This is such a sad song.

But you missed the line at the end:

And the poem reads And I remember the day you told me that The sun, the sun, the sun, the sun is often out Why didn't you KNOW that?

That last line, "why didn't you KNOW that", is the most powerful in the song I think. It's like Stephen gave advice about going through hard times, but didn't really take to heart what he was saying.