As a very young man , Rory toured with bands in several European cities including Hamburg. I imagine Shadowplay refers to him walking through the entertainment district, (The Reeperbahn) and trying to make sense of the bright neon signs and shady characters. Rory never married or had children. Perhaps the seedier side of the city left him bewildered enough to write a song about it, later in life. "Stars collide" may refer to the names of Top entertainers in neon lights , blurring into each other from the streetvew of Rory walking along the pavement. The "thin beam of magic light" is a cinema.
As a very young man , Rory toured with bands in several European cities including Hamburg. I imagine Shadowplay refers to him walking through the entertainment district, (The Reeperbahn) and trying to make sense of the bright neon signs and shady characters. Rory never married or had children. Perhaps the seedier side of the city left him bewildered enough to write a song about it, later in life. "Stars collide" may refer to the names of Top entertainers in neon lights , blurring into each other from the streetvew of Rory walking along the pavement. The "thin beam of magic light" is a cinema.