A. Orchid Island Theme

           (Music : Ian McLeish)

           CHUCK : Cymbal.
           JOHN : Acoustic guitar, synthesizer.
 
 
 

      B. Disillusion / Tempest

          (Music & Lyrics : Ian McLeish)

1.
           Land was sighted when the last flame had died -
           An orchid growing 'midst the weeds of a past ;
           A saviour, confirmation of St. Gabriel's vision -
           A holy woman - bubbling, budding bluegirl -
           Now she's gone...

        2.
           Take me away where the cool waters flow,
            I need a shade for my shadow ;
           The light : encircling, enshrouding the sun -
           The dust has settled  - our sacred words undone...

3.
            I feel a fire and it burns in my hand -
            I feel a flame and it grows where it stands ;
            I feel a presence - black velvet surrounds -
            I am unlucky - foundations unsound
            In the ground...
 

           CHUCK : Drums, tambourine
            IAN : Bass, synthesizer, vocals
           JOHN : Electric guitars
 
 
 

     C.  Bluegirl
 

           (Music & Lyrics: Ian McLeish)

1.
           An orchid cast in multicolour - an island in the sky -
           How long must I endure ? How long must I try ?

 2.
           The hand of St. Gabriel, reaching from behind -
            His shifting focus blurs - contacts fuse me blind -
                   His teachings led me here, where I must make a choice ;
                   Oh cool, sweet orchid - are you to be my final voice ?

3.
            His disciples consolidate, his legend still lives on,
            My only hope of reaching one who cast my future down ;
                    A good friend turned to Jesus to find his rainbows' end -
                    Still my rainbow temptress leads, she's just around the bend -

Chorus:
            Bluegirl, take me away ; ripples in my mind -
            Bluegirl, say you'll stay ; your guardian eyes are blind -

Bridge:
                     Cascading through darkness, you shine - a beacon bright -
                      A living dream personified, a tale told in the night ;
                      Entangled in consequence, no corner is secure -
                      My soul has no rest, my heart knows no cure -

Chorus 2.
            Bluegirl, take me away ; ripples in my mind -
            Bluegirl, say you'll stay ; your guardian eyes are blind -
            Bluegirl, oh you angel ; standing in the sun,
            Bluegirl, fly on back to me - when your freedom has been won...

4.
            How long must I endure ? How long must I cry ?
            The path that led me here could lead me 'til I die...
 
 

CHUCK : Drums, tambourine
 IAN : Acoustic guitar, synthesizer, vocals
JOHN : Electric guitar, bass, mellotron sample
 
 

   D.  Confusion

         (Music : Chuck Kerr, Ian McLeish & John Millest)

CHUCK : Drums, bass pedals, Tibetan temple bell sample
 IAN : Bass, synthesizer, sound effects
JOHN : Electric guitars, synthesizer
 
 

   E.  Remembrance

         (Music: John Millest)

   JOHN : Electric guitars
 
 

   F. Solitude / Acceptance

        (Music & Lyrics: Ian McLeish)

1.
        I want you back - tell me how to begin -
        ' I need you ' I say, and it dies in the wind ;
       And I feel just like Rael - confronted by the Lamb -
       I don't know where I'm going, but I know who I am...

2.
       Nothing's wrong with me, that time couldn't mend ;
       But I'm sleeping alone - there's no need to pretend -
       And I wonder, in the morning, as I greet another day ;
       The face of the orchid - will it ever go away ?

Bridge:
       Fire in the valley - famine in the hills -
       Wutherwind for summer - late autumn chills ;
       Remembrance of springtime - a personal chore -
       A deed done in daggers, that her conscience ignores...
 

CHUCK : Drums, bass pedals
 IAN : Bass, synthesizers, vocals
JOHN : Electric & acoustic guitars, synthesizers, voice sample
 
 
 

   G. Orchid Island Theme (REPRISE)

        (Music: Ian McLeish)

CHUCK : backwards snare drum, bass drum
 IAN : Acoustic guitars, synthesizer, bass
JOHN : Sequencer, efx, click track, lap steel guitar
 
 

Copyright: 1977 Ian McLeish
Published: 1977 McMusic Ltd. CAPAC
Copyright: 1994 Chuck Kerr,  Ian McLeish & John Millest
Renewed: 1994 Mousehole Music SOCAN
 
 

Orchid Island - Ottawa, Winter 1977
What can I say? It may not be your kind of music - progressive rock is definitely an acquired taste - but you can't deny the power of this suite as a whole. It is, without a doubt, the piece of music we are the most proud of as a band. Everything went so smoothly, from the rehearsing to the recording to the mixing. The sound of each instrument is clear and defined, and the performances are cohesive and restrained when needed, fiery and loose at other times.
It was written, to start, as a exploration of my feelings after having my heart stomped on by someone I thought was my perfect match... The titles of each section were meant to represent the various emotions we go through as we try to make sense of our loss. The main title, though, came from an article in National Geographic if I remember correctly - 'Orchid Island' just sounded so poetic, yet enticing. Something about those words grabbed my imagination and the images started to flow. I don't know where inspiration comes from, but it sure is neat !