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in trance as mission


composers
Lyrics: Kerr
Music: Simple Minds


publisher
© EMI Music Publishing


background
"There's one line from In Trance As Mission that always freaks me out when I hear it: 'I hear the holy backbeat.' Y'know, it's like a Godly sort of Catholic thing. Those songs - Seeing Out The Angel, This Earth That You Walk Upon, In Trance As Mission - I don't know if it's a sort of godly feeling, or something. No one in the group practises religion, but most of the band are Catholic. I think you get stamped with that when you're young and it's there forever, you can't really escape it." Jim.

The band always wanted it to open the album but Steve Hillage was worried about its length. In the end he came around to the band's way of thinking. "I thought the song was a bit long, but in retrospect, it's so emphatically strong in putting over the overall vibe on the whole record, it's a really good first track."

Charlie simply played one note throughout the whole piece, substained with feedback.

A similarly lengthy live version was released soon after the album, part of a clutch of bonus live material released with the Sweat In Bullet single.

The bassline bares a passing similarity to Apocalypse in 9/8 by Genesis.




lyrics
For just one moment in time,
I hear the holy back beat,
Events and casual affairs,
Just what is moving on?
And what is going on?
In dream a dream a,
Courage of dreams,
In trance as mission,
Trans-American,
Moving on.

For just one moment in time,
I want to walk where it is,
Sustain a stature in life,
Here comes a new type of light.
Just what is going on?
What is moving on?
Dream a dream a,
Trance as you dream,
In trance as mission,
Trans-American.
Just what is going on?
What is moving on?

For just one moment in time,
Just one moment in time,
Dream a dream a,
Courage of dreams,
In trance as mission,
Trans-American,
Something crashing into my life.

Something crashing against white rocks.
No calm to my hand.
Here comes my hand.
City up on my mind.
What is going on?
You've got to move on.
Dream a dream a,
Courage of dreams,
In trance as mission,
Trans-American.
Living lives out of dust,
Dream a dream a,
Living lives.

Walk on in light,
I want to walk.
My hands are grabbing at air,
I want to walk.
Dream a dream a,
Courage of dreams,
In trance as mission,
In trance in trance,
Trans-American.

Stand by the statue in fog,
Events and casual affairs.
I want to walk,
Heat of the day,
Heat of the day....


discography
Album Version (6:50)
Producer: Steve Hillage
Engineer: Hugh Jones

 Sons And Fascination/Sister Feelings Call Limited Edition LP Sons And Fascination LP Sons And Fascination MC Sons And Fascination Canadian LP Themes For Great Cities LP Sons And Fascination CD Sons And Fascination LP (Virgin Budget Reissue) Sons And Fascination MC (Virgin Budget Reissue) Sons And Fascination Remaster Promo CD Sons And Fascination Remaster Limited Edition CD Sons And Fascination Remaster CD
Live Version (25th Sep 81) (7:17)
Recorded: Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK
Engineer: Chris Porter

 Sweat In Bullet 12" single Themes Volume One Theme Four: Sweat In Bullet CD Theme Four: Sweat In Bullet MC Themes 1-4 Promo CDR Themes Volume One - Five

Session (4:27)
Producer: John Owen Williams
Engineer: Mike Robinson
Mastered by: Simon Heyworth
Recorded: 11th Feb 82
Broadcast: 23rd Feb 82

 Silver Box Promo CDR #2 Silver Box
Live Version (Graffiti Soul Tour 2009)
Recorded: Graffiti Soul Tour 2009

 Arena, Vienna, Austria: 3rd November 2009 (4:29) Saschall, Florence, Italy: 5th November 2009 (4:32) Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy: 6th November 2009 (4:36) Atlantico, Rome, Italy: 7th November 2009 (4:27) Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy: 8th November 2009 (4:26) La Riviera, Madrid, Spain: 18th November 2009 (4:32) Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain: 19th November 2009 (4:31) Falconer Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark: 22nd November 2009 (4:31) Solnahallen, Stockholm, Sweden: 23rd November 2009 (4:29) Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway: 24th November 2009 (4:30) Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 26th November 2009 (4:27) Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany: 27th November 2009 (4:34) Forest National, Brussels, Belgium: 28th November 2009 (4:32) Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK: 30th November 2009 (4:32) NEC, Birmingham, UK: 2nd December 2009 (4:24) MEN, Manchester, UK: 3rd December 2009 (4:27) Arena, Sheffield, UK: 5th December 2009 (4:25) CIA, Cardiff, UK: 6th December 2009 (4:30) Arena, Wembley, UK: 7th December 2009 (4:31) 02, Dublin, Ireland: 9th December 2009 (:) Odyssey, Belfast, Northern Ireland: 10th December 2009 (4:24) SECC, Glasgow, UK: 11th December 2009 (4:59) AEC, Aberdeen, UK: 12th December 2009 (4:28) Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands: 17th December 2009 (4:27)




downloads
Live Version (Graffiti Soul Tour 2009)
Recorded: Graffiti Soul Tour 2009

 Arena, Vienna, Austria: 3rd November 2009 (4:29) Saschall, Florence, Italy: 5th November 2009 (4:32) Neon Concept Club, Ancona, Italy: 6th November 2009 (4:36) Atlantico, Rome, Italy, Italy: 7th November 2009 (4:27) Gran Teatro Di Padova, Padova, Italy: 8th November 2009 (4:26) Concert Online Gift; Padova, Italy: 8th November 2009 (4:26) La Riviera, Madrid, Spain: 18th November 2009 (4:32) Kursaal, San Sebastian, Spain: 19th November 2009 (4:31) Falconer Theatre, Copenhagen, Denmark: 22nd November 2009 (4:31) Solnahallen, Stockholm, Sweden: 23rd November 2009 (4:29) Sentrum Scene, Oslo, Norway: 24th November 2009 (4:30) Heineken Music Hall, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 26th November 2009 (4:27) Sporthalle, Hamburg, Germany: 27th November 2009 (4:34) Forest National, Brussels, Belgium: 28th November 2009 (4:32) Metro Arena, Newcastle, UK: 30th November 2009 (4:32) NEC, Birmingham, UK: 2nd December 2009 (4:24) MEN, Manchester, UK: 3rd December 2009 (4:27) Arena, Sheffield, UK: 5th December 2009 (4:25) CIA, Cardiff, UK: 6th December 2009 (4:30) Arena, Wembley, UK: 7th December 2009 (4:31) 02, Dublin, Ireland: 9th December 2009 (:) Odyssey, Belfast, Northern Ireland: 10th December 2009 (4:24) SECC, Glasgow, UK: 11th December 2009 (4:59) AEC, Aberdeen, UK: 12th December 2009 (4:28) Popcentrum, Tilburg, Netherlands: 17th December 2009 (4:27)




live history
Sons And Fascination Tour: 1981
New Gold Tour: 1982-1983
Graffiti Soul Tour: 2009