LAVENDER

"Lavender" is a single release by UK progressive rock act Marillion. The single was released through EMI Records in August 1985 and was the second single released to promote the band´s third full-length studio album "Misplaced Childhood" from June 1985. As with the preceding single release "Kayleigh" from May 1985, "Lavender" was a hugely successful single release, reaching the top 5 on the UK singles chart.

"Lavender" is featured as the third track on "Misplaced Childhood" (1985), but the single version is considerably longer than the 2:27 minutes long album version. The single version is extended significantly and re-arranged, featuring among other things a guitar solo, which isn´t present on the album version, and an alternate ending to the track. The B-side is the non-album track "Freaks". A great 80s Marillion track, which would also be featured on the 1988 "B'Sides Themselves" compilation album.

The lyrics for "Lavender" is about longing for the sweet innocense of childhood love (and it´s inspired by the folk song "Lavender's Blue" and share several lyric lines with that song), while the lyrics for "Freaks" are about feeling like you are different, but also that you´re not alone in being different. Both songs are like most of lead vocalist/lyricist Fish´s lyrics inspired by real life events and his relations and interactions with other people. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.