The second track on Clutching at Straws continues the story of Torch and his struggle with self doubt and alcoholism.
“Warm Wet Circles” was the third single from Marillion’s fourth studio album Clutching at Straws, released on 26 October 1987. It peaked at number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, becomi...
On promenades where drunks propose to lonely arcade mannequins
Where ceremonies pause at the jewelers shop display
Feigning casual silence in strained romantic interludes
Till they commit themselves to the muted journey home
And the pool player rests on another cue
Last night's hero picking up his dues
A honeymoon gambled on a ricochet
She's staring at the brochures at the holidays
Chalking up a name in your hometown
Standing all your mates to another round
Laughing at the world till the barman wipes away the warm wet circles
The warm wet circles
I saw teenage girls like gaudy moths
A classroom's shabby butterflies
Flirt in the glow of stranded telephone boxes;
Planning white lace weddings from smeared hearts and token proclamations
Rolled from stolen lipsticks across the razored webs of glass
Sharing cigarettes with experience
With her giggling jealous confidantes
She faithfully traces his name
With quick bitten fingernails
Through the tears of condensation
That'll cry through the night
As the glancing headlights of the last bus
Kiss adolescence goodbye
In a warm wet circle
Like a mothers kiss on your first broken heart
A warm wet circle
Like a bullet hole in Central Park
A warm wet circle
And I'll always surrender
To the warm wet circles
She nervously undressed in the dancing beams of the Fidra lighthouse
Giving it all away before it's too late
She'll let a lovers tongue move in a warm wet circle
Giving it all away and showing no shame
She'll take a mother's kiss on her first broken heart
A warm wet circle
She'll realise that she played her part in a warm wet circle
Warm Wet Circles was written by Ian Mosley & Peter Trewavas & Steve Rothery & Mark Kelly & Fish (Rock).
Warm Wet Circles was produced by Chris Kimsey.
Marillion released Warm Wet Circles on Mon Jun 22 1987.
In an interview with Debbie Voller for No 1 Magazine on 30 May 1987, Fish said:
This song’s about small, hometown stuff; the dangers of getting trapped in the 9.00 to 5.00 syndrome and then going down to the pub and talking about things you’ll never really do, y'know, “I’d love to drive a Cadillac...