Song written by Ricky, Scarlett & Kim Wilde.
Sixth track on the album Here Come the Aliens.
The song was inspired by the horrific suicide of teenagers Charleigh Disbrey (15) and Mert Karaoglan (18), who jumped in front of a train near Elstree and Borehamwood station in Hertfordshire in June 2014. Charleigh, whose family was of Turkish origin, feared that his relationship with Mert Karaoglan would not be approved of. In their desperation, they decided to take their own lives.
Live performances
‘Solstice’ was performed live during the Here Come the Aliens Tour and during the Return of the Aliens Tour.
Kim about ‘Solstice’
Ricky, Scarlett and myself wrote ‘Solstice’ after some really tragic stories that we were hearing about a few years back, dealing with teenage suicide. We wrote this really hard-hitting ballad as a response to that. It’s the way it made me feel emotionally. It was very powerful. We used my love of Elton John to inspire the backing vocals which run throughout the song, sung by Ricky. A very personal song, and a little bit sad. (1)
Credits
Drums: Jonathan Atkinson
Guitar: Neil Jones
Keyboards, guitar: Ricky Wilde
Backing vocals: Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde & Scarlett Wilde
Interview source
(1) Track by track video, YouTube, 23 March 2018
Lyrics
Lighthouse shine for me.
I’ve been drifting so far, guide me back from the sea,
To the place I was before.
I’ve been losing my way, now I can’t see the stars..
Anymore.
They didn’t make it home,
Now her hand drops the phone,
She stands there paralysed.
‘Your washings on the bed’,
The last words that were said,
Now she’s screaming, she’s screaming, she’s screaming.
Why couldn’t you share your pain?
I thought you could tell me everything.
Now it’s too late , too late , it’s too late.
Your lives had just begun, why do they end as one?
So now eternal night descends,
With tears that never end,
And words that make no sense.
Sing to me, sing me a beautiful song,
Sing the words that you never could say when we were here.. together,
Sing to me, how did I get it so wrong?
Did you try but you just couldn’t fight against the fear?
And now we’re out of time, why did you have to fly so far away from here forever?
Forever Together…
Our lives forever changed,
On this the longest day,
A summer gone too soon.
The questions fill my mind,
No answers there to find.
I’m bleeding, I’m bleeding, I’m bleeding.
Forever together now..
Sing to me, sing me a beautiful song,
The words that you never could say when you were here..
We’re together forever now.