The song that launched the Doyle project – and became its defining anthem.
Written on the Island of Sark at Christmas 1992 by Michael Doyle and Darrel Shilling, Survival grew from an acoustic idea into one of the defining recordings of the Doyle catalogue. Years later it was chosen as the principal promotional song and given the full music-video treatment.
Song Information
| Status | Released |
| Written | Christmas 1992 |
| Definitive Recording | London version |
| Studio | Faraday Studios |
| Producer | Paul Castle |
| Writers | Michael Doyle and Darrel Shilling |
| Category | Original Song |
Listen
London Version — Original Recording
About the Song
Survival began on the Island of Sark at Christmas 1992, written by Michael Doyle and his close friend Darrel Shilling. At the time, terrible events were unfolding in Bosnia, and both men felt frustrated by the apparent indifference and passivity with which much of the world seemed to respond.
The song began almost accidentally. One morning Darrel announced that he had discovered a powerful sequence of guitar chords and urged Michael to come over before the idea disappeared. Michael arrived at Rosebud Cottage armed with wine, beer and a notebook, and together they began developing the words and structure that would become Survival.
The opening line came almost immediately: “My knees are cracking on the floor in the early morning sun.” From the beginning, the song possessed an unusual versatility. It worked as a stripped-back acoustic performance, yet contained enough energy and momentum to support a much larger studio production.
Years later, Survival became one of the flagship recordings of the Doyle project and was selected ahead of The Present as its principal promotional song. Its immediacy, energy and accessibility made it a natural choice for the full promotional video treatment.
At its heart, however, Survival remained what it had been at Rosebud Cottage: two friends responding through music to a world that did not always make very much sense.
Featured in the Doyle Documentary
Survival occupies a prominent place in the Doyle Documentary, tracing the song from its beginnings on Sark through the London recording and into the promotional campaign that followed.
The documentary also tells the story behind the Survival music video — the search for a song capable of representing the wider project, the decision to choose Survival ahead of The Present, and the creation of a full promotional film around the track.
Watch the relevant documentary sections:
Survival appears twice in the Doyle Documentary, accompanying two separate sections of the film.
The making of Survival — 08:34 →
Survival – The Song — 10:09 →
Recording History
1992 — Sark
- Written at Rosebud Cottage, Sark.
- Written by Michael Doyle and Darrel Shilling.
- Developed originally as an acoustic song.
2005 — London
- Recorded with producer Paul Castle.
- The original studio version.
- Later selected as the principal promotional recording.
- Full promotional video produced.
2006 — Nashville
- Re-recorded at Emerald Studios, Nashville.
- Produced by Harry Hinde.
- A distinctly different interpretation of the original song.
Compare the Versions
Survival exists in two distinctly different studio versions.
The London recording, produced by Paul Castle, retains more of the raw energy and tension of the original song. It remains Michael Doyle’s preferred version and became the recording most closely associated with the Survival promotional video.
The song was later re-recorded at Emerald Studios in Nashville, with Harry Hinde producing. The Nashville treatment brought a different production philosophy and a more polished interpretation of the same composition.
Rather than declare a winner, listen to both and decide for yourself.
London Version
The original studio recording, produced by Paul Castle. Rawer, longer and still Michael’s preferred interpretation.
▶ Preview the London Version
Nashville Version
Re-recorded at Emerald Studios, Nashville, and produced by Harry Hinde. A different production treatment of the same song.
▶ Preview the Nashville Version
Gallery
Book References
Survival appears throughout the Sane Inside Insanity trilogy. References to its composition, recording, meaning and influence can be found in the chapters listed below.
- Book I – Before Judgment
- Book II – The Trial
- Book III – Captivity and Return