During the mid 90s Anohni started solo; after originally producing songs with Blacklips Performance Cult and other late-night cabarets she had a number of songs to work with. In 1995 she assembled a backing group—the self-styled Antony and the Johnsons—and began to focus on the musical side of her performances. The group built up a cult following at hip New York clubs such as the Kitchen and Knitting Factory. Anohni then received a NYFA for “performance art/emergent forms” which she used to record the Johnsons' debut album “Blue Angel”, that remained unreleased until Current 93 leader David Tibet signed Antony and the Johnsons to his Durtro label. The cast list of musicians on the album, released under the title "Antony and the Johnsons" in 1998, included Baby Dee (harp), Francois Gehin (bass), Todd Cohen (drums), Charles Neilson (guitar), and a number of string and woodwind players. This album later were reissued in 2000 and in 2004 by Secretly Canadian.
This collection of modern torch songs highlighted Anohni's soulful, multi-octave vocals and the Johnsons' graceful chamber pop arrangements, reaching a peak on "Cripple And The Starfish" and "Divine", the latter a tribute to the late transvestite movie star. Further recordings by Antony and the Johnsons emerged in the early years of the new millennium, including "I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy" and a shared EP “Live at St. Olave's” with Current 93, recorded live at Saint Olave's Church in London, England.
In early 2001 released 3 song EP "I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy", included covers of Mysteries of Love (Appeared originally on the film Blue Velvet) and Soft Black Stars.
Split EP included two new songs from the Johnsons, the first being You Stand Above Me, only one minute and thirty-six seconds long but containing all the melancholy and drama one would expect from the Johnsons. The other new track was The Lake which was an 1827 poem written by Edgar Allan Poe beautifully adapted to song. The Johnsons appear with Current 93 again on a 7”, with side B including the song Virgin Mary. This was limited to 500 copies, both released May 12th, 2003. By now the line-up of the Johnsons featured Todd Cohen, Jeff Langston (bass), Jason Hart (piano), Julia Kent (cello), Joan Wasser (violin), and Maxim Moston (violin).
It was around this time that Lou Reed heard the “I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy” EP. Reed then recruited Anohni for her album The Raven for guest vocals and took her on tour in 2003 which meant that Anohni appeared on Lou’s live album Animal Serenade. With the band now attracting wider attention, Anohni and the Johnsons signed to US based label Secretly Canadian. Secretly Canadian then reissued the band's debut to a wider audience in the USA.
The Lake was released the following year through the new label. It’s another 3 song EP including "The Lake" - Lou Reed appeared on Fistful of Love with guest vocals and guitar. The Horror Has Gone seems to be Anohni expressing the end of a depressing phase in her life, a positive lyrical change from her debut style.
In February 2005 Antony and the Johnsons released their second full length, I Am A Bird Now. It has guest appearances from Rufus Wainwright, Devendra Banhart, Lou Reed and Boy George. It went on to receive great critical acclaim in the UK and won Anohni the Technics Mercury Music Prize for 2005.
In 2006 Anohni appeared in the Leonard Cohen tribute concert and subsequent film "I'm Your Man." Her performance of "If It Be Your Will" is perhaps the highlight of the film.
The 5-song Another World EP was released on October 7, 2008. As promised, it shows a mixture of continuation of earlier songs' atmosphere as well as more experimental work. Antony and the Johnsons' third album, "The Crying Light", was released on January 19, 2009. This was followed by "Swanlights" in October, 2010. Both of these latter albums are less melodic and more experimental in nature the Anohni's earlier work and have met with critical acclaim yet little commercial success.
http://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/
Aeon
Antony and the Johnsons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, Aeon will take care of me
All the stars, your eyes
Raining just for me
Oh, Aeon will set me free (free)
Oh Aeon, my baby boy (Aeon, baby boy)
Oh, his heart enjoyed
Restores eyes alloy
Carry me through the olden void
Oh, Aeon (Aeon)
His arms are warm
Oh, Aeon was never born (was never born)
Aeon's eyes forlorn
He contains the storm
He's the pasture of my dawn (of my dawn)
Oh Aeon, my baby boy
Oh, Aeon will take care of me
Hold my father
For it is myself
Without him I wouldn't exist
Without him I wouldn't exist
Oh Aeon, my baby boy (Aeon, baby boy)
Oh, Aeon will take care of me
Hold that man
In your tender clutch
Hold that man I love so much
Hold that man I love so much
Oh Aeon, my baby boy
Oh, Aeon will take care of me
Hold my father
In your tender clutch
Hold that man I love so much (hold that man I love so much)
(Oh Aeon, oh Aeon)
Daddy, when you gonna cut the chord of life on earth?
Let's do something differently
Let's take our power back, power back
It doesn't have to be this way
It doesn't have to be this way
Hold on, we don't know nothing
Nothing, daddy, but this world
Oh no, no, no, no, no
Oh Aeon, my baby boy
Oh, Aeon will take care of me
The song "Aeon" by Antony and the Johnsons is a beautiful tribute to the power of love and parenthood. The opening lines, "Oh aeon, my baby boy, Oh aeon will take care of me" suggest a deep emotional connection between the singer and their son. They rely on the support and care of their child, who seems to be a source of comfort and strength. The following lyrics, "All the stars, your eyes, Raining just for me, Oh aeon will set me free" describe how the child's love is transformative, creating a sense of freedom and wonder.
The middle verse, "Oh his heart enjoyed, Restores eyes alloyed, Carry me through the olden void" speaks to the healing power of the child's love. The singer has gone through difficulties but has found solace in the love of their child. The line, "Hes the pasture of my dawn" is a beautiful image, capturing the idea that the child brings new beginnings and hope. The final verse, "Love my father, For my father is myself, Hold that man in your tender clutch, Hold that man I love so much" shows how the singer's love for their child is tied to their love for their own father. The idea is that love is generative and connects us to our ancestors and descendants.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh aeon
The singer is addressing Aeon.
My baby boy
The singer sees Aeon as a nurturer or protector.
Oh aeon will take care of me
The singer trusts that Aeon will provide them with care and protection.
All the stars, your eyes
The artist compares Aeon's eyes to the beauty of a starry night sky.
Raining just for me
The artist feels as though Aeon's attention is completely focused on them.
Oh aeon will set me free
The singer believes that Aeon will liberate them in some way.
Oh aeon will repair me
The singer sees Aeon as someone who can mend their brokenness.
Oh his heart enjoyed
The artist sees Aeon as someone who experiences joy.
Restores eyes alloyed
The artist believes that Aeon can help them see more clearly, especially in difficult situations.
Carry me through the olden void
The artist wants Aeon to help guide them through difficult times.
His arms are warm
The singer describes Aeon as having comforting arms.
Oh aeon was never born
The artist believes that Aeon is either not human or has always existed.
Aeons eyes forlorn
The singer sees sadness in Aeon.
He contains the storm
The singer believes that Aeon has the power to calm any chaos or turmoil.
He's the pasture of my dawn
The singer finds comfort in Aeon being a constant presence in their life.
Hold my father
The artist is either referring to Aeon or to a father figure in their life.
For it is myself
The artist sees their own identity mirrored in that of their father figure.
Without him I wouldn't exist
The singer acknowledges the importance of their father figure in their own being.
Love my father
The singer has a deep affection for their father figure.
For my father is myself
The artist has a deep connection to their father figure, seeing their own identity in them.
Hold that man
The artist is telling someone to hold their father figure in a tender and loving way.
In your tender clutch
The artist wants the person holding their father figure to do so gently and with care.
hold that man I love so much
The singer expresses their deep affection for their father figure and the significance of their relationship.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Anohni Hegarty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@williambrame3337
Anohni wrote the perfect song to listen to when I miss my dad.
@abepaix7612
Qué preciosa canción.......me encanta, no la había oido hasta hoy y va directa a mi biblioteca personal. Muchas gracias!!
@Dannygfx
Film e canzone meravigliosi.
@danielhanson9162
brilliant song/video combination.
@bedstuy11
Cold War kids brought me here
@muliermic7730
I pugni in tasca di Bellocchio!
@cassiobuendia8089
Art
@mintertaining
That crescendo though
@woidable
What movie is it?
@gabrieldmoreira
Cold War Kids