Roberts was born in Swabia, Germany, to a German mother and Scottish father, though was raised in Kilmahog, a hamlet close to the small town of Callander, near Stirling in central Scotland. where he started playing the guitar and writing music. In 1994 he adopted the name "Appendix Out" and started playing small venues with bandmates Dave Elcock, Gareth Eggie and Eva Peck. This is where he was discovered by American musician Will Oldham, and a contract with US label Drag City was soon to follow. Roberts is noted for both his own compositions and recitations of traditional songs, including on his album of traditional death ballads, No Earthly Man.
The Night Is Advancing
Appendix Out Lyrics
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A wild cat protracting her claws
The tail of a meteor
Blazes in wolverine eyes
Tectonic shift as volcanoes
Obey earthquake laws
I stood in the mist
The lyrics of Appendix Out's song, "The Night Is Advancing," depict a sense of impending doom and chaos. The use of the word "advancing" suggests that there is some sort of force or energy coming towards the singer, while the similes "A wild cat protracting her claws" and "The tail of a meteor blazes in wolverine eyes" further emphasize this dangerous and ferocious energy. Additionally, the line "Tectonic shift as volcanoes obey earthquake laws" paints a picture of massive and catastrophic destruction, as huge geological forces collide and produce earth-shattering results.
The final two lines of the verse, "I stood in the mist with my hands covered over my eyes," add a personal and vulnerable touch to the lyrics. The singer seems to be caught in the path of this destruction, physically and emotionally unable to face it head-on. The image of standing in a mist with hands covering the eyes suggests a feeling of confusion and disorientation, and emphasizes the powerlessness of the singer in the face of such overwhelming natural forces.
Overall, these lyrics convey a sense of powerlessness in the face of natural phenomena and emphasize the ferocity and inevitability of the night's advancing.
Line by Line Meaning
The night is advancing
The darkness is spreading, and time is moving forward.
A wild cat protracting her claws
The feeling of danger and unpredictability looms, like a cat ready to attack.
The tail of a meteor
A shooting star streaks through the sky, leaving a brief and brilliant trail behind it.
Blazes in wolverine eyes
The intensity of the moment is reflected in the eyes of those who witness it, fierce and unyielding like a wild animal.
Tectonic shift as volcanoes
A feeling of immense power and danger, like the movement of the earth's crust or the eruption of a volcano.
Obey earthquake laws
The forces of nature are beyond our control, and we must respect their power.
I stood in the mist
I am lost and uncertain, unable to see clearly through the fog.
With my hands covered over my eyes
I am shielding myself from what I fear, unable to face it directly.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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