Backworld was formed in 1993 owing to Budenholzer's growing passion for English folk music, minimalist classical composition, Christian mysticism, and a desire to make music that could reflect these interests and hopefully be as spiritual and beautiful.
Since joining forces with World Serpent Distribution (London) in 1995 four studio albums have resulted, Holy Fire (1996), Isles of the Blest (1997), Anthems from the Pleasure Park (1999), Of Silver Sleep (2001) and a live album, The Fourth Wall, recorded at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London 2001. And 2 moreLPs Good Infection (2007) and Come The Bells (2011) on his own Discalucla label
Backworld's albums and early performances at CBGB's 313 Gallery and the NYU Experimental Theatre Wing and more recent concerts at House Leipzig, Germany; Grandson Castle, Switzerland; Bloomsbury Theatre, and St. Olave's Church, London, have featured a changing roster of players but the course is still steered by Budenholzer's constant vision. Arrangements of guitar, strings, percussion, flutes, electronics, revolve around lyrics concerned with ecstatic religious yearnings and tales of otherworldly visions. Notably Jarboe (Swans) has been a recurring figure in this story as well. Her presence can be felt lurking around certain tracks on the second and third albums. Recently, while recording the upcoming album, Good Infection, he enlisted the talents of Isobel Campbell (Belle & Sebastian, Gentle Waves), David Tibet (Current 93) and Drew McDowall (Coil) to contribute vocals and other textures to the new songs.
The Devil's Plaything
Backworld Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he flooded my mind in a river of light
And he wrapped my body in a breath of fire
Then he hid my soul in a cloak of night
like a devil's plaything
And he spoke to me in a language lost
And he turned my head with sweet seduction
And he filled my body with flames of ice
Like a devil's plaything
As in a ruin where violets grow
In moss covered fields
On cold marble stone
Love sometimes steals into a heart
And he came to me on a northern wind
And he flooded my mind in a river of light
And he wrapped my body in a breath of fire
Then he hid my soul in a cloak of night
And he spoke to me in a language lost
And he turned my head with sweet seduction
And he filled my body with flames of ice
Then he touched my soul and then he gave it back
Like the devil's plaything
As in a ruin where violets grow
In moss covered fields
On cold marble stone
Love sometimes steals into a heart
Love sometimes steals into a heart
Love sometimes steals into a heart
Love sometimes steals into a heart
Love sometimes steals into a heart
The lyrics to Backworld's "The Devil's Plaything" describe an encounter with a mysterious and seductive figure, represented as the devil. The singer describes how this devil came to them on a northern wind, engulfing their mind in a river of light and their body in a breath of fire. Despite the danger and darkness associated with the devil, there is a sense of allurement and temptation to his presence. The devil's power over the singer is demonstrated as he fills their body with flames of ice and speaks to them in a lost language, turning their head with sweet seduction. However, the devil ultimately gives back the singer's soul, perhaps implying that the encounter was not entirely malevolent.
Line by Line Meaning
And he came to me on a northern wind
The dark force appeared to the singer through the cold and powerful northern wind.
And he flooded my mind in a river of light
The force overwhelmed the singer with intense, blinding enlightment.
And he wrapped my body in a breath of fire
The force possessed the singer with a fiery passion that consumed their body and soul.
Then he hid my soul in a cloak of night
The force concealed the artist's true self and intentions in secrecy and darkness.
like a devil's plaything
The artist felt used and abused by the force, like nothing more than a toy in a demonic game.
And he spoke to me in a language lost
The force communicated to the singer in a completely unfamiliar language, adding to the alien and unsettling nature of the encounter.
And he turned my head with sweet seduction
The force used alluring tactics to entice the singer and gain their trust and obedience.
And he filled my body with flames of ice
The force provoked conflicting and confusing sensations within the artist, both hot and cold, intense and numbing.
Then he touched my soul and then he gave it back
The force manipulated the artist's essence, only to seemingly return it to them afterwards, leaving them uncertain of what had really happened.
As in a ruin where violets grow
The artist draws a poetic comparison between the experience and the beauty found in unexpected places, even amidst decay and destruction.
In moss covered fields
The singer continues the comparison, emphasizing the natural and organic aspects of the imagery.
On cold marble stone
The artist contrasts the soft and colorful plant life with the hard and lifeless stone, evoking a sense of harshness and permanence.
Love sometimes steals into a heart
The final line could be seen as a commentary on the nature of human desire and emotions, suggesting that dangerous temptations and inexplicable feelings can sneak up on us when we least expect it.
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.