Band
Vox: Andy Walmsley
Guitar: Tim Yearsley
Band
Vox: Andy Walmsley
Guitar: Tim Yearsley
Guitar: Chris Morley
Bass: Andrew Workman
Drums: Ed Gorrod
Omni-Dimensional Death Metal Devastation from the collective unconscious of Nottingham, UK.
Transformed and transmuted, shedding the weight of the past like a snake sheds its skin.Reborn in a new, more lethal form.
We are Beyond Grace. Architects of omni-dimensional death metal devastation.
The past years of touring and playing shows with the likes of Becoming The Archetype, Abigail Williams, Demonic Resurrection and Awakening Sun have taught us much. They showed us that we needed to change. We needed to get tighter... harder... faster... heavier. And most of all, smarter...
The name has changed, but the power remains.
February 2014 sees the release of our debut EP 'Monstrous' - three tracks of thunderous progressive crush and savage technical intensity - and a UK tour with the masters of Supreme Avant-Garde Death Metal, The Monolith Deathcult.
The ongoing project 'The Bloodguard Chronicles' will continue to pay tribute to our early days, remixing and releasing classic songs for free consumption, even as we push ourselves, our skills, our potential, ever further with the writing and recording of our debut album 'Seekers'.
There is no salvation. We are all beyond grace.
Persona Non Grata
Beyond Grace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then they came for the strong, and still I held my tongue
So when they came for me, there was no-one left to bear witness
To my defiance
This is how the unacceptable, becomes the unremarkable
And what we once thought was impossible, becomes our daily bread
How quickly we discover
How easily we turn upon each other
This is how the new absurdity, becomes the next atrocity
Condemned by our complacency, to watch the tragedy unfold
This is how democracy dies in the darkness
While good men stand aside, and keep their selfish silence
Afraid to speak or raise a hand
Unwanted, unwelcome, untouchable, unclean
Persona non grata, inhuman and obscene
We hide our heads in the sand
And wash the bloodstains from our hands
And reassure ourselves the fault is not our own
But ignorance is not the same
As innocence, we're all to blame
For history repeating over and over again
We're all at fault, we're all to blame
Silence is surrender
Silence only serves the oppressor
We won't be silent any longer
Unwanted, unwelcome, untouchable, unclean
Persona non grata, inhuman and obscene
We're all unclean
The lyrics of Beyond Grace's song "Persona Non Grata" delve into the idea of silence and complacency in the face of oppression and injustice. The first verse describes a progression, starting with the weakest being targeted and no one speaking out, then the strong being targeted and still silence prevails. By the time they come for the singer, there is no one left to bear witness to their defiance. This highlights the dangerous pattern of the unacceptable becoming unremarkable and what was once thought impossible becoming a daily occurrence.
The second verse explores the unsettling reality of how quickly society can turn on itself when there seems to be no other options or hope. The new absurdity evolves into the next atrocity, with tragedy unfolding before our eyes. The lyrics condemn complacency, pointing out that democracy can die in darkness when good people choose to stand aside and remain silent out of fear or self-interest. The singer is labeled as "unwanted, unwelcome, untouchable, unclean," symbolizing the dehumanization and vilification that occurs when people refuse to stand up against injustice.
The bridge of the song addresses the tendency to hide from the harsh realities and wash our hands clean of responsibility. It acknowledges that ignorance is not innocence and that everyone shares the blame for history repeating itself in cycles of oppression. The repetition of "We're all at fault, we're all to blame" emphasizes the collective responsibility and the need to hold ourselves accountable.
The final lines of the song reject the notion of silence and surrender. It asserts that silence only benefits the oppressor and that it is no longer acceptable to remain silent. The repetition of "unwanted, unwelcome, untouchable, unclean" reinforces the idea that no one is exempt from the consequences of inaction and indifference.
Overall, "Persona Non Grata" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice and refusing to be complicit in the face of oppression. It highlights the dangerous consequences of silence and complacency and urges listeners to actively stand up for what is right.
Line by Line Meaning
First they came for the weakest, and I was silent
When they targeted the most vulnerable, I chose not to speak up
Then they came for the strong, and still I held my tongue
Even when they targeted the powerful, I remained silent
So when they came for me, there was no-one left to bear witness
When they eventually came for me, nobody was there to testify
To my defiance
To my resistance against their oppression
This is how the unacceptable, becomes the unremarkable
This is the process through which what was once deemed unacceptable becomes ordinary
And what we once thought was impossible, becomes our daily bread
What was once deemed impossible now becomes a normal part of our lives
How quickly we discover
How fast we realize
How easily we turn upon each other
How readily we betray one another
When there's nowhere else to turn
When we have no other options but to act this way
This is how the new absurdity, becomes the next atrocity
This is how the recent nonsensical behavior turns into the following horrifying act
Condemned by our complacency, to watch the tragedy unfold
We are condemned by our apathy, forced to witness the unfolding tragedy
This is how democracy dies in the darkness
This is the way democracy perishes, hidden from sight
While good men stand aside, and keep their selfish silence
As decent individuals step aside and retain their self-centered silence
Afraid to speak or raise a hand
Fearful of speaking up or taking action
Unwanted, unwelcome, untouchable, unclean
Rejected, unwished, untouchable, impure
Persona non grata, inhuman and obscene
An unacceptable person, devoid of humanity and highly offensive
We hide our heads in the sand
We choose to ignore reality and avoid facing the truth
And wash the bloodstains from our hands
Attempting to cleanse ourselves from the guilt and responsibility of our actions
And reassure ourselves the fault is not our own
In an attempt to feel less accountable, we convince ourselves that the blame lies elsewhere
But ignorance is not the same
However, being unaware is not synonymous
As innocence, we're all to blame
With innocence being no excuse, we are all responsible
For history repeating over and over again
For the continuous recurrence of history
We're all at fault, we're all to blame
We are all accountable, we are all culpable
Silence is surrender
Choosing not to speak up is equivalent to giving in
Silence only serves the oppressor
Remaining silent only benefits those who oppress us
We won't be silent any longer
We refuse to stay quiet any further
Unwanted, unwelcome, untouchable, unclean
Rejected, unwished, untouchable, impure
Persona non grata, inhuman and obscene
An unacceptable person, devoid of humanity and highly offensive
We're all unclean
We are all tainted and impure
Lyrics © PFIVE Entertainment Mexico
Written by: Andrew Workman, Andy Walmsley, Chris Morley, Ed Gorrod, Tim Yearsley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind