Current band members are drummer Tomer Z, bassist Seffy Efrati, and keyboardist Eran Mitelman. Former band members include Chris Maitland (replaced by Tomer Z, 2004) and Daniel Salomon (replaced by Eran Mitelman, 2007).
Collaborative era:
Formed after a meeting in 2000, the partnership blossomed into a cross-cultural collaboration called Blackfield.
Aviv had discovered Porcupine Tree in the mid ‘90s and followed their career development. In 2000 he invited the band to perform some concerts in Israel and met with Steven in London to discuss working together. Before long they had collaborated on the first Blackfield song. In 2001 the two met in a studio in Tel Aviv with the intention of recording a one-off EP.
The results of the session were so impressive however, that the EP was cancelled and the decision was made to continue writing and recording a full length album. Over the next 18 months the pair fitted in Blackfield writing and recording sessions whenever they could between their other commitments and finally in October 2003 the debut album was complete.
The collaborative songs alongside songs written by each separately brought a unique meeting of cultures, which resulted in the self titled album, which was hailed at the time as 'hypnotically effective' (Classic Rock) and ‘another strike of genius from Steven Wilson’ (Eclipsed).
Blackfield II arrived in February 2007. The pair’s return was greeted by an equally enthusiastic media response with Clash describing it as ‘a lush but soulful mix of separate cultures, deep sounds and touching lyrics,’ and CMU proclaiming it as ‘simply another complete triumph from the duo.’
Geffen-led era:
In January 2009, to promote his first English-language European release, Geffen went on a small tour of Europe with the Blackfield live band, including Wilson being billed as a special guest. Half of the set consisted of songs from the then yet to be released first English language solo album by Geffen while the rest was a selection of Blackfield songs. Wilson would also appear on three tracks from the album.
In April 2010, Geffen and Wilson got into studio to begin writing the follow-up to Blackfield II. However, this time, all songs, with the exception of the track "Waving", were written by Geffen, as Wilson had been concentrating on his second solo album, Grace for Drowning, at the same time. Wilson only performed lead vocals on five of the eleven tracks, but provide backing or co-vocals on several other tracks. Their third album, Welcome to my DNA, was released on the 28th of March 2011 and supported by a European and North American tour following a kickoff concert in Israel. However, several concert dates were cancelled due to the death of Wilson's father in May 2011.
After touring for Welcome to my DNA was completed, Wilson confirmed that with Blackfield, like the majority of his other projects, he himself had no particular plans for the future, but the project wasn't necessarily over either. However, in January 2012, Geffen has announced his intentions to release a fourth Blackfield album by May 2012. This prompted Wilson to announce that his role would continue to lessen, with Wilson acting only as a contributor and mixer. Wilson said of the band's future:
"[…] just to clarify news elsewhere of a new Blackfield album coming this year – please note that this time my involvement will be as a contributor rather than a member. I will still be mixing the album, and maybe sing on a couple of Aviv’s songs (there will be other guest singers I understand), but with my complete blessing Blackfield is now under his sole curatorship, a process which really began with Welcome to My DNA."
Wilson later admitted that it was his own idea for Geffen to take over the project, because Wilson wanted to concentrate on his solo career and Porcupine Tree in 2012 and 2013, while Geffen wanted to do another Blackfield album right away in 2012, and Wilson felt guilty about holding him back.
On January 29 and January 30, both Geffen and Wilson were in the studio working on vocals and guitar for the fourth album. Wilson stated that he will contribute lead vocals to only one song, but is also contributing "a bunch of guitar parts" and "arranging backing vocals". Despite his lessened role, he still said that he was "protective of the Blackfield legacy", and that the next album would "still sound like a quintessential Blackfield album." One of the guest vocalists that Wilson had alluded to before, was revealed to be Vincent Cavanagh of the band Anathema, who recorded vocals for a track.
On June 14, 2012, Geffen announced he was in the final mixing stages of the album with Wilson.
In a September 2012 interview with Discord Magazine, Wilson reiterated his stance with Blackfield, stating:
"I won’t say producing [the fourth album], I am only helping [Geffen], a bit of singing, guitar, mixing whatever it takes but I am not going to tour, it’ll be too much, I’ll kill myself, would just run myself to the ground. I won’t tour Blackfield anymore but I will do anything to keep the name going…I just don’t think that writing the kind of style that Blackfield make is where I am at right now."
At the end of November 2012, Geffen stated that he roughly aims for an April 2013 release time frame. Wilson confirmed that he sang and played guitar on several tracks, but "much less than before", that Geffen was able to get "a bunch of great singers to contribute to the record, some of whom are quite well known", and that the album would be the first that Geffen would consent to be mixed for surround sound.
On February 25, 2013, Wilson released his third solo album, The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories), of which some copies contained a compilation sampler disc of music done by artists under record label Kscope; one track was a new track, "Pills", taken from the fourth Blackfield album.
On June 9, 2013, it was announced that the fourth album would officially be titled Blackfield IV, and its release date would be August 26, 2013.
End of the World
Blackfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many years
We are hopeless and slaves to our fears
We're an accident called human beings
Don't be angry for loving the baby
And say it's unreal
So many lives turned to salt
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
In your room doing nothing
But staring at flickering screens
Streets are empty, but still you can hear
Joy of children turning to tears
Disease hides around every corner
Quiet, lay still
Wait for a moment to hear
We forgot what is touch, what to feel
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
Take this pill, it will make you feel dizzy
And then give you wings
Soon, boy, you'll fall into sleep
Without nightmares, without any fears
If you wake up in hell or in heaven
Tell the angels we're here
Waiting below for a dream
Here in the garden of sin
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
Blackfield's "End of the World" is a haunting song that explores the existential dread and despair spurred on by the realization of humanity's inevitable end. The opening lines present a bleak image of human beings as slaves to their own fears, hopeless accidents in a universe that sees no meaning in our existence. The second verse is a reflection on the human tendency to dismiss the things that bring joy and love, labeling them as unreal or fleeting. The metaphor of roses with their hidden thorns highlights the idea that beauty and pain are intertwined, and it is a painful existence if we choose to ignore the beauty.
However, the refrain "It's the end of the world" is not meant to be a literal end but instead a commentary on the state of the world as it is now. The world we know is a prison for our dreams and hopes, and yet we still hold on to the belief in God as a higher power that can act as a savior. The bridge of the song offers an escape route in the form of a pill that can both give you wings and put you into a dream without any fears but ultimately leaves an open question as to where you might end up.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of resignation and exhaustion. The world has become a place of emptiness, and inactivity is the norm. Disease, be it physical or mental, lurks around every corner forcing one to be still and introspective, to remember that in the end, the touch and the ability to feel are what truly count. The final line of the song "full of ignorance, fools in disguise" is a reflection on how we all pretend to be alive but are, in fact, dead inside.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you forget what I've told you
So many years
Remember what I've said for so long
We are hopeless and slaves to our fears
We're an accident called human beings
We humans are slaves to fear and we exist by mere chance
Don't be angry for loving the baby
And say it's unreal
So many lives turned to salt
Like roses who're hiding their thorns
Don't criticize love, even if it appears fragile and many lives have been destroyed by love's deceptions
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
This world is like a prison that kills dreams and hope and makes people believe in God, but we pretend to be alive, despite our ignorance and foolishness
In your room doing nothing
But staring at flickering screens
Streets are empty, but still you can hear
Joy of children turning to tears
Society has become so consumed with technology and media that even though the streets are empty, suffering can still be heard, even from children
Disease hides around every corner
Quiet, lay still
Wait for a moment to hear
We forgot what is touch, what to feel
Disease can strike at any moment, making it important to be still and listen. We have forgotten how to feel and connect with the world
Take this pill, it will make you feel dizzy
And then give you wings
Soon, boy, you'll fall into sleep
Without nightmares, without any fears
The singer is tempting someone with an escape from their problems, promising blissful sleep without any fear
If you wake up in hell or in heaven
Tell the angels we're here
Waiting below for a dream
Here in the garden of sin
Whether the person wakes up in good or bad circumstances, tell others they are waiting in this place for their dreams, among the sins of the world
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AVIV GEFFEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nwmnwm5889
Don't you forget what I've told you
So many years
We are hopeless and slaves to our fears
We're an accident called human beings
Don't be angry for loving the baby
And say it's unreal
So many lives turned to salt
Like roses who're hiding their thorns
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
In your room doing nothing
But staring at flickering screens
Streets are empty, but still you can hear
Joy of children turning to tears
Disease hides around every corner
Quiet, lay still
Wait for a moment to hear
We forgot what is touch, what to feel
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
Take this pill, it will make you feel dizzy
And then give you wings
Soon, boy, you'll fall into sleep
Without nightmares, without any fears
If you wake up in hell or in heaven
Tell the angels we're here
Waiting below for a dream
Here in the garden of sin
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
@StefaniaCzech
This song really got me in the feels.
Fitting for our time on this blue dot.
God will not save us.
We did this to ourselves.
Maybe on our next evolution,
We will all live with empathy.
Cherish what we have left.
Love those around you.
Come away from your thorns.
Live as roses! <3
@shai4700
supreme song that been poorly translated from hebrew and become almost meaningless. I tried to translate it accurate as possible. It's true that he does not necessarily rhyme, but you’ll enjoy!
End of the world:
Don't you forget what I've told you
Don’t you forget.
That it’s already been decided for us
We only here doing time.
Don't be angry for loving me
Dont be. poems irrigate with lies
been giving to you like roses bouquets
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's began at the end of our dreams,
At the end of our hopes.
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's began at the end of our dreams
At the end of our hopes.
A synthetic child turned off while the screen is constantly lit.
Streets are empty from our games, we no longer know how to play.
Plague hides around every corner
Quiet, lay still
Wait for a moment to hear
We forgot what is touch, what to feel
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's began at the end of our dreams
At the end of our hopes.
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's began at the end of our dreams
At the end of our hopes.
take that pill it will take you away from here.
Soon boy you’ll fall into sleep without last will,
without final wish.
If the dead could speak what you would say?
i would shout and scream, the end of the world is here!
It's the end of the world......
@nwmnwm5889
Don't you forget what I've told you
So many years
We are hopeless and slaves to our fears
We're an accident called human beings
Don't be angry for loving the baby
And say it's unreal
So many lives turned to salt
Like roses who're hiding their thorns
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
In your room doing nothing
But staring at flickering screens
Streets are empty, but still you can hear
Joy of children turning to tears
Disease hides around every corner
Quiet, lay still
Wait for a moment to hear
We forgot what is touch, what to feel
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
Take this pill, it will make you feel dizzy
And then give you wings
Soon, boy, you'll fall into sleep
Without nightmares, without any fears
If you wake up in hell or in heaven
Tell the angels we're here
Waiting below for a dream
Here in the garden of sin
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
It's a prison for dreams and for hopes
And still we believe there is God
It's the end of the world
The end of the world
We're dead but pretend we're alive
Full of ignorance, fools in disguise
@periman2
What a wonderful track! Its also a perfect ring-tone :)
@SteelM4chine
Disease hides around every corner
Quietly still
Wait for a moment to heal
We forgot what is touch, what to feel
@nabarajkhadka8795
So in love with this song forever!
Reminds enough memories 😀😀
@DJSaoFlashBack
Bela canção e com uma excelente letra.
@tardifvirginie5261
Super album ! J'ai tout de suite aimé quand je l'ai découvert par hasard en faisant du troc sur un site internet de troc de cds. J'y ai découvert des artistes excellents ! Je ne suis pas prête de m'en débarasser
@WhiskeyOracle
Love how powerfully Aviv comes in at 3:20...
@RUPAKAWASTHI
Everytime this song gives me the goosebumps. Backfield 😍
@TheCharlesCA
This song makes me sad, makes me feel like the world and humanity have no more hope for themselves. :( Still I love the song, reminds me of what we should change in our world
@tommes55
Me too... but nothing will change in a better way, the demon of power, money and stupidity make all things more and more difficult... 😢