Another project, Boyd Rice & Fiends, has also included: Rice, Pearce, Martinek, Moynihan and McDowall.
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The Forgotten Father
Boyd Rice and Friends Lyrics
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The temple stood at the center of a deep concave pit, and pilgrims were descending towards it along steep ramps, as though symbolically entering the underworld. The pilgrims were attired in military camouflage and had their faces painted to match. They gazed out from beneath hoods, and as their eyes met mine, they glanced quickly away.
What was this strange religion, and why were its devotees thusly attired?
Not far away I heard a man speaking in English. He stood chatting and sipping wine. He too was sporting camouflage from head to toe, and I went up to ask him about the rites and beliefs of this sect.
that he quite liked this unusual temple, and stopped to see it whenever he was in this part of the world.
I soon noticed that Doug was not, in fact, dressed in camouflage. He was naked and was simply painted camo from head to toe. I began to wonder aloud if this wasn't all some strange dream.
Doug assured me that it wasn't, that this constituted the most ancient doctrine known to man, and the unknown tradition from which all known to the West had derived. These people worship the Hidden God, a god so old in antiquity that even at the dawn of recorded history he was known only as the Forgotten Father.
They dress in camouflage to honour him, and to be like unto him. Hidden, unseen, invisible. And, that's why they'd turned their faces from me and refused to meet my gaze. According to legend, the Forgotten Father had come seemingly from nowhere, and had taught men his secrets. He took many wives from amongst the daughters of men and then vanished mysteriously back to where he had come from.
Some of his descendants still walk amongst us, and his understanding lives on--albeit semi-consciously--in their ancestral memory.
This place is his temple and is said to have once been his palace. But this is just a building. His true temple is in the blood where his memory lives, though his name is long forgotten.
The song "The Forgotten Father" by Boyd Rice and Friends explores the intriguing concept of a forgotten religion that worships a hidden, ancient god referred to as the Forgotten Father. The singer in the song finds himself in a foreign land before a temple that appears to be the handiwork of a culture unknown to him. The temple is surrounded by pilgrims that are descending towards it along steep ramps, dressed in military camouflage with their faces painted to match. They are all there to worship the Forgotten Father, an elusive god who is said to have come from nowhere, taken many wives from the daughters of men, and taught secrets to people. The temple represents the most ancient doctrine known to man, and it is the unknown tradition from which all known to the West has derived.
The song is a thought-provoking piece that challenges the listener's perception of religion and hidden knowledge. It raises questions about the existence of forgotten religions and the lost wisdom that may have been passed down through the generations. The lyrics describe the Forgotten Father as a god whose true temple is in the blood of his descendants, and whose name has long been forgotten. The fact that this ancient religion is shrouded in mystery adds to the fascination and intrigue of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I found myself in a foreign land, standing before a temple.
I found myself in an unfamiliar place standing in front of an old temple, created by an unknown ancient culture.
The edifice was obviously very ancient, but looked like the handiwork of a culture unknown to me.
The temple seemed old as if made by a civilization that is no longer existent, it was foreign to me.
Inside services were starting, and the monks and attendes intoned a strange, guttural, inhuman drone.
Monks and visitors began a ritual, chanting in a strange tone of voice.
The pilgrims were attired in military camouflage and had their faces painted to match.
The devotees were wearing military clothes with painted faces to fit in with the environment.
They gazed out from beneath hoods, and as their eyes met mine, they glanced quickly away.
The devotees avoided eye contact looking away quickly while wearing hoods over their faces.
What was this strange religion, and why were its devotees thusly attired?
I was curious about this odd religion and why the worshipers were dressed in such attire.
As I approached I thought I recognised his voice. It was Douglas.
I walked towards a man who sounded acquainted; it was Douglas.
I began to wonder aloud if this wasn't all some strange dream.
I contemplated if all of this was just a surreal dream that I was living.
These people worship the Hidden God, a god so old in antiquity that even at the dawn of recorded history he was known only as the Forgotten Father.
These people worshipped the ancient Hidden God and referred to him as the Forgotten Father because he was famous only in the traditions without a documented background.
They dress in camouflage to honour him, and to be like unto him. Hidden, unseen, invisible.
The worshipers wore camo to praise the Forgotten Father, who was invisible, hidden, and unseen.
According to legend, the Forgotten Father had come seemingly from nowhere, and had taught men his secrets.
As the legend goes, the Forgotten Father appeared out of nowhere and taught men his confidential knowledge.
Some of his descendants still walk amongst us, and his understanding lives on--albeit semi-consciously--in their ancestral memory.
His descendants exist to date, and they have retained the beliefs and knowledge of the Forgotten Father, albeit subconsciously passed on from their ancestors.
His true temple is in the blood where his memory lives, though his name is long forgotten.
The real temple of the Forgotten Father resides in their blood, passing through generations though his name remains unremembered.
Contributed by Adam J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.