#1 Clandestine is a Progressive … Read Full Bio ↴There are several artists by this name
#1 Clandestine is a Progressive Rock/Metal band from Los Angeles, CA
#2 Clandestine is a Celtic music group from Houston, Texas
#3 Clandestine were a Melodic Death Metal from Swinoujscie, Poland
#4 Clandestine is a rock band from Belgium
#5 Clandestine is an alias of musician Arthur Russell
#2
Clandestine is a Celtic music group from Houston, Texas. Featuring bagpipes, guitar, fiddle, and drums (bodhrán and conga drums), they play traditional Celtic music (both instrumental and vocal) as well as some modern tunes (including some originals). Some songs include additional instruments like flute, bombarde and various whistles. They formed in 1991, stabilized as a quartet in 1996, and dissolved for a time in 2003. Original members included Emily Dugas, Jen Hamel, E.J. Jones, and Gregory McQueen. In their original incarnation, the band made 4 discs and toured heavily around the US and also performed in Europe. They were favorites at McGonigel's Mucky Duck Pub in their hometown of Houston, as well as the Cactus Cafe in nearby Austin. The band was reformed in 2006 with Al Cofrin (also of Istanpitta).
#3
Clandestine were a Melodic Death Metal band hailing from Swinoujscie, Poland. They were founded in 1993 and split up around 1996 (?). Clandestine released 4 full length demos (albums?): Demo '93, Clandestine (Demo 1994), Umarle Konie (Demo 1995), Samotny Jednoro¿ec (Demo, 1996).
http://metal-archives.com/band.php?id=17186
#4
Clandestine is a rock band from Belgium. Their first album, "Les Noces de Cupidon", was released in December 2008.
http://www.myspace.com/clandestinebe
#5
See: Arthur Russell.
Babylon
Clandestine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- Threescore and ten.
Can I get there by candlelight?
- Yes, and back again.
How many miles to Babylon?
- Threescore and ten.
Down on the carpet, you shall kneel,
Stand up straight, and choose the one you love -
And choose the one you love.
If wishes were horses and beggars could ride,
I'd be over the sea with you at my side.
But if "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans
There'd be no work for a traveller.
How many miles to Babylon?
- Threescore and ten.
Can I get there by candlelight?
- Yes, and back again.
How many miles to Babylon?
- Threescore and ten.
Up all night, and running through the town -
Upstairs and downstairs, in my nightgown.
Peering through the windows,
And crying through the locks,
"Where is my sweetheart, it's eight o'clock!"
Lavender green, lavender blue
If you love me, I'll love you.
I'd skip over ocean and dance over sea,
All the birds in the world can't catch me!
How many miles to Babylon?
- Threescore and ten.
Can I get there by candlelight?
- Yes, and back again.
How many miles to Babylon?
- Threescore and ten.
Come out with me, and come out to play -
The moon, it shines as bright as day.
Oh, leave your supper, and leave your sleep;
Come down withyour friends now,
Here in the street.
The lyrics of Clandestine's "Babylon" evoke a sense of restlessness and longing for a distant place - "How many miles to Babylon?" - with the singer seeking an escape from their current situation. The repetition of "Threescore and ten" (70 miles) creates a sense of urgency and an obsession with distance, as if the singer is fixated on the idea of Babylon being a fixed number of miles away. The candlelight symbolizes a sense of fragility in the journey - the idea that it can be completed with something as delicate as a flame - while the repetition of the question and answer creates a circularity in the lyrics, as if the journey to Babylon is never-ending.
The second verse brings sensory details into the song, with references to kneeling on carpet and feeling the green grass at one's feet. The idea of choosing the one you love may refer to a romantic relationship, or it could symbolize the singer making a choice about their path in life. The third verse takes a slightly more whimsical turn, with the singer imagining a world where wishes can come true and "ifs" and "ands" are transformed into practical objects like pots and pans. It's a wistful daydream that is quickly dispelled by the reality of travel and work.
The fourth verse brings the listener back to the theme of restlessness and searching. The singer is up all night and running through the town in their nightgown, searching for their sweetheart. The repetition of the question "Where is my sweetheart, it's eight o'clock!" creates a sense of urgency and desperation. The final verse is more upbeat, with the invitation to come out and play in the moonlight. It's a hopeful ending to a song that starts out with a sense of longing and searching.
Line by Line Meaning
How many miles to Babylon?
Asking for the distance towards Babylon
Threescore and ten.
70 miles
Can I get there by candlelight?
Enquiring if it's possible to travel such distance in a short time
Yes, and back again.
Affirmative response to the above question
Down on the carpet, you shall kneel,
About kneeling down on the carpet
While the green grass grows at your feet.
The carpet filled with green grass
Stand up straight, and choose the one you love -
About standing upright and choosing one's love
And choose the one you love.
Encouragement to choose the one loved
If wishes were horses and beggars could ride,
A statement to present an unlikely hypothetical scenario
I'd be over the sea with you at my side.
Result of the above unlikely hypothetical scenario
But if "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans
Presenting another hypothetical scenario
There'd be no work for a traveller.
"ifs" and "ands" don't actually do anything
Up all night, and running through the town -
Narrating a situation where the persona is running through the town at night
Upstairs and downstairs, in my nightgown.
All over the houses while still in a nightgown
Peering through the windows,
Staring through the windows
And crying through the locks,
Crying and trying to keep up with the locks
"Where is my sweetheart, it's eight o'clock!"
Expression of intense longing for the sweetheart who is not around at eight o'clock
Lavender green, lavender blue
Colors of lavender
If you love me, I'll love you.
A proposition of love
I'd skip over ocean and dance over sea,
Description of the enthusiastic lover's activities
All the birds in the world can't catch me!
The lover's confidence in their own abilities
Come out with me, and come out to play -
Invitation to come out and have fun with the persona
The moon, it shines as bright as day.
Description of the bright moon
Oh, leave your supper, and leave your sleep;
Encouragement to leave both supper and sleep
Come down with your friends now,
Come down with friends
Here in the street.
To have fun in the street
Contributed by Camilla I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kat-byrd
Great job. Love it.
@LIVEfromNorfolkStreet
Thank you!
@Codenamedragon2615
I actually saw them live when they first released this album in midland
@LIVEfromNorfolkStreet
I bet that was great!
@Codenamedragon2615
@@LIVEfromNorfolkStreet oh yeah it was