They were with G7 Welcoming Committee Records, an independent record label established by Chris Hannah and Jordan Samoleski - of labelmates Propagandhi - and Regal in 1997.
Their second album Black Coats and Bandages was released in June 2004. This saw a move away from the traditional Irish and folk influences which had characterised their first LP, "Rua". Despite this stylistic departure they retained and indeed increased their use of the Irish language, with two songs ("t-éan bán" and "An deireadh scéal") sung entirely in Irish.
The animated video for their song "Five Thousand More" created by vocalist, Declan, was featured in various festivals and online film and animation sites worldwide, including the 47th Cork International Film Festival. They subsequently released an animated video to accompany an Irish version of "Crashing to the Floor" in mid-2003.
Clann Zú released the following statement, announcing their break-up, on their website in May 2005, "Clann Zú regret to announce that it is no longer continuing to tour or record. Such is the life of a band. Benjamin and Liam will continue to tour and record with My Disco on the Crashing Jets label and Declan de Barra will continue with his own solo project."
From Bethlehem To Jenin
Clann Zú Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics to Clann Zu's song From Bethlehem to Jenin are full of powerful and haunting imagery. The opening lines compare a broken and lifeless swan speaking its last words to the numbered lives of those betrayed. The image of bodies swinging in the wind is particularly striking and chilling. The song speaks of the destruction and violence in places like Bethlehem and Jenin, where bulldozers knock down buildings and bombs are dropped from the sky. The brutality of war is palpable in these lines.
The lyrics go on to describe the smell of death that hangs in the air, and the dogs that pick their way through deserted streets. The final line, "they're swingin," is a grim reminder of the bodies that are left hanging after such violence. Throughout the song, there is a sense of despair and hopelessness in the face of such overwhelming tragedy.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a swan who's lover has been shot in the chest and is lying down broken and lifeless, speaking the last words of a life decayed.
The situation is similar to that of a swan whose lover has been killed, and is lying down wounded, speaking their last words as their life fades away.
Counting down numbers of a life betrayed.
The person is counting down the moments of their life, which feels like a betrayal.
And all of the people are gathered around to listen to the beautiful sounds coming out of the bodies swinging in the coolest breeze.
The people are gathered to listen to the eerie and haunting sounds of bodies swinging in the wind.
Nodding in time to the sweet serenade.
The people are nodding along to the eerie music, as if it's a beautiful serenade.
Send in your bulldozers to knock the buildings down.
The artist is calling for the destruction of buildings using bulldozers.
Drop your smartest bombs from the highest clouds.
The singer is calling for the use of intelligent and powerful bombs dropped from the sky.
From Bethlehem to Jenin this sound is so obscene.
The haunting sounds of bodies swinging in the wind are present all the way from Bethlehem to Jenin, and are disturbing and offensive.
From New York to Dublin they're swinging in the wind.
The haunting sounds of bodies swinging in the wind are not just confined to one region, but can be heard across the world from New York to Dublin.
There is no blessed saviour there is no blessed sin there is only the sounds of bodies as they are swinging in the wind.
In this situation, there is no hope for salvation or redemption, only the haunting and disturbing sounds of bodies swinging in the wind.
The smell of 3 day death down each deserted street as the dogs pick their way between the bodies in defeat.
The streets are deserted and death permeates the air, with dogs wandering amongst the lifeless bodies in despair.
They're swingin.
The haunting sounds of bodies swinging in the wind continue, unrelenting and disturbing.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ebbtides
I remember buying this CD when I was 15 - I think this track got me politically aware of my surroundings. Thanks.
esdfg
Sooo beautiful. I can’t decide which one I like more. This or “One Bedroom Apartment”? Those were two of the songs I and my daughter used to listen when I drove her to elementary school. Now she is in college and listens to rap, and God knows what else. She says she is happy (when I ask) and seems so. So glad I didn’t ruin her life with songs like this . :)
Zu
I use to skip school and ride the train to this song. I love this song. Thank you Declan.
ilkay özalp
Still the one of my best few songs that makes me look far away from my window and think a lot of things.
G C
this song still gives me chills all these years later. check out declan and xxx (insert guitarist's name here) previous band non-intentional life form as well, they were late 90s grunge/new metal. very interesting material.
רן שדלינסקי
Amazing :))
Robert Iddiols
great upload. classic.
Robert Meyman
You’re very beautiful.