Line-up
Peter te Bos: vocals
John Cameron: guitar
Marcus Bruystens: bass
Marc Lamb: drums
Other musicians
Allard Jolles drums
Arno Kooy bass guitar
Bobbie Rossini bass guitar
Geert de Groot bass guitar
Lya Spykstra bass guitar
Marius Schrader drums
BIOGRAPHY
1983 - Punk rock group Suspenders splits up in 1981 and several members form rock group L'Attentat. In the spring of 1983 L'Attentat guitarist/singer Allard Jolles, forms a second band: Claw Boys Claw. Other members of the band are ex-Suspenders singer Bobbie Rossini on bass, and on guitar (Jolles plays the drums) John Cameron (ex-Odorex). Shortly afterwards singer/graphic designer Peter te Bos joins Claw Boys Claw. The band plays garage rock with influences of psychedelics, acid punk and rock 'n' roll.
1984 - Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw is recorded and released on the band's own Hipcat label.
1985 - In May 1985 Jolles leaves Claw Boys Claw in favour of his other band L'Attentat. He is replaced by Pilots drummer Marius Schrader.
1986 - Claw Boys Claw signs to Polydor. The band makes its first appearance at the Pinkpop festival. During this show frontman Te Bos throws apples, oranges, beer cans, his shoes and his socks into the crowd. In June the album With Love From The Boys, produced by Vic Maille, comes out. The band plays at the Roskilde festival in Denmark.
1987 - Claw Boys Claw records the album Crack My Nut. Shocking Shades is re-released on Polydor. Additionally, the album Claw Boys Claw comes out, a compilation of the band's self-released material (the mini album Now!, the single So Mean and the 12" Indian Wallpaper). Also released is the Christmas single Blue Bells.
1988 - Claw Boys Claw performs at the New Music Seminar in New York where they meet John Cale who promises to produce the band's next album. They sign to Megadisc and release the new album Hitkillers, a collection of covers of Dutch rock classics.
1989 - Bobbie Rossini and Marius Schrader leave the band. Rumours about a new album (produced by John Cale) are again surfacing.
1990 - The album Angelbite comes out. It is not produced by John Cale, but by Steve Parker (engineer with The Fall and Dutch vocalist Mathilde Santing). The band goes on - another - successful tour.
1991 - Late June the band plays the Parkpop festival in The Hague. In the meantime, Kooy joins La La Heaven and Geert de Groot (ex-Fatal Flowers) takes over on bass.
1992 - Late 1992 the album Sugar, a highlight in the band's career so far, comes out. The change in musical direction, that was already apparent on Angelbite, has now become permanent: The garage punk style has had to make way for the more melodic and sultry swamp rock. This has much to do with the fact that the album is produced by Urban Dance Squad drummer Michel Schoots, alias Magic Stick. The subdued single Rosie is the band's first Top 40 hit.
1993 - For the second time Claw Boys Claw is on the bill of the Pinkpop festival. Former bass player Rossini turns up in girl group Chicas del Rock that releases the album Neverneverland.
1994 - The new album Nipple, produced by Luc Suèr, largely follows the line of Sugar, but is less successful.
1995 - Marc Lamb plays the drums on Get Well Soon the second album of Soft Parade.
1997 - Claw Boys Claw release the new album Will-O-The-Wisp. The band also tours the Netherlands (by boat) with Scram C Baby and other bands.
1999 - All band members occupy themselves with various other projects: Te Bos concentrates on his career as graphic designer. Together with Henk Hofstede from Nits he designs the Media Centre of the Dutch Rock & Pop Institute. Drummer Marc Lamb wins the X3M remix award for his work with dance project Patriot Hills. Bassist Geert de Groot plays with Solex.
2002 - Peter te Bos en John Cameron work on a new album.
2005 - Former Claw Boys Claw drummer Marius Schrader alias Mars Radar independently releases an electro/synth album under the Wat moniker.
2006 - Te Bos and Cameron have written about 60 songs. Together with drummer Marc Lamb they start working on the new material. Lya Spykstra (ex-Bitchcock) is the new bass player. With Lamb she's also part of the trio Tomix.
2007 - After an initial session in 2006 in February and March Claw Boys Claw start recording the new album at Amsterdam's Eiland Studio's.
2008 - January 30th the release of Pajama Day is celebrated with a showcase at the DeSmet studios in Amsterdam, in presence of members of Johan, Moke and Hallo Venray.
Hail On
Claw Boys Claw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm looking down on a face that wants to get in
Going down, I'll never could understand what is left
To save while you're evergloom shine
I don't know why I can't loose the big locker on my soul
Refuse coming down from my stairs would make me a man
If I knew what to do I would scare away the mad minne
This is all I want, this is all I say, this is all I've got
This is all I have to say to you
Got a mad minne stuck in my hand, drive me mad
Got me on the walking in there
It's going down, shoe take away my blues
What is left to say while you're evergloom shine
I guess why I never get there, that I say I'm waiting on my man
I'm coming down on a string
I only could if I knew what to do I would scare away the mad minne
This is all I want, this is all I say, this is all I've got
Go down, go down, go down
This is all I want, this is all I say, this is all I've got
This is all I have to say to you
Let me tell you about my swing
All I wanna say is I've got to get in
The lyrics of Claw Boys Claw's song "Hail On" depict a sense of fear and confusion. The singer seems to be afraid that someone will take their skin and is looking down on a face that wants to "get in," possibly referring to an unwanted intrusion. The repetition of "going down" seems to convey a feeling of helplessness or despondency, as if the singer is spiraling into a dark place.
The lyrics also mention a "mad minne," which could either refer to a person or a state of mind. The singer seems to be struggling with this inner turmoil and wishing they could "scare away" this madness. The repetition of "this is all I want, this is all I say, this is all I've got" could signify a desire for simplicity or clarity in the midst of chaos.
Overall, the lyrics of "Hail On" convey a sense of unease and uncertainty, with the singer grappling with their own inner demons and struggling to find a way out.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm so scared you'll take my skin
I fear you will harm me and take everything I have that makes me who I am.
I'm looking down on a face that wants to get in
I see someone who desires to enter my life and be part of it, but I'm not sure if I want them to or not.
Going down, I'll never could understand what is left to save while you're evergloom shine
As I am falling down, I still can't comprehend what is worth saving or holding onto, especially when everything around me is dark and gloomy.
I don't know why I can't loose the big locker on my soul
I can't seem to free myself from the burdensome lock that keeps my soul trapped and weighed down.
Refuse coming down from my stairs would make me a man
If I reject the things that try to pull me down, it would show my strength and character as a man.
If I knew what to do I would scare away the mad minne
If I had a clear idea of what action to take, I could get rid of the madness and chaos that is disrupting my mind and emotions.
This is all I want, this is all I say, this is all I've got
These are the only things that matter to me and define me in this moment.
Got a mad minne stuck in my hand, drive me mad
I have a crazed spirit or thought that is deeply ingrained in my mind and it's causing me to lose my sanity.
Got me on the walking in there
I am just going through the motions, not really present or engaged in the present moment.
It's going down, shoe take away my blues
Everything is spiraling downwards, but with music or some other form of escape, I can temporarily forget about my problems.
I guess why I never get there, that I say I'm waiting on my man
I don't seem to be making progress and I'm waiting for someone to rescue me and take me to where I want to be.
I'm coming down on a string
I feel like I'm losing control of my life and am at the mercy of external forces pulling me in all directions.
Let me tell you about my swing
Allow me to share my perspective and experience with you.
All I wanna say is I've got to get in
All I want to convey is my intense desire to be accepted and included in something greater and more meaningful than myself.
Contributed by Isaiah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.