Taking their name from a character in a John Milton masque, Comus mixes elements of progressive rock with the influences of The Pentangle, Fairport Convention and other more traditional folk outfits. The band broke up shortly after releasing their first album, 'First Utterance' (1971), due to its failure commercially. Some of the original members later re-convened for their second album, 'To Keep From Crying' (1974). Once again commercial success eluded the group, and they disbanded.
‘First Utterance’ was re-released in the UK in 1995. Other releases followed in Italy and Japan, culminating in the release of a 2 CD compilation in 2005, featuring everything that Comus had ever recorded in the early 1970's.
Comus reunited in the late-2000s and played several shows, starting with the Swedish Mellotronen Festival in March 2008. A DVD of that performance was released in 2011, and in 2012 they released their third album, aptly named 'Out of the Coma', on Rise Above Records.
The members were active outside Comus. Wootton appears on some recordings by Slapp Happy. Cooper joined Henry Cow. Reed player Jon Seagroatt is a member of free-improvising trio Red Square.
Diana
Comus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the steaming woodlands
His darkened blood through bulging veins
Through the steaming woodlands
Aah, aah
Virtue knows he follows softly
Through the steaming woodlands
Travel light the deathly shudder
Aah, ah, aah, ah
La-la-la-la-la-la
The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines
And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Lust cries running with his eyes the white-clad figure fleeting
Mud burns his eyes but desire burns his mind
Fear in her eyes as the forest grins through the steaming woodlands
Lust now his destroyed with enmity disarmed
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines
And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
The lyrics of Comus's song "Diana" tell a dark story of lustful pursuit and its eventual destruction. The character of Lust is personified as a hunter, who follows Virtue through the steamy woodlands. In the first verse, the imagery of darkened blood and bulging veins suggests the intensity of Lust's desire, while Virtue's soft footsteps indicate a contrastingly subdued pursuit. The deathly shudder of the second verse adds to the ominous tone, hinting at the danger awaiting Virtue.
In the chorus section, we hear the voice of Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting and chastity, who watches over Virtue. She hears the baying of the hounds who have picked up Lust's scent, and urges herself to take action. The repetition of her name reinforces her power, and the need for Virtue to remain steadfast in her purity.
The second verse describes the chase, with Lust's desperation leading to his destruction. Mud burns his eyes, but desire burns his mind, suggesting the consequences of his pursuit. The forest itself grins, hinting that the natural world is complicit in the struggle, and that the balance between lust and virtue is ever-present.
Overall, the song paints a vivid picture of the clash between desire and morality, and the consequences that can result. The use of personification and powerful symbolism makes it a memorable and thought-provoking piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
Lust he follows virtue close
Lust is constantly chasing after virtue
Through the steaming woodlands
Amidst a forest filled with heat and moisture
His darkened blood through bulging veins
His desire and passion are overwhelming and make his veins stand out
Virtue knows he follows softly
Virtue is aware of Lust's presence but remains unyielding
Travel light the deathly shudder
One must move quickly through the ominous forest
Down the leafy pathway
Journey along a path covered in leaves
La-la-la-la-la-la
A refrain or transition between musical sections
The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines
A faint light shines through the trees and Diana approaches
And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds
Diana can hear the barking of dogs and knows what that means
Diana Diana kick your feet up
A plea for Diana to take action against Lust
Lust bears his teeth and whines
Lust is vicious and desperate in his pursuit
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
Lust senses an opportunity to satisfy his desire due to virtue's proximity
And he knows the panic signs
Lust is keenly aware of the signs of fear and panic in his prey
Lust cries running with his eyes the white-clad figure fleeting
Lust is chasing after a person clad in white and is driven to desperation in his pursuit
Mud burns his eyes but desire burns his mind
Lust is blinded by his passion but still pushes forward despite the obstacles
Fear in her eyes as the forest grins through the steaming woodlands
Virtue is afraid and the forest seems to be laughing at her misfortune
Lust now his destroyed with enmity disarmed
Lust is defeated and unthreatening without his weapons of desire and hatred
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
A continued plea for Diana's intervention
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Wayne Shorter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AlstenE18
Lyrics:
Lust he follows virtue close
Through the steaming woodlands
His darkened blood through bulging veins
Through the steaming woodlands
Virtue knows he follows softly
Through the steaming woodlands
Travel light the deathly shudder
Down the leafy pathway
The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines
And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Lust cries running with his eyes the white-clad figure fleeting
Mud burns his eyes but desire burns his mind
Fear in her eyes as the forest grins through the steaming woodlands
Lust now his destroyed with emnity disarmed
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana
The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines
And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana
@princedino7396
Anyone remember that one Lbp youtuber that used this song in on of his videos? It was the one where the main characters where on a bus that then broke down.
They tried walking home and stumbled into a graveyard where they met this one character (Ghost Box i think?) And got trapped in a... basement i guess? That was under the graveyard.
They made more videos but I'm struggling to remember the channel name :( If anyone knows the name of the videos or channel, please tell me. I remember watching TONS of their videos when i was younger and I'd love to see them again.
(Other lbp videos they made included;
Time traveling in a museum with a spooky mask
Being in a expensive submarine
Making potato soup
Driving a car i think?? Really badly
Btw the episodes where scripted and not Lets Plays)
@AlstenE18
Lyrics:
Lust he follows virtue close
Through the steaming woodlands
His darkened blood through bulging veins
Through the steaming woodlands
Virtue knows he follows softly
Through the steaming woodlands
Travel light the deathly shudder
Down the leafy pathway
The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines
And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Lust cries running with his eyes the white-clad figure fleeting
Mud burns his eyes but desire burns his mind
Fear in her eyes as the forest grins through the steaming woodlands
Lust now his destroyed with emnity disarmed
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana, Diana, Diana
The dim light she comes peering through the forest pines
And she knows by the sound of the baying, by the baying of the hounds
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Diana Diana kick your feet up
Lust bears his teeth and whines
For he's picked up the scent of virtue
And he knows the panic signs
Diana, Diana, Diana, Diana
Diana
@h3lp_m331
hot steamy milk THANKS IT RLLY HELPED!!
@h3lp_m331
hot steamy milk your from the Philippines because I am!
@cbennett196631
@h3Lp_ m3 ha...you know you hot steamy milk...fascinating
@shaftsbury94
lyrics for in the lost queens eyes please
@PolarBear-rc4ks
@mickslyness I have posted it on another video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPB6pG5WR4Q
@vi0let831
OMG I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THIS BAND FOR AGES AND I'VE FINALLY FOUND IT AGAIN! I'M SO HAPPY
@goodnighti4767
VI0LET I saw you at comments at other video saying thank you for helping you find this band lmaooo
@vi0let831
die if you can
Yeah lol, I tried to find this song FOREVER and after having it at the back of my mind for ages, I finally found it. And I am incredibly satisfied now.
@aidensinclairw.29
My favorite part of the song is “Lust cries running with his eyes, white clad figure fleeting
Mud burns in his eyes but desire burns in his mind”