The group was founded by Paul Lemos, the group's only consistent member. Most of Controlled Bleeding's released recordings feature two main collaborators, Chris Moriarty and vocalist Joe Papa, who both died in the late 2000s.
Since their first full-length release in 1983, Controlled Bleeding have released over 30 albums spanning several different genres, many of which were released on notable independent labels. Their cross-genre approach combined with the out-of-print status of many of the group's releases is reminiscent of the work of other experimental and cross-genre groups of the 80s and 90s such as Coil and Swans. Nontheless, Controlled Bleeding's sound varies from album to album and at one time or another has contained elements of dub, free jazz, noise, prog rock, sacred music, dark ambient, classical and musique concrรจte.
Also see the band's side-projects & solo work:
Skin Chamber
Joined At The Head
Fat Hacker
Body Clock
In Blind Embrace
Paul Lemos
Paul Lemos & Joe Papa
Body Sink
Words
Controlled Bleeding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Red and white in time of silence
Soul on fire, forgotten blitzkrieg ?
Time repeating
Times are grating ?
Life in waiting
Times are changing
Come and ? tonight
These are the words of the dying:
Caught in light so sad and winding
Alone at night to scare the distance
Time repeating
Times are grating ?
Life in waiting
Times are changing
Come and ? tonight
These are the rights of our children:
Black and white so charmed in twilight
Eyes of fire will share the distance
Time repeating
Times are grating ?
Life in waiting
Times are changing
Come and ? tonight
The song "Words" by Controlled Bleeding seems to be a lyrical expression of the emotional and psychological turmoil of the dying. The first two stanzas present the dying person's perspective, tainted with feelings of loss, neglect, and fear of the unknown. The use of vivid imagery, such as "Red and white in time of silence," "Soul on fire, forgotten blitzkrieg," and "Caught in light so sad and winding," amplifies the sense of despair.
The third stanza, "These are the rights of our children," shifts the focus towards the next generation, highlighting the enduring cycle of life and death. The phrase "Black and white so charmed in twilight" suggests the innocence and vulnerability of children who are yet to experience the harsh realities of the world.
The repetition of the line "Time repeating" in each stanza adds to the overall sense of hopelessness and the inevitable passage of time. The lyrics try to convey the idea that life is much like a cycle - one generation gives way to another, with the same joys and sorrows repeating year after year. The phrases "Times are grating" and "Life in waiting" seem to reflect a sense of frustration and weariness that many people experience throughout their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
These are the words of the dying:
The following lines express the thoughts of someone who is facing death.
Red and white in time of silence
Amidst the quiet stillness, there is a sense of chaos and conflict.
Soul on fire, forgotten blitzkrieg ?
The person's inner being is burning with intensity, perhaps because of a past traumatic experience that has been buried and ignored.
Time repeating
The passage of time seems to be going in circles, replaying the same events and feelings over and over.
Times are grating ?
The repetition and mundanity of everyday life is causing irritation and agitation.
Life in waiting
Despite the anticipation and dread of death, life continues to move forward in a state of suspended animation.
Times are changing
Although time seems stuck in a loop, the external world is still evolving and leaving the person behind.
Come and ? tonight
Perhaps a plea to someone to spend one last night in their company before they die.
Caught in light so sad and winding
The person is trapped in a melancholic and meandering state of mind, unable to escape its grip.
Alone at night to scare the distance
The darkness and isolation heightens their sense of fear and dread, and amplifies the distance between them and the rest of the world.
These are the rights of our children:
The following lines refer to the entitlements of the next generation.
Black and white so charmed in twilight
The simplicity and clarity of youth is fading into obscurity as they start to experience the complexities and uncertainties of adulthood.
Eyes of fire will share the distance
The young and passionate possess a fervent energy that can help them overcome the obstacles that lie before them, but also keeps them at a distance from others.
Lyrics ยฉ DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barry Gibb, Maurice Ernest Gibb, Robin Hugh Gibb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MovedToTearsGiselle
These are the words of the dying:
Red and white in time of silence
Soul on fire, fog on the windscreen
Eternal violence of the mind
Time is remaining
Time is repeating
Life in waiting
Times are changing
Conflict repeating? tonight
These are the words of the dying:
Caught in light so sad and winding
Alone at night to scale the distance
Eternal violence of the mind
Time is remaining
Times is repeating
Life in waiting
Times are changing
Conflagragating? tonight
These are the rights of our children:
Black and white so charmed in twilight
Eyes of fire will share the distance
Eternal violence of the mind
Time is remaining
Time is repeating
Life in waiting
Times are changing
Conflagragating? tonight
@christinapfeifer5005
Quintessential Wax Trax! I love the voice and the sound. This song still haunts me 30 years later. RIP!
@dinofrancis5180
Chris Moriarty went on to do Body Clock & I believe he moved to Texas before he passed away...I was fortunate to meet PAUL LEMOS at Body Clock gig in NYC, the Limelight club back in 1995...Paul did cameo playing guitar while I worked the smoke machines...it was so much fun...Paul still plays but the music is much different now...more like ambient noise sculpture...I once did a philidelphia gig with Body Clock & Chris was so cool to me...it cherish these memories...RIP CHRISTOPHER MORIARTY...you were very special
@zzGRENDELzz
I was at that last body clock gig, like three people in the audience, I was so pissed off at that, their presence was huge thrashing a piece of sheet metal with a chain - covered in automotive grease or something! They looked incredible and sounded better.
@katnoir7978
Thanks for that
@DjRenigade
I have corresponded with Paul for over 15 years. I share music with him that i produce!!
@kakstin
What an amazing voice the guy had. R.I.P. Joe Papa.
@selectivemind5143
Very impressive EBM song. In Japan, I found it in the biggest record shop which is only for expert in Ochanomizu, Tokyo 1998(Ordinary Japanese people listen to domestic pop music only). I wrote some scores and synthesized some sounds from this song. Japanese famous EBM band, Soft Ballet's vocalist, Ryoichi Endo played Controlled Bleeding in his TBS radio program 1993.
@tonguepetals
One of the most underrated tracks of all time.
@captainmubbers6715
If I only had one penny for each time I read this sentence in the comment section of Youtube!
@keinan17
This band is so underrated