The band's figureheads and main songwriters were Jelle Paulusma (lead vocals) and Anne Soldaat (guitar, vocals). Critics often heard echoes of early Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield and other sixties bands from the American west in Daryll-Ann's particular blend of indie rock.
After an initial EP (Decibel, 1991) and début album (Renko, 1992) on tiny domestic labels, the band drew the attention of Hut, the indie branch of Virgin Records. The I Could Never Love You and Come Around EP's (1993 and 1994, respectively) were praised by critics in Holland and the U.K. The group toured Europe and their first full-length album for Hut, Seaborne West (1995), even saw a U.S. release. It received rave reviews in the U.K. music press.
Due to disappointing sales, however, the band was dropped by Hut and joined the respected Dutch indie label Excelsior Recordings, for which they continued to release albums to huge critical acclaim (but moderate commercial success). A small international cult following continued to follow the band, so that some of their Excelsior releases were also put out internationally.
Daryll-Ann's studio albums for Excelsior Recordings:
Daryll-Ann Weeps (1996)
Happy Traum (1999)
Trailer Tales (2002)
Don't Stop (2003)
Excelsior also released a limited edition live album, entitled DA Live (2000).
The band decided to call it a day in 2004. Frontman Jelle Paulusma resurfaced two years later with his first solo album, using his his family name Paulusma as his moniker, whereas guitarist Anne Soldaat went on to form the band Do The Undo (self-titled début album released in 2007) and subsequently started recording under his own name, Anne Soldaat.
2014 saw Daryll-Ann's eagerly anticipated re-formation: original line-up, no new new material, old songs only. The band's brief reunion and farewell tour of The Netherlands received rave reviews.
On April 24, 2022, the band reunited once again, this time for one night only, to perform at Paradiso during the 25th anniversary party of Excelsior Recordings.
Swords and Words
Daryll-Ann Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This dustyfield dimension took the locker from my head
We didn't get along too well
It didn't take a lot of nerve to beat me up like that
A word's a snake but I prefer the sword to make you understand
Boy did we get along
She said it appeared to me that you were only freezing
Where I was warming up
And times were made for you and me
It's been a while now since the doors were locked inside my head
I smothered every keyhole until I could understand
We didn't get along too well
It barely took a lot of guts to leave it all like that
The word's they key but I prefer the sword to make you understand
Boy did we get along
Just another night without your loving
Empty hearted matter to the few
What's another year without your loving
I hail my empty bottle to the blue
And I was warming up
And times were made for you and me
It barely took a lot of guts to leave it all like that
The word's they key but I prefer the sword to make you understand
Boy did we get along
Just another night without your loving
Empty hearted matter to the few
What's another year without your loving
I hail my empty bottle to the blue
And another night without your loving
Seemed a very silly thing to do
And I was warming up
And times were made for you and me
The lyrics of Daryll-Ann's "Swords and Words" appear to be about a personal struggle and battle within oneself. The song begins with the singer explaining that it took them a while to "shake the battle off my back" and that they had been trapped in a "dustyfield dimension" with their thoughts locked away. They also discuss a strained relationship with someone, saying that they "didn't get along too well," but eventually came to understand each other through the use of either words or swords.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of tension between opposing forces, perhaps representing the internal battle between the head and the heart. The lyrics mention "the knife" held by the singer's heartbeat and the use of "guts" to leave everything behind, perhaps indicating a struggle with fear and uncertainty. The repetition of "Just another night without your loving" seems to suggest a sense of emptiness or sadness caused by the internal turmoil and the loss of someone close.
Overall, the song seems to explore the theme of conflict and the different ways we navigate and resolve personal battles. It speaks to the struggle of understanding ourselves and others, as well as the emotional toll these battles can take on us.
Line by Line Meaning
It took a while until I shook the battle off my back
It was a struggle, but I eventually let go of the conflict.
This dustyfield dimension took the locker from my head
I was stuck in a difficult situation that confused me.
We didn't get along too well
We didn't have the best relationship.
It didn't take a lot of nerve to beat me up like that
You didn't need much courage to hurt me.
A word's a snake but I prefer the sword to make you understand
I'd rather use direct action than deceptive language to communicate.
Boy did we get along
We had a great time together.
Suddenly my heartbeat held the knife
I was overwhelmed with emotion and in a state of vulnerability.
She said it appeared to me that you were only freezing
She thought that I was emotionally distant.
Where I was warming up
I was just starting to come out of my shell.
And times were made for you and me
We were meant to go through this together.
It's been a while now since the doors were locked inside my head
It's been a long time since I was trapped in my own thoughts.
I smothered every keyhole until I could understand
I tried to suppress my thoughts until they made sense to me.
It barely took a lot of guts to leave it all like that
Leaving wasn't a big risk for me.
The word's they key but I prefer the sword to make you understand
I value actions more than words when it comes to understanding.
Just another night without your loving
Another lonely night without you.
Empty hearted matter to the few
My feelings are insignificant to most people.
What's another year without your loving
Another year of being alone without you.
I hail my empty bottle to the blue
I drink alone to numb the pain.
And another night without your loving
One more night of loneliness.
Seemed a very silly thing to do
It didn't seem worth it to be alone again.
And times were made for you and me
We were meant to go through life together.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHANNES A. JELLE PAULUSMA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind