Having disbanded in 1998, they reunited briefly in 2005 for a world tour and reformed in 2011, releasing a new album (Anastasis) and embarking on several tours.
Dead Can Dance formed in Melbourne, Australia in August 1981 with Paul Erikson on bass guitar, Lisa Gerrard (ex-Microfilm) on vocals, Simon Monroe (Marching Girls) on drums and Brendan Perry (also of Marching Girls) on vocals and guitar. Gerrard and Perry were a couple who met as members of Melbourne's little band scene. In May 1982, the band left Monroe in Australia and moved to London, England, where they signed with alternative rock label 4AD. With the duo, the initial United Kingdom line-up were Paul Erikson and Peter Ulrich.
The group's debut album, Dead Can Dance, was released in February 1984. The artwork, which depicts a ritual mask from New Guinea, "provide a visual reinterpretation of the meaning of the name Dead Can Dance", set in a faux Greek typeface. The album featured "drum-driven, ambient guitar music with chanting, singing and howling", and fit in with the ethereal wave style of label mates Cocteau Twins. They followed with a four-track extended play, Garden of the Arcane Delights in August. AllMusic described their early work as "as goth as it gets" (despite the group themselves rejecting the label), while the EP saw them "plunging into a wider range of music and style".
A shift in sound followed for the Spleen and Ideal album, with more emphasis on strings, brass and drones being used. A quasi spiritual element also emerged on this album, notably on the opening tracks "De Profundis" and "Ascension". Its worth noting that around this time Lisa and Brendan had been doing tours of European Cathedrals, absorbing the ambience which in turn was reflected in the work.
The highlights of the bands career followed with the genre defining album Within The Realm of a Dying Sun, featuring fan favorite "Cantara", which is where the bands Arabic and World music influences began to appear, and the double whammy of "Summoning of the Muse" and "Persephone (The Gathering of Flowers)." Critics at the time were undecided about the album, mainly due to the fact that the pieces were split according to the vocals. Brendan had the first side of the album, where Lisa took over for the latter half.
The Serpent's Egg was the next album and built on the premise set by the previous album, although the album is slightly uneven in quality and a short listen at around 40 minutes. The album is redeemed by the opening and closing pieces "The Host of Seraphim", and Perry's epic "Ullyses".
For the next album Aion, the band slipped back several centuries and recreated working medieval instruments such as the Sackbut, Viol and Hurdy Gurdy for the distinctly Medieval flavor. Included on the album is "Song of the sibyl" a text from 14th century Spain and now a live favorite. Another text appears in the song "Fortune Presents Gifts Not According To The Book".
Into the Labyrinth was the follow up album and was the album that saw Brendan mastering the use of samples and synthesizers and also the album that brought the band's music to American audiences selling over a million copies worldwide. The track "The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove" was played across on college radio and was instrumental in the albums success.
Spiritchaser was the seventh studio album for the band and brought about an abrupt upturn in musical style, instead of drawing on the historical past the band drew upon South American and African influences which gave the album a very rhythmic ambience. Considered by some to be the bands weakest album, it features highlights such as the percussive "Nierika" which was the most played track on American college radio for that year, and the epic 9 minute trance inducing "Indus".
A 3 CD retrospective simply called 1981-1998 was issued by 4AD and compiled a comprehensive overview of the bands career, and provided diehard fans with the only finished track from the Spiritchaser follow-up sessions called "The Lotus Eaters".
As a live band is probably where Dead Can Dance have gained their reputation. To put it simply, they were phenomenal. The concerts often featured many improvised pieces that to date have never been recorded in the studio. A live album entitled Toward the Within was released in 1994 and allowed fans unfortunate enough to have not attended concerts the chance to hear a few of these songs. A companion video/DVD of the concert was also released allowing people to see these highly ethereal concerts.
After Dead Can Dance ceased to be a functioning band both Perry and Gerrard embarked upon solo careers. To date, Brendan has released one solo album The Eye of the Hunter and has completed work on a new album, 'Ark', to be released in June 2010, whilst Lisa has been more prolific but with mixed results, releasing two solo albums The Mirror Pool and The Silver Tree. Lisa has also collaborated with other artists, namely Pieter Bourke of the band Soma and Irish composer Patrick Cassidy on the respective albums Duality and Immortal Memory. Lisa has also become a sought after soundtrack artist too after a wave of publicity for the Ridley Scott film Gladiator and continues to release work on a regular basis including soundtrack work on Ali, Layer Cake, and Whale Rider. Peter Ulrich, former percussionist of the band has also released two solo albums, Pathways and Dawns and more recently, Enter the Mysterium.
A series of 31 reunion concerts took place in 2005 in both Europe and North America including two memorable sell out concerts at The Hollywood Bowl and Radio City accompanied by 40 piece orchestras. Many of these concerts were professionally recorded and released as a double CD.
In late 2011, the band announced a reunion World Tour, in order to promote their new album, fittingly titled Anastasis, as it was released on August 9, 2012, 16 years after the group's previous album. Anastasis was well received by critics and is also the first album of the band not released by 4AD Records.
The name "Dead Can Dance" is often misleading. Although this group is quite popular among the goth sub-culture with the name appearing to be inspired by the Danse macabre allegory, it should instead be interpreted as 'giving life to something that was previously inanimate' as Perry said:
"The album artwork [of our self titled first album], a ritual mask from New Guinea, attempted to provide a visual reintrepretation of the meaning of the name "Dead Can Dance." The mask, though once a living part of a tree is dead; nevertheless it has, through the artistry of its maker, been imbued with a life force of its own. To understand why we chose the name, think of the transformation of inanimacy to animacy.... Think of the processes concerning life from death and death into life. So many people missed the inherent symbolism, and assumed that we must be 'morbid gothic types,' a mistake we deplored and deplore...".
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Don
Dead Can Dance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My brown-eyed girl
Come walk with me
I'll fill your heart with joy
And we'll dance through our isolation
Seeking solace in the wisdom we bestow
Turning thoughts to the here and everafter
Say what you mean
Mean what you say
I've heard that innocence
Has led us all astray
But don't let them make you and break you
The world is filled with their broken empty dreams
Silence is their only virtue
Locked away inside their silent screams
But for now
Let us dance away
This starry night
Filled with the glow of fiery stars
And with the dawn
Our sun will rise
Bringing a symphony of bird cries
Don't bring me down now
Let me stay here for awhile
You know life's too short
Let me bathe here in your smile
I'm transcending
The fall from the garden
Goodnight
The song "Don't Fade Away" by Dead Can Dance is a beautiful and mesmerizing piece that speaks about how we can find solace and joy by connecting with someone we love. The opening lines are addressed to a person who is referred to as "my brown-eyed girl" and who is invited to walk with the singer. The idea of them walking together symbolizes a shared journey and a search for something better. The verse mentions that they will become happier and will find the answers they need to overcome their fears and doubts. The two of them will dance through their isolation, which implies that they are facing some kind of emotional distance from the rest of the world.
The second verse refers to the notion that we should speak our minds and mean what we say. It highlights the fact that life is too short to waste on pointless small talk, and that sometimes people say things they don't mean. The lyrics talk about how innocence can lead people astray, but the singer urges the brown-eyed girl to stay true to herself and not let anyone break her or make her feel small. The world is full of broken empty dreams, but together they can overcome the fear and pain and find their joy. The song ends on an optimistic note, with a promise of a sunny day and a symphony of bird cries.
Overall, the song "Don't Fade Away" is about how we can support and love each other through life's difficulties and find a way to be happy even when surrounded by negativity. It suggests that we should keep our eyes on the prize and focus on the important things instead of getting caught up in trivial matters.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't fade away
Don't disappear, don't leave me here alone
My brown-eyed girl
My lover, with eyes the color of brown
Come walk with me
Come and take a walk with me, here by my side
I'll fill your heart with joy
I will make you happy, and bring you pleasure
And we'll dance through our isolation
We'll move and sway together, even though we feel alone
Seeking solace in the wisdom we bestow
Finding comfort in the knowledge and insight we share
Turning thoughts to the here and everafter
Reflecting on our present and future existence
Consuming fears in our fiery halos
Using our courage and passion to overcome our anxieties
Say what you mean
Speak honestly and truthfully
Mean what you say
Be sincere and genuine in your words
I've heard that innocence
I know that being naive can lead to trouble
Has led us all astray
Has caused us to lose our way
But don't let them make you and break you
Don't allow others to manipulate and destroy you
The world is filled with their broken empty dreams
Many people have unfulfilled and disappointing goals
Silence is their only virtue
They only value being quiet and not speaking out
Locked away inside their silent screams
Their struggles and pain are kept hidden and unspoken
But for now
But in this moment
Let us dance away
Let's dance our worries and troubles away
This starry night
This clear night sky, filled with stars
Filled with the glow of fiery stars
Radiant stars that resemble the flame of fires
And with the dawn
As the sun rises in the morning
Our sun will rise
Our lives will begin anew
Bringing a symphony of bird cries
Filling the air with the joyful sound of birds chirping
Don't bring me down now
Don't depress me or make me sad
Let me stay here for awhile
Allow me to remain in this happy moment for some time
You know life's too short
We only have a brief amount of time on this earth
Let me bathe here in your smile
Let me bask in the warmth and happiness of your smile
I'm transcending
I am rising above negative feelings
The fall from the garden
Metaphor for the loss of innocence and the pain of life
Goodnight
Farewell, good night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER KENNETH FRAMPTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JanusKristijan
Don't fade away, my brown-eyed girl
Come walk with me, I'll fill your heart with joy
And we'll dance through our isolation
Seeking solace in the wisdom we bestow
Turning thoughts to the here and ever after
Consuming fears in our fiery halos
Say what you mean
Mean what you say
I've heard that innocence
Has led us all astray
But don't let them make you and break you
The world is filled with their broken empty dreams
Silence is their only virtue
Locked away inside their silent screams
But for now let us dance away this starry night
Filled with the glow of fiery stars
And with the dawn our sun will rise
Bringing a symphony of bird cries
Don't bring me down now
Let me stay here for awhile
You know life's too short
Let me bathe here in your smile
I'm transcending
The fall from the garden
Goodnight
@marqevo
My brown eyed Lisa, wife of mine for 16 beautiful years. You passed away October 2013. Waiting for me somewhere, not here. The tears you've left me to shed have been many. The girls and I miss you honey. How grand life would be if breast cancer didn't ever exist? I hope you're safe. I hope you're happy. I hope there's plenty of light wherever you have gone. I will always love you.
@marqevo
gitane333 Thank you. I'd like to think she is.
@anderseckstrand6657
She survives in you, in your children....
@marqevo
***** Thank you. Hope, and my girls, is all I have now.
@marqevo
Five months after the post above. Nine months after our Lisa has passed. Less tears. Less grief. New found companionship. But the void, although smaller, will always be there. We will always miss you and love you honey. I pray you're happier than you've ever been, wherever you are. ;..(
@TSmith-rl5vx
Just hold on and remember that you were loved and are loved still by someone special. My woman passed oct. 2nd 2001. Its never easy.
@JanusKristijan
Don't fade away, my brown-eyed girl
Come walk with me, I'll fill your heart with joy
And we'll dance through our isolation
Seeking solace in the wisdom we bestow
Turning thoughts to the here and ever after
Consuming fears in our fiery halos
Say what you mean
Mean what you say
I've heard that innocence
Has led us all astray
But don't let them make you and break you
The world is filled with their broken empty dreams
Silence is their only virtue
Locked away inside their silent screams
But for now let us dance away this starry night
Filled with the glow of fiery stars
And with the dawn our sun will rise
Bringing a symphony of bird cries
Don't bring me down now
Let me stay here for awhile
You know life's too short
Let me bathe here in your smile
I'm transcending
The fall from the garden
Goodnight
@jrborghuis9178
Janus Kristijan Thx Janus
@laurawindspell2177
💕❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💕
@caballeromatias1992
Good night