Death in June are a neofolk group led by UK musician Douglas Pearce. Althou… Read Full Bio ↴Death in June are a neofolk group led by UK musician Douglas Pearce. Although originally a post-punk band, they are credited with the initial development of neofolk music along with Current 93 and Sol Invictus.

Death in June emerged in 1981, reuniting singer/multi-instrumentalist Douglas P. and bassist Tony Wakeford; drummer Patrick Leagas completed the original lineup, which made its live debut late the following year with an opening slot for the Birthday Party.

The 12-inch Heaven Street soon followed, and in 1983 Death in June issued their first full-length effort, The Guilty Have No Pride. From the outset, the group was criticized for its adoption of fascist imagery, and charges of Nazism dogged Pearce throughout his career. However, Pearce is openly homosexual and has also collaborated with various ethnic Jews throughout his discography; the official Death in June web site used to sport an Israeli flag, and Death in June played live in Israel on June 18, 2004 for a predominantly Jewish audience.

Upon completing the Burial LP, Wakeford left the lineup to form Sol Invictus. Following the release of 1985’s Nada!, only Pearce remained, with Leagas exiting to form his own project, Sixth Comm.

Beginning with the 1986 double album The World That Summer, Pearce continued Death in June primarily as a solo concern, aided by a revolving group of collaborators including Current 93’s David Tibet, Boyd Rice and Coil’s John Balance. The abrasive electronics and martial rhythms of early efforts gave way to an increasingly expansive sonic approach over the course of subsequent outings including 1987’s Brown Book, 1989’s The Wall of Sacrifice and 1992’s But, What Ends When the Symbols Shatter?, the latter evoking Pearce’s longstanding interest in traditional European folk music.

The first British act to perform in Croatia following the outbreak of Yugoslavia’s civil war, Death in June documented their experiences on 1993’s Something Is Coming. Subsequent efforts include 1995’s Rose Clouds of Holocaust, 1998’s Take Care and Control, 2000’s Operation Hummingbird, and 2001’s All Pigs Must Die.

The official web site of Death in June is maintained at http://www.deathinjune.net.

Official Death In June merchandise can be bought here http://www.plastichead.com/catalogue.asp?ex=backlist&category=merch&target=DEATH+IN+JUNE.

Hullo Angel
Death in June Lyrics

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Well hullo angel
A gift and a smile
Well hullo angel
As we walk a crooked mile

And a twisted man leans on twisted sticks
With children's laughter hanging on swings
Well hullo angel

And the skipping row turns
Whilst little bodies twist in carousel swirls

Well hullo angel
It's the end of the world
Well hullo angel
At the end of your tether
Well hullo angel
Time for sleep
Well hullo angel
Time to cry

That which is falling should also be pushed
That which is crawling should also be crushed

Overall Meaning

The song Hullo Angel by Death in June is a haunting and evocative piece that speaks to the human condition and the fragility of our experiences. The song begins with the welcoming of an angel, who could represent an actual physical being or a metaphorical representation of something pure and good. The angel is greeted with a "gift and a smile", which suggests an atmosphere of warmth and positivity. However, as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that this is anything but a straightforward ode to hope and positivity.

The second verse introduces the notion of twistedness, both in the form of a twisted man with twisted sticks and the twisted and dizzying carousel of children's laughter. It is as though the angel's arrival has temporarily disrupted the usual unhinged specter of the world, causing everything to turn momentarily upside down before returning to its usual grim pattern. The final verse pushes the mood even further into darkness, suggesting that it is indeed the end of the world, the end of the tether, and a time for sleep and tears. The final lines of the song, "That which is falling should also be pushed/ That which is crawling should also be crushed," hint at an inevitable and ruthless cycle of death and rebirth that will continue regardless of human intervention.

Overall, Hullo Angel is a powerful meditation on the human experience, fragile and fleeting as it may be. The arrival of the angel represents a brief moment of respite from the usual harshness of the world, but ultimately, the song seems to suggest that we are all hurtling towards an inevitable end that we cannot avoid.

Line by Line Meaning

Well hullo angel
Greeting a spiritual being or divine emissary

A gift and a smile
A present and a cheerful expression to welcome the angel

As we walk a crooked mile
Traveling on an unconventional, difficult path with the angel

And a twisted man leans on twisted sticks
A deformed person relying on deformed objects for support

With children's laughter hanging on swings
The sound of youngsters enjoying a carefree moment

Well hullo angel
Greeting the angel again

And the skipping row turns
A circle of people jumping in unison

Whilst little bodies twist in carousel swirls
Young ones spinning around in a centrifugal amusement ride

Well hullo angel
Greeting the angel once more

It's the end of the world
The apocalypse or a catastrophic event is ongoing

Well hullo angel
Greeting the angel again