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.
Tick Tock
Death in June Lyrics
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Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock
3 piggies standing in the dock
Their pockets all empty and bare
Their futures, their homes, nowhere.
Auf wiedersehen...
With egos they decide to lead
With stupidity they ooze and bleed
What comfort they could have had
Is now gone and up for grabs
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock
3 piggies standing in the dock
Their snouts all bloody and red
They should have said goodbye instead.
Ciao!
Auf Wiedersehn!
Arrivederci piggie!
The lyrics to Death in June's song Tick Tock speak of the dangers of wasting time and the consequences that come with it. The song opens with the recurring lyric "Tick Tock" which is repeated like the ticking of a clock, emphasizing the importance of time. The song then goes on to describe "3 piggies standing in the dock" who have wasted their time and are now facing the consequences of their inaction. The piggies' pockets are empty, their futures and homes are nowhere to be found, and their egos and stupidity have led them down a path of destruction. The chorus serves as a warning to those who waste time, stating that time is everyone's master, including those who waste it, and that they will eventually suffer the consequences.
The second verse continues to describe the fate of the piggies who have wasted their lives. Their snouts are bloody and red, perhaps from fighting over the scraps they have left, and they should have said goodbye instead of wasting away. The final lines of the song bid the piggies farewell in various European languages, emphasizing the universal nature of the song's message.
Overall, the lyrics to Tick Tock are a cautionary tale about the dangers of wasting time and the consequences that come with it. The ticking clock serves as a reminder that time waits for no one and that action must be taken before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a story about people who like to waste time... waste my time, waste your time, waste their time; but time is against them. Time is everyone's master, including them...
The song is about people who waste time and do not use it correctly. But little do they know that time is not in their favor, and everyone's time is the same. No one has control over time.
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock
Tick tock represents time passing and can also be associated with the sound of a clock ticking.
3 piggies standing in the dock
The three pigs represent people who are stuck and unable to move forward in their lives, symbolized by standing in the dock.
Their pockets all empty and bare
The pigs have nothing left in their life, represented by their empty pockets.
Their futures, their homes, nowhere.
The lack of a future and a place to call home represents the bleak situation the pigs are in.
Auf wiedersehen...
German for 'goodbye.'
Do vdjenja...
Macedonian for 'goodbye.'
With egos they decide to lead
The pigs have a strong sense of self-importance and decide to take command of their lives.
With stupidity they ooze and bleed
However, their actions are foolish and only bring harm to themselves, as they 'ooze and bleed.'
What comfort they could have had
The pigs could have had a comfortable life if they had made better choices.
Is now gone and up for grabs
But instead they lost it all, and anyone can take what they had for themselves.
Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock
Once again, time is passing.
3 piggies standing in the dock
The pigs are still stuck in the same place and situation.
Their snouts all bloody and red
The pigs are injured, supposedly from their stupidity and poor choices.
They should have said goodbye instead.
It would have been better for the pigs to give up and say goodbye to their poor decisions instead of continuing to suffer.
Ciao!
Italian for 'goodbye.'
Auf Wiedersehn!
German for 'goodbye.'
Arrivederci piggie!
Italian for 'goodbye pig.'
Contributed by Ian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.