The origin of the name of the band is related on their website. The tongue-in-cheek back-story recounts a historically questionable ancestral story beginning in 16th century Sweden. Supposedly, ancestors of the band members performed orchestral works in defiance of the ruling church at the time (possibly in reference to the newly installed protestant Lutheran national church, in power during the mid and late 16th century). The orchestra was forced to go into hiding, performing in secret, with the assistance of oppressed peasants during the era. After years of performing for the pleasure of these peasants, the story claims that the church put a bounty on the performers' lives, and that this bounty was so high that the orchestra knew they would soon be captured, and thus chose to play a spectacular final show before becoming martyred to the church.
While this account is historically unsupported it does provide a backdrop to DSO's eclectic musical style
Members[*]Daniel Håkansson – guitars, vocals (since 2003)
[*]Pontus Mantefors – guitars, effects, vocals (since 2003)
[*]Andy Johansson – bass,vocals (since 2003)
[*]Johannes Bergion – cello, vocals (since 2003)
[*]Martin Isaksson – trumpet, vocals (since 2009)
[*]Daniel Hedin – trombone, vocals (since 2009)
[*]Johan Norbäck – drums (since 2012)
[*]Kristin Evegård – vocals (since 2014)
Former Members[*]Andreas Halvardsson – drums (2003–2010)
[*]Petter Karlsson – drums (2010-2012)
[*]Annlouice Loegdlund – vocals (2003-2014)
Pink Noise Waltz
Diablo Swing Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fresh taste of first light when they do come down
Skin-deep memories of siren lullabies
Sealed from us from me from everything you go
Despair you tend to bring to me, to us, to everything with tide comes
Holy water, she's breaking those waves
The silence keeps her sane
Tainted sounds from haunted throats
Iron tears on satin sheets
Silver spoon and bread through pain
And the silent others kneels(?)
Ether eyes have never seen
Where dirty hands have never been
Sealed from us from me from everything you go
Despair you tend to bring to me, to us, to everything with tide comes
Holy water, she's breaking those waves
Holy water, she's breathing those waves
The silence keeps her sane
The lyrics of Diablo Swing Orchestra's song Pink Noise Waltz are wrought with powerful imagery and metaphorical language, making their meaning somewhat elusive. At its core, the song seems to speak to the experience of feeling lost or disconnected, and the struggle to find solace amidst feelings of despair.
The opening line, "Well-paid Jesus, vicious nails by tired angels of mine," is a jarring metaphor that could be interpreted in a number of ways. It could speak to the idea of someone being "crucified" for their beliefs, or perhaps the idea of someone being exploited in the name of religion. The line "Fresh taste of first light when they do come down" suggests a kind of rebirth or renewal, but the "skin-deep memories of siren lullabies" that follow hint at a darker undercurrent.
The chorus, with its repetition of "holy water, she's breaking those waves," seems to speak to the idea of finding strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The line "the silence keeps her sane" suggests that sometimes the most powerful force is the absence of sound, perhaps a nod to the idea of finding peace in solitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Well-paid Jesus, vicious nails by tired angels of mine
My angels are exhausted and I feel like I'm being attacked despite having monetary success, like Jesus did with his nails.
Fresh taste of first light when they do come down
The angels bring a fresh beginning and feeling of hope when they finally arrive.
Skin-deep memories of siren lullabies
I have nostalgic memories of comforting and alluring songs, but they only provide superficial comfort.
Sealed from us from me from everything you go
You separate yourself from everything and everyone, including me.
Despair you tend to bring to me, to us, to everything with tide comes
Whenever you are present, you bring despair to everything, including me and those around me, like the tide rolling in.
Holy water, she's breaking those waves
The holy water is overpowering and breaking the negative forces like waves in the ocean.
Holy water, she's breathing those waves
The holy water is cleansing and breathing in the positive power that replaces the negative waves.
The silence keeps her sane
Being in a constant state of peace and quiet helps to maintain her mental well-being.
Tainted sounds from haunted throats
Disquieting noises are coming from disturbed individuals.
Iron tears on satin sheets
Crying so hard that tears stain the softest fabrics symbolizes the deep pain and hardness of the situation.
Silver spoon and bread through pain
Even with wealth and comfort, the pain is still present and needs to be endured.
And the silent others kneels
The quiet, unheard people are the ones who are really suffering.
Ether eyes have never seen
No one has ever witnessed this scene or situation.
Where dirty hands have never been
This is a pure, untouched place or thing, free from corruption or contamination.
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.