Dir en grey is a Japanese alternative meta… Read Full Bio ↴Osaka, Japan (1997 – present)
Dir en grey is a Japanese alternative metal band formed in 1997 from the disbanded visual kei band La:Sadie’s, that have maintained a consistent lineup consisting of 京 (Kyo) on vocals, 薫 (Kaoru) and Die on guitar, Toshiya on bass and Shinya on drums.
Dir en grey, in its earliest form, began in Osaka as the band of vocalist 京 and drummer Shinya - 廃人黒薔薇族 (haijin kuro bara zoku “Invalid Black Rose Family”). Members and associates of this band formed La:Sadie’s, which eventually included four of Dir en grey’s five current members. La:Sadie’s disbanded in 1996. All but the bassist, Kisaki, and former lead guitarist, Shio (replaced by Kaoru), came back together to form Dir en grey. They recruited Toshiya, a bassist from Nagano and previously in the band D†L, and officially formed “Dir en grey” in February 1997.
In 1998, the band gained major attention by becoming the first indies band to have a single place in the top ten on Japan’s Oricon music charts. They played a sold-out performance at Osakajo Hall on December 18, 1999. This remains one of the band’s most memorable solo performances to date.
The band encountered setbacks in 2000 when the promotional tour for their upcoming album MACABRE was canceled. 京 was hospitalized from a tympanic membrane perforation in his left ear, which remains partially deaf to this day. His lyrics in their 2001 single ‘ain’t afraid to die’ respond to this brush with his own mortal vulnerability.
Obscure
Dir En Grey [ディル・アン・グレイ] Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How many hangings under the red moon "..."
How deep will it sink inside eating skin that doesn't match?
The snake makes way through the sheets and goes inside the uterus.
It can seem like a someiyoshino; a cherry blossom petal, that dances sadly.
Don't you remember?
Color of faint... the night begins and people start to awe.
Color of pomegranate... sting with the prick and disappear far away.
How many secret hangings of the premature baby tonight under the red moon "..."
Bloody Baby & Sacrifice
Don't you remember?
Color of Golden yellow... want to be the spider that stings.
Color of tears... remembering the memories.
Color of faint... the night begins and people start to awe.
Color of pomegranate... sting with the prick and disappear far away.
The lyrics of Dir En Grey's song, "Obscure," are haunting and filled with disturbing imagery. The first verse sets the tone with the question of how many hangings have occurred under the red moon. The following lines suggest a deep sense of unease and discomfort, with the idea of something going inside the uterus and eating skin that doesn't match. The second verse continues with the description of a cherry blossom petal dancing sadly, while a stain on the moon brings on vomiting at night. The chorus, "don't you remember," adds to the disorientation and confusion.
The third verse introduces new, even more disturbing imagery with the mention of secret hangings of premature babies under the red moon. The lines "Bloody Baby & Sacrifice" only add to the horror of the image painted by the lyrics. The chorus repeats, becoming more urgent in its questioning tone. The song ends with a description of colors - golden yellow and tears, followed by the same lines from the second verse about the night beginning, people starting to awe, and the pomegranate color stinging with the prick and disappearing far away.
Line by Line Meaning
How many hangings under the red moon "..."
How many innocent lives will be taken tonight under the power of the full moon?
How deep will it sink inside eating skin that doesn't match?
How far will this feeling penetrate my being, even though it doesn't connect with my physical reality?
The snake makes way through the sheets and goes inside the uterus.
The snake is a symbol of temptation and it finds its way into the womb, possibly representing impregnation or corruption.
It can seem like a someiyoshino; a cherry blossom petal, that dances sadly.
The beauty of life can be fragile and fleeting, and this can be seen in the cherry blossom petals that fall and dance sorrowfully.
The stain is the moon that's fulfilled, and the vomiting at night begins.
The stain represents the corrupting influence of the full moon, which can cause people to become sick and purge their inner turmoil.
Color of faint... the night begins and people start to awe.
As darkness falls, people become awed and frightened by the unknown and mysterious things that happen at night.
Color of pomegranate... sting with the prick and disappear far away.
The color of a pomegranate represents pain and longing, as something precious slips away and fades into the distance
How many secret hangings of the premature baby tonight under the red moon "..."
How many unborn babies will be lost tonight due to the power of the full moon?
Color of Golden yellow... want to be the spider that stings.
The color of golden yellow represents desire and ambition, as one wishes to be the one who controls and inflicts pain.
Color of tears... remembering the memories.
The color of tears represents the pain and sorrow of remembering past memories, which may bring both joy and sadness.
Color of faint... the night begins and people start to awe.
As darkness falls, people become awed and frightened by the unknown and mysterious things that happen at night.
Color of pomegranate... sting with the prick and disappear far away.
The color of a pomegranate represents pain and longing, as something precious slips away and fades into the distance.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind