A band from Ornago, near Milan, whose identity has… Read Full Bio ↴See E.A. Poe.
A band from Ornago, near Milan, whose identity has been surrounded by mystery until recently, they released a beautiful album in 1974 on the Kansas label.
The group had been formed around 1967 as Angelo e gli Spacemen, with the leader Angelo being much older than the others, all 11-12 years old kids! When Angelo left the group in 1969, the others kept playing, adopting the name E.A.Poe in 1970.
The band initially had a repertoire of covers, by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple, then began composing original material, having a good live activity in their area.
The album Generazioni (Storia di sempre) is a true rarity and contains the best distinctive elements of the italian prog: classical inspired keyboards, good guitar work, powerful rhythm section. As in many other minor productions the voice is the weakest point, but the vocal parts are short. The album includes seven tracks, not particularly long, and the best cuts are the opening Prologo, the delicate Ad un vecchio with a fluid piano introduction and Generazioni.
The group kept playing until the end of 1976, recording two singles for the Shark label, one under their full name Edgar Allan Poe, that includes a rendition of the Jaws film theme, the second as backing group for the singer Luca Simonelli in his Portami tante rose/È felicità single.
Guitarist Roberto Bertazzi replaced Ronco, that had to do its military service, in the first of these two singles, where the mandolin, distinctive element in the music of E.A.Poe was played by Lello Foti.
Bass player Maggi moved to the USA after the band broke-up and formed his own band in the San Francisco Bay Area The Jungle band.
Prologo
E.A.Poe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
per scoprire che alla gente non è mai fregato niente
di trasmettere il progresso ritrovato dai figli
per inseguire di nuovo, i propri sporchi interessi
una morale fasulla, sempre più evoluta
che dal simbolismo sciocco, da scaltro stregone
giungesse a raffinare una tecnica squallida, per speculare dentro
ai re, agli stregoni, ai nostri paradisi artificiali
vogliamo credere in quello che sentiamo
gettare in faccia al passato, il peccato di una mela
un posto... o, come dite voi... ereditato
Vogliamo solo vivere!
Sia giusto... o sbagliato...
The lyrics to E.A.Poe's song Prologo can be interpreted as a critique of human nature and society’s obsession with profit and gain. The beginning of the song suggests that throughout history, people have disregarded passing on the advancements and progress they've made to future generations, instead, choosing to pursue their own selfish interests. The lyrics condemn the "false morality" that has continued to evolve over the years, becoming more sophisticated but still only serving the interest of those in power.
The second half of the song suggests a rejection of the status quo, challenging the authority of kings and sorcerers, and seeking to believe only in what is felt by individuals. The phrase “paradisi artificiali” (artificial paradises) perhaps refers to the idea that individuals are only able to experience a version of paradise that has been fabricated or constructed for them by those in power. The desire to throw the “sin of an apple” in the face of the past suggests a disillusionment with the idea that we are somehow predestined or beholden to the whims of our ancestors.
Overall, the song Prologo can be seen as a call to, as the lyrics state; "live only". It encourages people to break free from societal constraints, to embrace their own feelings and to detach themselves from the false morality promoted by those in power.
Line by Line Meaning
Scorrere i libri di storia
To skim through the history books
per scoprire che alla gente non è mai fregato niente
To discover that people have never cared about transmitting the progress made by their ancestors
di trasmettere il progresso ritrovato dai figli
To transmit the progress rediscovered by their children
per inseguire di nuovo, i propri sporchi interessi
To pursue their own dirty interests once again
una morale fasulla, sempre più evoluta
A false morality that has become more refined over time
che dal simbolismo sciocco, da scaltro stregone
Which, from foolish symbolism, cunning sorcerers
giungesse a raffinare una tecnica squallida, per speculare dentro
Has refined a squalid technique for speculating within
Ora noi diciamo basta
Now we say enough
ai re, agli stregoni, ai nostri paradisi artificiali
To the kings, to the sorcerers, to our artificial paradises
vogliamo credere in quello che sentiamo
We want to believe in what we feel
gettare in faccia al passato, il peccato di una mela
To throw in the face of the past, the sin of an apple
un posto... o, come dite voi... ereditato
A place... or, as you say... inherited
Vogliamo solo vivere!
We just want to live!
Sia giusto... o sbagliato...
Whether it's right... or wrong...
Contributed by Jackson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marco Venosta
gran disco!!
Moonlit Knight
Stupendo!