The band was founded in 1967 as Opus Gainfull, but changed its name into Earth and Fire as early as in 1968. The Koerts twins were two of the founding members.
The band's big break in The Netherlands came in 1970 with Seasons, a song written by George Kooymans, guitarist of fellow The Hague rockers Golden Earring. The single reached #2 in the Dutch charts. Between 1970 and 1983 eighteen Earth and Fire singles charted in The Netherlands. Nine made it to the top ten, two (1972's Memories and 1979's Weekend) reached #1. The latter was also hit internationally.
The band released eight studio albums, of which Reality Fills Fantasy (1979) was the most succesful one, reaching #2 in the Dutch album charts.
The departure of founding member Chris Koerts in 1979 marked the beginning of the end for Earth and Fire. The group eventually folded in 1983, after which Jerney Kaagman embarked on a solo career, to little commercial success.
Earth and Fire briefly resurfaced briefly in 1987, without the Koerts brothers and with Ton Scherpenzeel (formerly of symphonic rock band Kayak) as its musical leader. 'Earth and Fire Mark II' released one single that failed to chart, and no albums.
Invitation
Earth and Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I wake up with the feeling of the shoke
The screams upstairs doesn't seem to be more real
Than the ones that my dreams has revealed
Wielded Swords
Alies on fire
The floor is covered with blood and death
Who is my alie and who is my foe
Kill to live, there is no time to know
All the fire burns me from the inside
Will be hate and violence my guides?
Brothers on sea
Is to kill or to die
Axes and swords
Pain and blood!
The lyrics of Earth and Fire's song "Invitation" depict a sense of fear, uncertainty, and turmoil. The singer speaks of feeling like their soul is being hunted, and waking up with a feeling of shock. The screams upstairs don't seem to be more real than the ones in their dreams, highlighting the blurred lines between reality and the nightmares that plague them.
The second verse deepens the sense of violence and chaos, referencing wielded swords and allies on fire. The floor is covered with blood and death, depicting a gruesome battle taking place. The singer questions who their ally and foe is, but ultimately concludes that in this scenario, there is no time to know - survival necessitates killing. The fire burns the singer from the inside, leaving them questioning if hate and violence will become their guides.
Line by Line Meaning
I feel something hunting down my soul
I have an unshakeable sense that something is trying to harm me on a deep, spiritual level
I wake up with the feeling of the shoke
As soon as I wake up, I am hit with an overwhelming surge of emotion that I can't shake
The screams upstairs doesn't seem to be more real
Even though I can hear people yelling and suffering nearby, it feels like a distant, surreal nightmare
Than the ones that my dreams has revealed
In fact, the images and feelings that haunt me in my sleep seem more tangibly terrifying than what's happening in reality
Wielded Swords
People are fighting with deadly weapons, and it's clear that no one is holding back
Alies on fire
Both sides of this conflict are suffering heavy losses and being consumed by flames
The floor is covered with blood and death
The battlefield is soaked in the gruesome, tragic aftermath of a brutal fight
Who is my alie and who is my foe
It's impossible to tell friend from enemy amidst the chaos, and I don't know who I can rely on
Kill to live, there is no time to know
With my own survival at risk, there's no room for hesitation or indecision - I must fight for my life, even if it means taking another's
All the fire burns me from the inside
The heat and devastation of the conflict is not only physical, but is eating away at my soul and sanity from within
Will be hate and violence my guides?
I fear that in the midst of this brutal struggle, I will become someone consumed by anger and motivated only by destruction
Brothers on sea
Despite the horrific nature of what's happening, the people around me are like family - we share a bond that transcends the conflict
Is to kill or to die
As the danger encroaches and the fighting rages on, it feels as though there are only two options: to fight and risk dying, or to surrender and give up all hope
Axes and swords
The violence is ancient and primal, fought with simple but deadly weapons that draw blood and take lives in an instant
Pain and blood!
With every passing moment, it becomes clearer that there is no escape from the intense physical agony and brutal gore of the battle
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bruno Buzinaro Stábille, Bruno Pestrini da Silva, Guilherme Sartori da Silva, Rafael Teodoro Pedroso
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erik N
Wat een ongelooflijk prachtig nummer.
Zat blijkbaar 50 jaar in m'n onderbewustzijn en hoor het nu terug..kippenvel moment.
ina mina
Absolutnie fantastyczny czas dla holenderskiego rocka. Zamiast sie starzec nabiera sily w/g mnie
Marek Godlewski
The most underrated BAND from the 70's.In early seventies they recorded a special program in Poland for TVP.
Poland remember EARTH&FIRE. Your hits are still ALIVE (2017). GREAT BAND !!!
Davorin Flis
I myself wonder how this band can be so underappreciated...
Fred Kester
@Marek Godlewski: Bardzo dziękuję, zgadzam się. Polska też ma perełki
Hendrik Schoorl
Just a great performance of the great band that will live forever Earth and Fire!!!
Robert
Dit was het allereerste singeltje wat ik ooit kocht! Bij de V&D te Dordrecht. In die tijd mochten we bij muziekles op school een single meenemen en die werd dan gedraaid. Hard in de klas. Iedereen was onder de indruk en ik genoot! Altijd ben ik ze blijven volgen, ook toen ze mindere tijden beleefden. Dank gebroeders Koerts, en de rest en last but not least Jerney! Wat een caracter was je al die jaren. Thanks!
Linke Loetje
Daar heb ik ook mijn eerste single gekocht lol
Marian Markx
Best band ever!!❤
Josef Nagy
First time I heard of this band was when they played this song, probably in 1971, on the Swedish radio. Since then I´ve been a fan of this band. I also started paying more attention to Dutch bands in general, and that made my life very rich, because I like good music!