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.
Song of the marching children
Earth and Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Part 2: Opening of the seal
Part 3: Childhood
Watching through the broken seal
I saw the tree of life, forever
Bearing human fruit, forever
You're ignoring to what you'll turn out to be
You'll once be sewing and gathering frequently
That's what you'll turn out to be
Watchibg through the broken seal
I saw marching children, and children
At the church nearby the gate
A preacher read his sermon for children
You're ignoring where the hell you're going to
God bless you for what the world is going to do
For what the world is going into
Why can't we go
Over the untouched road
Is it too winding
Flanked by reflections of time
Go and experience
Learn the human destiny
Happiness and sadness
Posts of your lifetime
Part 4: Affliction
Children�s eyes fixing upon the gate to heaven
Predestinated for minority
Into the underworld the others tumbling down
Tortured by terrestrial vexations
Part 5: Damnation
A long procession
Hearing the black knight�s thoughts
I have been watching you
Your conduct in life was in vain
Cross the waters of death
With their silent borders
Then you'll see
Your waiting graves
Part 6: Purification
When will be the crack of doom?
Is it tomorrow?
Is it tomorrow?
A laurel wreath for the future graves
Of the marching children
A laurel wreath for the future graves
Of the marching children
Part 7: The March
The lyrics of Earth and Fire's song Song of the Marching Children are a poignant and profound exploration of the themes of life, death, and destiny. The song is divided into different parts that explore different aspects of these themes. In Part 1, the theme of the marching children is introduced, hinting at the fact that these children are on a particular path, a path that leads to a destiny that is ordained for them.
Part 2, the opening of the seal, symbolizes a significant moment of revelation, where the singer sees the "tree of life" with "branches fully green" bearing "human fruit." This vision of the tree of life with branches fully green is an allusion to the fundamentals of creation and indicates that the children are the fruits of that creation. The children are portrayed as symbols of life, and their march is an affirmation of that life.
Part 3, Childhood, explores the innocence and naivete of children who are not yet aware of the harsh realities of the world around them. The preacher's sermon for the children in the church seems to be warning them about the dangers that lie ahead, but the children seem oblivious to what is coming.
Overall, the song explores the cyclical nature of life and death, emphasizing the inevitability of destiny. The marching children represent a kind of transcendental force that moves through the world and challenges the status quo. The song can be interpreted as a call to action, urging people not to ignore the realities of the world around them and to take responsibility for their actions and destinies.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching through the broken seal
Observing through the tear in the barrier
I saw the tree of life, forever
I witnessed the eternal and unceasing existence of the tree of life
All the branches fully green
Every branch presented a verdant hue
Bearing human fruit, forever
Yielding everlasting human beings
You're ignoring to what you'll turn out to be
You're neglecting your future self and what you will become
You'll once be sewing and gathering frequently
You will one day perform the task of stitching and collecting often
That's what you'll turn out to be
That is what you will eventually transform into
Watching through the broken seal
Observe through the break in the encasement
I saw marching children, and children
I witnessed a group of children parading
At the church nearby the gate
Near to the gateway, there was a church
A preacher read his sermon for children
A clergyman delivered a speech to the young ones
You're ignoring where the hell you're going to
You're neglecting where you're headed for
God bless you for what the world is going to do
May God bless you for whatever the world is going to do
For what the world is going into
For the whole journey of the world
Why can't we go
Why are we incapable of traveling
Over the untouched road
On the unspoiled pathway
Is it too winding
Is it too convoluted
Flanked by reflections of time
Surrounded by images of bygone days
Go and experience
Depart and gain knowledge
Learn the human destiny
Educate oneself about humanity's fate
Happiness and sadness
Contentment and melancholy
Posts of your lifetime
Significant moments of one's existence
Children�s eyes fixing upon the gate to heaven
The eyes of children fixed on the entrance to heaven
Predestinated for minority
Allotted for the minority
Into the underworld the others tumbling down
The others falling into the netherworld
Tortured by terrestrial vexations
Tormented by earthly troubles
A long procession
An extensive march
Hearing the black knight�s thoughts
Listening to the black knight's ideas
I have been watching you
I have been observing you
Your conduct in life was in vain
Your actions during your existence were unproductive
Cross the waters of death
Transcend the boundary between life and death
With their silent borders
With their still limits
Then you'll see
Then, you will perceive
Your waiting graves
The graves that await you
When will be the crack of doom?
When will the end of the world occur?
Is it tomorrow?
Will it be tomorrow?
A laurel wreath for the future graves
A wreath of honor for the graves that are yet to come
Of the marching children
Of the children who march
Contributed by Victoria F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pudelgarten
Teil 1: Thema der marschierenden Kinder
Part 1: Theme of the Marching Children
Teil 2: Öffnen des Siegels
Part 2: Opening of the seal
Teil 3: Kindheit
Part 3: Childhood
Durch das gebrochene Siegel schauen
Watching through the broken seal
Ich sah den Baum des Lebens für immer
I saw the tree of life, forever
Alle Zweige vollständig grün
All the branches fully green
Für immer menschliche Frucht bringen
Bearing human fruit, forever
Du ignorierst, was aus dir werden wird
You´re ignoring to what you´ll turn out to be
Sie werden häufig nähen und kräuseln
You´ll once be sewing and gathering frequently
Genau das wirst du sein
That´s what you´ll turn out to be
Beobachten Sie durch das gebrochene Siegel
Watchibg through the broken seal
Ich sah marschierende Kinder und Kinder
I saw marching children, and children
An der Kirche in der Nähe des Tors
At the church nearby the gate
Ein Prediger las seine Predigt für Kinder
A preacher read his sermon for children
Du ignorierst, wohin zum Teufel du gehst
You´re ignoring where the hell you´re going to
Gott segne Sie für das, was die Welt tun wird
God bless you for what the world is going to do
Für das, worauf sich die Welt einlässt
For what the world is going into
Warum können wir nicht gehen?
Why can´t we go
Über die unberührte Straße
Over the untouched road
Ist es zu kurvig?
Is it too winding
Flankiert von Spiegelungen der Zeit
Flanked by reflections of time
Gehen Sie hin und erleben Sie
Go and experience
Lernen Sie das menschliche Schicksal kennen
Learn the human destiny
Glück und Traurigkeit
Happiness and sadness
Beiträge Ihres Lebens
Posts of your lifetime
Teil 4: Leiden
Part 4: Affliction
Kinderaugen richten sich auf das Tor zum Himmel
Children´s eyes fixing upon the gate to heaven
Für die Minderheit prädestiniert
Predestinated for minority
In die Unterwelt stürzen die anderen
Into the underworld the others tumbling down
Von irdischen Verärgerungen gequält
Tortured by terrestrial vexations
Teil 5: Verdammnis
Part 5: Damnation
Eine lange Prozession
A long procession
Die Gedanken des schwarzen Ritters hören
Hearing the black knight´s thoughts
Ich habe dich beobachtet
I have been watching you
Dein Lebensverhalten war vergeblich
Your conduct in life was in vain
Überquere das Wasser des Todes
Cross the waters of death
Mit ihren stillen Grenzen
With their silent borders
Dann wirst du sehen
Then you´ll see
Deine wartenden Gräber
Your waiting graves
Teil 6: Reinigung
Part 6: Purification
Wann kommt der Knall des Untergangs?
When will be the crack of doom?
Ist es morgen?
Is it tomorrow?
Ist es morgen?
Is it tomorrow?
Ein Lorbeerkranz für die zukünftigen Gräber
A laurel wreath for the future graves
Von den marschierenden Kindern
Of the marching children
Ein Lorbeerkranz für die zukünftigen Gräber
A laurel wreath for the future graves
Von den marschierenden Kindern
Of the marching children
Casey Van
You Dutch people need to clue us Americans in on this band. I have been into prog since '77 and heard of Focus, but never heard of this. Is that a small stone effect that makes that wah wah sound?
Aart Kelderman
They didn't do all prog rock, but also poppy singles. Search for 'Maybe tomorrow, maybe tonight', 'Thanks for the Love', and 'Storm and Thunder'. Hope you like that too.
Forrest Woods
I readily confess I love Earth & Fire's pop even better than their prog; and, as to their prog, the song above is truly fantastic. Thank you for posting!
Casey Van
I've watched all the videos on YouTube over and over. I mostly like the early stuff, but the pop stuff I like too.
Casey Van
I like various things across the spectrum, but I probably would like the earlier stuff more.
Rob van Goudzwaard
Then you've never heard of Shocking Blue. The same period, Dutch and even soooo good
Henk J. Roos
Grootste meesterwerk uit de Nederlandse popgeschiedenis, de gehele CD, nooit meer geëvenaard door welke andere band dan ook. Hun tijd ver vooruit.
gert van der werff
komt eigenlijk uit de lp tyd 71 ? maar met je eens
George de Vries
Absoluut met je eens!
Dirk Vanderweerd
Klopt.