By 2000, Archer and Lynch were moving the project in a darker electronic/dance direction, resulting in a self-released full length album entitled ‘Dragonfly’.
After a short hiatus from recording and a lengthy period of trial, error, and revision, and many regional live performances, Ego Likeness signed with Dancing Ferret Discs/ Noir Records for the release of 2004’s ‘Water to the Dead’. This album featured the band’s electronic roots while exploring a bit of a heavier rock
sound.
2005 saw the band tour Germany, Luxembourg, and the continental US with label mates The Cruxshadows, as well as performing at several festivals on the east and west coast, including Convergence 11 (San Diego CA), Dracula’s Ball (Philadelphia PA), Black Sun Festival I (New Haven CT), Freaks United (DC), Eccentrik Festival I (Raleigh NC), and others.
Their first album ‘Dragonfly’ was re-released on Dancing Ferret Discs in 2005.
In addition to The Cruxshadows, they have had the honour to share the stage with Voltaire, The Damned, Chris Connelly, Collide, Razed in Black, Bella Morte, Das Ich, Rasputina, The Start, Iris, Decoded Feedback, The Azoic, More Machine Than Man, In Strict Confidence, Combichrist, and many others.
They have also appeared on numerous compilation CDs, including several Asleep by Dawn releases and 'Where's Neil When You Need Him?' (a tribute to the work of author Neil Gaiman, DFD July 2006); released remixes for The Cruxshadows (Cassandra-Fortress in Flames), The Last Dance (Terribly When- Reflections of Rage), Thou Shalt Not (Inside of You, In Spite of You- The Projectionist), and Black Tape for a Blue
Girl (Tarnished- Scarecrow); and appeared on Voltaire's album Then and Again. EL has also been featured in publications such as Gothic Beauty, Outburn, ABD, Sideline and Sonic Seducer, to name a few.
Their third full length album, ‘The Order of the Reptile' (release date July 4th 2006, Dancing Ferret Discs) ventures back into the realms of heavy electronica, a bit of trip hop, and darkwave.
Archer and Lynch have been married since October of 1999 and currently live in Baltimore. Steven is also the creator of the atmospheric electronica project Hopeful Machines, and performs with the industrial/ power noise act Blind Till Now. All three members of EL, along with Alexx Lackey of echomatrix make up the experimental/ spoken word outfit The Trinity Project.
Former band mate Justin ‘Dingo’ Sabe also lives in Baltimore with a lovely belly dancer and some rather large cats. When not performing with EL, he spends his time on fire and robots and knitting, and can often be found at festivals that involve fire, robots, and/or knitting. He also plays the tuba and hopes to form a marching band in the very near future.
Current line up:
Steven Archer - Guitar/ Programming/ Music & Words/ Vocals
Donna Lynch - Vocals/ Piano/ Words & Music
Mike K. Johnson - Drums
Former members:
Justin 'Dingo' Sabe - Keytar/ Synths/ Noise
Official Site: www.egolikeness.com/
Steven also works on a solo project at www.hopefulmachines.net
Wayfaring Stranger
Ego Likeness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While travelling through this world of woe;
Yet there's no sickness, toil nor danger
In that bright world to which I go.
I'm going there to see my Father,
I'm going there no more to roam;
I'm only going over Jordan,
I know dark clouds will gather ‘round me,
I know my way is rough and steep;
The golden fields lie out before me,
Where those redeemed shall ever sleep.
I'm going there to see my Mother,
She said she'd meet me when I come
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only going over home.
I'll soon be free of every trial
My body asleep in the churchyard
I'll drop the cross of self-denial
And enter on my great reward.
I'm going there to see my saviour
To sing his praise for evermore
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only going over home.
The song "Wayfaring Stranger" describes the journey of a person who is travelling through the difficult, painful, and uncertain world we live in, in search of a brighter future in the afterlife. The lyrics poetically convey the message that the singer is just passing through this world, and that their true home is in a bright and happy place beyond death. In the first two stanzas, the singer explains that despite the sorrows they have experienced while journeying, they remain optimistic that they will be free from sickness, toil, and danger in their final destination. They express their eagerness to see their loved ones in that better place where they will meet their Father and Mother.
The third stanza acknowledges that there will be challenges along the way, but the hope of arriving in that better place never dims. The singer speaks of the golden fields that lay ahead of them and the promise of redemption. The fourth stanza refers to the singer's impending physical death and the joy that comes with knowing they will soon be released from all of life's trials. The singer mentions the cross of self-denial, which is a symbol of the struggles and hardships they have endured throughout their life. Finally, the singer expresses their desire to see their Savior and sing songs of praise in a place where they will no longer face the troubles of this world; they are only going over Jordan, they are only going over home.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I'm a lost traveler wandering through life without enough resources or direction.
While travelling through this world of woe;
While navigating through a life filled with pain and suffering;
Yet there's no sickness, toil nor danger
The final destination that I'm heading towards is free from sickness, labor, and peril.
In that bright world to which I go.
I'm striving to reach a radiant world that awaits me.
I'm going there to see my Father,
My ultimate goal is to reunite with my divine Creator.
I'm going there no more to roam;
I'll no longer be aimlessly wandering once I reach my eternal home.
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm set to cross over to the afterlife.
I'm only going over home.
I'm going back to where my soul originally belonged, my true home.
I know dark clouds will gather ‘round me,
I'm aware that challenges and obstacles will try to hinder me along the way.
I know my way is rough and steep;
I understand that the path to get to where I'm going will not be an easy one.
The golden fields lie out before me,
But with faith, I can visualize my ultimate destination as a field of golden opportunity.
Where those redeemed shall ever sleep.
A place where those who proved worthy are rewarded with eternal peace
I'm going there to see my Mother,
I'm looking forward to meeting the one who gave me birth.
She said she'd meet me when I come
I was promised to be greeted with open arms.
I'll soon be free of every trial
All the trials and tribulations that I faced in life will soon come to an end.
My body asleep in the churchyard
My physical body will rest in peace in a resting place.
I'll drop the cross of self-denial
I will no longer have to bear the burden of self-sacrifice.
And enter on my great reward.
I will finally receive the well-deserved reward for the struggles I overcame during my life.
I'm going there to see my saviour
I'll get to finally meet and thank the one who saved me from perdition.
To sing his praise for evermore
I'll be able to spend eternity worshiping and singing the praises of the one who gave me everything.
I'm only going over Jordan,
I'm only passing over to the other shore.
I'm only going over home.
Back to where I truly belong, my eternal home.
Contributed by Isaiah R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Kaya1366
I have loved this song all my life. This melted me into a puddle of goo. Amazing. But then, you always are. <3
@SteampunkPyrate
I love this song done by Ego Likeness most beautiful version I've heard yet.
@DavidDellman
the best version of this song ever recorded. absolutely haunting
@sherrillwatts6064
I agree. The most sensitively sung version I have heard. Found it years ago and so glad I saved it to e mail as I could not find it on YOU TUBE.
@VeneficaDelirium
This gave me chills.
@thecybermusicloverrocks7022
Wow!!! I do not know what else to say...this is just really indescribable.
@SebyTrofin
makes me think of a post apocalyptic world and walking through a destroyed city, while this song is heard somewhere in the distance
@ImpaledDream
@SteampunkPyrate I have to agree with you on that... Her voice is just so beautifully haunting...
@patrickkeane816
When I first saw this picture, I thought that Steven was a bird...
@Gusttafa
me too Patrick