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
You Better Leave the Stars Alone
Ego Likeness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And everything's broken
It's crazy what some will do for love
It's a long day coming
And the stone is crumbling
Do you fear what you might find on the other side?
Let us guide you home
But we are not yours
You better leave the stars alone
It's a long way down
And the dark road is a serpent
But you and I are not so different
It's a long day coming
And your faith is crumbling
Do you fear what you might find if you look inside?
You can wish what you want
Let us guide you home
But we are not yours
You better leave the stars alone
And some give us names
And some give us chains
And some just try to give us away in vain
But we might be maidens
We might be Queens
But we are not made to realize your dreams
You can wish what you want
Let us guide you home
But we are not yours
You better leave the stars alone
The lyrics to Ego Likeness's song "You Better Leave the Stars Alone" are a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of the perils of love and the dangers of blindly following someone else's path. The first verse sets the stage with a stark image of a broken world and the desperate measures that people will often take in the name of love. The second verse continues this theme, reminding us that the path to enlightenment is not always an easy or safe one, and that we must be prepared to face our fears and confront our own weaknesses.
The chorus is a warning to those who would try to control or manipulate others, reminding us that our paths are our own and that we must tread them with care. The verses that follow explore the complex relationships between individuals and the forces that shape their lives, whether they are external forces like society or internal forces like doubt and uncertainty. The final verse is a reminder that we are all complex and multifaceted beings, and that we cannot be reduced to simple labels or categories.
All in all, "You Better Leave the Stars Alone" is a powerful and deeply moving meditation on the complexities of love, identity, and the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a long way down
The journey ahead is arduous and difficult
And everything's broken
The world around us is in disarray and in need of repair
It's crazy what some will do for love
Love can make people do irrational and sometimes harmful things
It's a long day coming
The challenges ahead will take time to overcome
And the stone is crumbling
The foundation on which we built our lives is slowly falling apart
Do you fear what you might find on the other side?
Are you hesitant to confront the unknown and face the truth?
You can wish what you want
You can hope and dream for whatever you desire
Let us guide you home
Allow us to lead you towards safety and security
But we are not yours
We are not objects or possessions that can be controlled and owned
You better leave the stars alone
Don't reach for things that are beyond your grasp and understanding
And the dark road is a serpent
The path ahead is treacherous and dangerous
But you and I are not so different
Despite our differences, we share similar struggles and challenges
And your faith is crumbling
Your beliefs and values are beginning to falter
Do you fear what you might find if you look inside?
Are you afraid of confronting your true self and facing your deepest fears?
And some give us names
Others may try to label and define us
And some give us chains
Some try to confine and restrain us
And some just try to give us away in vain
Some may try to discard or dispose of us, but we persist
But we might be maidens
We may be young, innocent, and pure
We might be Queens
We may be powerful, regal, and in control
But we are not made to realize your dreams
We are not here to fulfill the wishes and expectations of others
You can wish what you want
You can hope and dream for whatever you desire
Let us guide you home
Allow us to lead you towards safety and security
But we are not yours
We are not objects or possessions that can be controlled and owned
You better leave the stars alone
Don't reach for things that are beyond your grasp and understanding
Contributed by Savannah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.