Founded in 1969 by guitarist Frank Bornemann, the band has endured several line-up changes, with Bornemann being the only consistent member of the group. In the 1980s, after a series of major splits (like in 1984 although reformed in 1988) in the group, Bornemann pursued a more commercial direction. Despite attracting a large following, the band never gained popularity in the United States.
However, in later years, former members of the band re-joined, and in 1998 fans delighted in hearing Ocean 2, a return to the classic symphonic progressive genre that the band was so well known for. A sequel to the 1977's original, it is commonly thought among fans that it successfully recaptures the spirit of the band, and is a worthy follow-up to the much beloved classic.
Of the band's numerous records, fans generally consider Inside, Floating, Dawn, Ocean, Silent Cries & Mighty Echoes, Planets and Ocean 2 to be the superior albums.
Despite their nationality, the band is not generally considered krautrock due to their sound which has much more in common with English progressive groups such as Pink Floyd and Yes.
In 2009 after a decade of hiatus Frank Bornemann released a DVD celebrating their 40th anniversary and a new album called Visionairy.
In the following period he worked on a concept double album about the life of the Maid of Orleans, Jeanne d'Arc. The album The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 1 was released in 2017, followed by The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 2 in 2019.
Current Line-up:
Frank Bornemann
Klaus-Peter Matziol
Hannes Arkona
Hannes Folberth
Bodo Schopf
04. De Labore Solis
Eloy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I suffered thousand nights,
My spirit cried, I lost my dream,
My sense of life was locked
Beyond a secret silent stream
I was lost in the waste land
Of dwelling in loneliness
Prepared to die, strange visions
But close to the end all my pleas were heard
By a dancing, singing, humming bird
Planet earth became motionless
I was embraced bu devoted breath -
By a gold-princess!
Inexpressable vibrations moved me
When I saw your eyes
No human word can ever tell
How deep I sympathinzed
My heart bled a tear so red
Full of joy and deliverance,
Your spirit and mine
United at once in the cosmic dance
Nubien light, yes it shone so bright
Torture and fight dissappeared that night
Jesus walked through our deserted heart
Nothing on Earth will ever tear us apart -
Nevermore!
Now I dance across the secret stream
With angelic elf at my side
Soft siren, you're my resurrection beam,
Beloved face, you are my pride!
While your light caresses my skin
We dwell in oceans of eternity
Your golden aura droens all sin
Forever we are - The blossom and the bee!
The lyrics of Eloy's song, De Labore Solis, are poetic and mystical. They express the intense emotional transformation of the singer, who had suffered through thousand nights of loneliness and lost dreams, but was finally saved by a divine intervention. The singer describes his sense of life as locked beyond a silent stream, indicating a sense of isolation and separation from the world around him. He had been prepared to die, with strange visions as his only companions. However, at the brink of despair, his pleas were finally heard by a dancing, singing, humming bird, which represented a divine force that granted him deliverance.
The singer then describes how he was embraced by a gold-princess, an ethereal being that filled him with inexpressible vibrations. The encounter with this entity is described as a cosmic dance, where the spirit of the singer and the gold-princess were united. The lyrics use vivid imagery to depict the intensity of the encounter, with a Nubien light shining bright and torture and fights disappearing that night. Ultimately, the singer claims that nothing on Earth will ever tear them apart as he dances across the secret stream with angelic elf at his side. The song concludes with an image of eternity and the everlasting bond between the singer and his divine muse.
Line by Line Meaning
To my goddess-
Eloy dedicates this song to his beloved, whom he considers a goddess.
I suffered thousand nights,
Eloy has been going through emotional turmoil for a long time, feeling pain and distress.
My spirit cried, I lost my dream,
Eloy's inner self was in anguish, his hopes and aspirations faltered.
My sense of life was locked
Eloy's perception and understanding of life were restricted and restrained.
Beyond a secret silent stream
Something unknown, hidden, and mysterious separated Eloy from his purpose and goal.
I was lost in the waste land
Eloy was disoriented in a place devoid of life or meaning.
Of dwelling in loneliness
Eloy had been living in solitude without any companionship.
Prepared to die, strange visions
Eloy was resigned to death, and he experienced bizarre and unusual perceptions.
Having been my only guests,
Eloy was alone, and these visions were his sole companions.
But close to the end all my pleas were heard
Eloy had almost given up, but his prayers and appeals were eventually answered.
By a dancing, singing, humming bird
Eloy's savior appeared in the form of a joyful and lively bird.
Planet earth became motionless
Eloy was so enraptured by his savior that he lost his senses and was unable to perceive the world around him.
I was embraced bu devoted breath -
Eloy found comfort and succor by the gentle, caring spirit of his savior.
By a gold-princess!
Eloy perceives his savior as a noble and wealthy person, worthy of his admiration.
Inexpressable vibrations moved me
Eloy was overcome with feelings that were beyond words or expression.
When I saw your eyes
Eloy is captivated by the beauty and depth of his savior's eyes.
No human word can ever tell
Eloy recognizes that language is an inadequate medium to describe the depth of his emotions.
How deep I sympathinzed
Eloy feels an intense connection and compassion towards his savior.
My heart bled a tear so red
Eloy cries tears of joy and relief, which represent his renewed hope and energy.
Full of joy and deliverance,
Eloy is filled with a sense of elation and liberation.
Your spirit and mine
Eloy feels that his inner self is intrinsically bound with his savior's spirit.
United at once in the cosmic dance
Eloy imagines a harmonious celestial dance where his and his savior's spirits are in sync.
Nubien light, yes it shone so bright
Eloy sees a brilliant, radiant light that represents his savior's purity and goodness.
Torture and fight dissappeared that night
Eloy's torment and struggle vanish with the appearance of his savior.
Jesus walked through our deserted heart
Eloy has a vision of Jesus, symbolizing spiritual hope and redemption.
Nothing on Earth will ever tear us apart -
Eloy is certain that nothing can come between him and his savior.
Nevermore!
Eloy asserts that he will never experience loneliness or pain again.
Now I dance across the secret stream
Eloy feels liberated and free, able to move beyond the mystery and uncertainty of life.
With angelic elf at my side
Eloy imagines himself having a magical, ethereal companion.
Soft siren, you're my resurrection beam,
Eloy declares his savior to be the source of his rebirth and revitalization.
Beloved face, you are my pride!
Eloy feels proud and fortunate to have such an extraordinary savior.
While your light caresses my skin
Eloy feels comforted and protected by his savior's light.
We dwell in oceans of eternity
Eloy and his savior exist outside of time, in a boundless, infinite place.
Your golden aura droens all sin
Eloy's savior is pure and untainted, radiating a positive energy that dispels negativity.
Forever we are - The blossom and the bee!
Eloy feels that he and his savior are complementary elements, indispensable to each other's existence.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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