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
JOURNEY INTO 1353
Eloy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On some hair-brained scheme,
He lives in a dream
But he can't do much for me know
But he can't do much for me know
I've spent all my life eating knowledge at school
Driven hard to pass exams like a fool
And now they're all behind me
Where do I go from here?
Hey, what's this, I'm disappearing
Seeing strange things, hey what's happening?
I don't understand what it's meant to be
Is it something in my drink or is it me?
What are these things around me
I'm coming down, I'm coming down
And who's that smart chick over there?
But they're old fashioned clothes to wear!
The above lyrics of the song Journey Into 1358 by Eloy convey the story of a man who is frustrated with his life and does not know where to go from where he stands. The song begins with the singer sitting in his room where his father is busy with his latest scientific experiment, lost in a world of dreams. The singer feels helpless as his father cannot do much for him in his current situation. He had spent his entire life studying hard, but now that he has achieved success, he does not know what to do with his life. Suddenly, he starts experiencing strange things, and he is not sure if it's the drink he had or something else. He sees strange things around him and a smart girl dressed in old-fashioned clothes. He is coming down and trying to make sense of all that is happening to him.
Line by Line Meaning
In this lonely room, where my father plays with science
The singer is in a lonely room where their father experiments with science.
On some hair-brained scheme,
The father's experiments seem questionable or risky.
He lives in a dream
The father is lost in his own world of experimentation.
But he can't do much for me know
Despite his father being a scientist, he cannot help him now.
I've spent all my life eating knowledge at school
The artist has focused on education all their life.
Driven hard to pass exams like a fool
The singer was determined to do well in school at all costs.
And now they're all behind me
The exams are over and the singer has moved on.
Success has come to remind me
Having achieved success, the artist is reminded of their next steps in life.
Where do I go from here?
The artist is pondering about what to do next in their life.
Hey, what's this, I'm disappearing
The artist sees themselves disappearing, maybe metaphorically or out of confusion.
Seeing strange things, hey what's happening?
The singer is experiencing something strange that they cannot comprehend.
I don't understand what it's meant to be
They do not understand what is happening to them.
Is it something in my drink or is it me?
The singer is questioning if the cause of this feeling is their drink or themselves.
What are these things around me
They are trying to understand what the new things around them are.
I'm coming down, I'm coming down
The singer is returning to reality, coming back to their senses.
And who's that smart chick over there?
They notice someone attractive nearby.
But they're old fashioned clothes to wear!
The attractiveness is let down by the old-fashioned clothes they are wearing.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FRANK BORNEMANN, GORDON BENNIT, MANFRED WIECZORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind