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
The Answer
Eloy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Illuminate the light
Anticipation fills the air
Astral lightning flies
Tremendous forces rise
And penetrate the atmosphere
Hypnotic chants rebound
Of universal purity
Creation's sacred seal
Bursting to reveal
Dimensions of eternity
A rhythm in the air
Vibrations on the sea
The spirit of creation's life
Breathing
Emotions rising high
Eternal rays of light
Infusions from the astral force
Easing
Eternal unity
Expanding endlessly
In unison with space and time
Immortal energy
Sent from infinity
Returning to enlight the mind
A splendour in the air
Of everlasting light
Eternal energy prevails
Silence
Mysterious unreal
The sound of purity
Is echoing across bizarre
Daydreams
A shining, a calling
Increasing high vibration
Bright lightening, deep thunder
It's roaring breaks the silence
Horizons open wide the final answer's dawning
Revelation
From the dawn of light
Rising signs of glory
Mind and soul unite
In celestial fusion
Bizarre, sublime
So real, intensive
So bright, so clear
Unique, superior
From the dawn of light
Rising signs of glory
Mind and soul unite
In celestial fusion
Never ending incarnation
Universal life
High vibrations of creation
Penetrate the mind
On the wings of light
In eternal silence
Crossing space and time
To escape all darkness
Rising tides of inspiration
In eternal light
Everlasting evolution
'Til the end of time
From the dawn of light
Rising signs of glory
Mind and soul unite
In celestial fusion
From the dawn
(Enlightenment, emerging)
Of light
(All darkness, recending)
In eternal
(Lost visions, returning)
Silence
(On tidal waves of glory)
Crossing space
(All senses, transcending)
And time
(Vibrations, expanding)
To escape all
(The answer approaching)
Darkness
(The day of revelation)
The lyrics to Eloy's song The Answer are vibrant, poetic and deeply metaphysical. It describes an awakening of sorts, as though vibrations and waves of light are illuminating and penetrating the atmosphere. The lyrics suggest that anticipation and excitement are filling the air as people are awakening to the magical sounds and universal purity of creation's sacred seal. The song goes on to suggest that a higher power has sent high vibrations of creation, and these forces are infusing the astral force and enlightening people's minds.
Through these lyrics, Eloy seems to be suggesting that our physical world is not the only reality. There is evidently an ethereal force beyond our understanding that is responsible for and controls the universe, and music and sound can connect us with this force. The song's lyrics speak to questioning the mysteries of the universe and the answers that may lie within the vibrations and rhythms that surround us.
The lyrics are evocative and suggest a sense of transcendence and spiritual discovery. They leave the listener feeling uplifted and inspired to explore the mysteries of the universe and the power of sound and rhythm. While there is no clear answer in the song, it seems to provide a path for listeners to find their own answers and enlighten their minds through music and the beauty of the universe around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Vibrating waves of light
A representation of light and energy vibrations in a vivid manner
Illuminate the light
The light in question is receiving a projection of energy and coming into view
Anticipation fills the air
The expectation of something significant happening creates a prevalent feeling in the atmosphere
Astral lightning flies
Lightning energy not of this world projects from the cosmos
Tremendous forces rise
Astounding levels of power and might are coming forward
And penetrate the atmosphere
The powerful forces described are having an impact on the atmosphere
Hypnotic chants rebound
Repeated phrases are having a hypnotic, echoing effect
Tuned in magic sounds
The sounds described are perfectly attuned to magical frequencies
Of universal purity
The source of these sounds is of a pure, universal nature
Creation's sacred seal
This phrase is referencing creation's identifying logo, as if it were a business or brand
Bursting to reveal
The seal is opening up or breaking apart to show something else
Dimensions of eternity
The seal's breaking reveals concepts that stretch beyond our ability to perceive time as mere mortals
A rhythm in the air
A beat or repeating pattern is present in the atmosphere
Vibrations on the sea
The vibrations felt in the air are metaphorically represented as soothing vibrations on the sea
The spirit of creation's life
Creation is being anthropomorphized, with its own spirit or life force
Breathing
Creation is metaphorically represented as breathing or alive in some way
Emotions rising high
Feelings of joy or elation are steadily increasing
Eternal rays of light
A never-ending stream of energy is projected as light
Infusions from the astral force
Additional energy is coming from a separate, astral force
Easing
The arrival of additional energy is causing a soothing effect
Eternal unity
An infinite, everlasting sense of oneness or unity with everything around us
Expanding endlessly
The unity expands further and further beyond what we can perceive
In unison with space and time
This unity stretches across space and time, unifying everything across all dimensions
Immortal energy
Energy that is ageless and will last forever
Sent from infinity
The energy described comes from an unfathomably great distance
Returning to enlight the mind
This energy is being projected towards us to bring enlightenment or understanding
A splendour in the air
A breathtaking sight or ambiance is present in the atmosphere
Of everlasting light
A shimmering, radiant light that will never fade away
Eternal energy prevails
The never-ending energy present is stronger and more powerful than any other force
Silence
A moment of quiet or peace, as if to bask in the energy's glory
Mysterious unreal
Something odd, otherworldly or magical is unfolding before us
The sound of purity
An audial representation of something pure or wholesome
Is echoing across bizarre
This pure sound is reverberating off surfaces that have strange or unusual qualities
Daydreams
A time or place of imagination, dreaminess, or fantasy
A shining, a calling
Something incredibly bright and powerful is beckoning to us
Increasing high vibration
The beckoning is creating a stronger and stronger sense of energy and momentum
Bright lightening, deep thunder
The energy present is like a violent weather event, with bright flashes and thunderous booms
It's roaring breaks the silence
The sound is so intense that it shatters the previous quiet or peacefulness
Horizons open wide the final answer's dawning
The energy is so powerful that it is causing new possibilities and pathways to open up before us
Revelation
The final answer or enlightenment is finally coming into view
From the dawn of light
A phrase indicating that this powerful presence has been present since the very beginning of the universe
Rising signs of glory
Indications of something remarkable and powerful, becoming more and more apparent
Mind and soul unite
The energy present is so powerful that our minds and souls are merging together, becoming one in this presence
In celestial fusion
Our unity is becoming intermingled and intimately connected with the larger, cosmic unity that surrounds us
Never ending incarnation
Unending cycles of life and death, constantly renewing and transforming
Universal life
All of creation is alive and interconnected, forming a larger system of reality
High vibrations of creation
Energy and motion that are arising from the larger system of creation
Penetrate the mind
This powerful energy is reaching into our deepest thoughts and beliefs, leaving an imprint and making us more aware of its existence
On the wings of light
In the presence of immense energy and power, as if taking flight on giant wings made of light
In eternal silence
A moment of peace or quiet that seems to last forever, in the grand scheme of things
Crossing space and time
Moving from one point in space and time to another, as if to glimpse a larger sense of history
To escape all darkness
The energy present seems to offer a way to surpass and avoid the negative aspects of life
Rising tides of inspiration
Moments of clarity and idea-generation that are coming to the surface, thanks to this powerful presence
In eternal light
A moment of illumination and understanding that will last forever, influencing how we view the world from then on
Everlasting evolution
A never-ending cycle of growth and change, constantly renewing and transforming the universe
'Til the end of time
Enduring for all eternity, not having a clear conclusion or endpoint
Contributed by Avery V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.