Their debut album "Elyria" was released in 1993 and was followed by "Annwyn, Beneath The Waves" in 1996, in part a concept album based around the four elements. 1999 saw the release of their third album, "Evidence of Heaven". In 2001, "Vera Causa" a 2 CD set featuring a live permormance and various rarities was released. "The Burning Season" followed in 2004, and featured a more rock oriented formula. They continued to explore the boundaries of Gothic Rock with their 2009 album, :ankoku butoh: , an album which saw them delve into far-east Asian aesthetics.
Faith and the Muse currently live in Los Angeles, California, USA. Their website is http://www.mercyground.com
Hob Y Derri Dando
Faith and the Muse Lyrics
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(Hob y derri dando)
Hide not Meirion from my eye
(Hob y derri dando)
Still one view, oh let me take
(Down derri down)
Ere my longing heart do break
(Down down hie derri down)
(Down down hie derri down)
My darling Mary do not frown
O'er the seas hath flown my heart
(Hob y derri dando)
O'er the seas my sighs depart
(Hob y derri dando)
And o'er the seas must she be sought
(Down derri down)
Who lives yet always in my thought
(Down down hie derri down)
My darling Mary do not frown
(Down down hie derri down)
My darling Mary do not frown
'Neath the waves I shall reside
(Hob y derri dando)
'Neath the waters and the tide
(Hob y derri dando)
For my longing heart did break
(Down derri down)
When she another love did take
(Down down hie derri down)
My darling Mary do not frown
(Down down hie derri down)
My darling Mary do not frown
The lyrics of Faith and the Muse's song Hob Y Derri Dando are a heartfelt expression of love and loss. The singer longs for the hills and the sea that surround the land of Meirion, where his beloved Mary resides. He yearns for one last glimpse of her before his heart breaks completely. However, it seems that his love is not reciprocated, as Mary frowns at him. The singer's heart has flown across the seas and his sighs depart with it, but he must travel to be with her, for she lives always on his mind.
The song takes a dark turn in the final verse, where the singer speaks of residing beneath the waves and the tide, his heart having broken when Mary chose another love. The imagery of the sea and the hills, the separation and the longing, creates a sense of melancholy and despair. The haunting melody reinforces these emotions, drawing the listener in to experience the depth of the singer's feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Low ye hills in ocean lie
(Hob y derri dando)
The hills lay in the ocean, as the singer begins their song about their love.
Hide not Meirion from my eye
(Hob y derri dando)
The singer pleads for Meirion not to hide from their view, likely a place they associate with their love.
Still one view, oh let me take
(Down derri down)
The singer begs for one last look before their heart breaks, using a repeated refrain of 'Down derri down'.
Ere my longing heart do break
(Down down hie derri down)
The singer implores for a final glimpse before their heart completely shatters, using the refrain once more.
My darling Mary do not frown
(Down down hie derri down)
The singer addresses their lover, Mary, and asks her not to frown, presumably in response to her potential rejection.
O'er the seas hath flown my heart
(Hob y derri dando)
The singer laments that their heart has flown over the seas, likely to Mary's location.
O'er the seas my sighs depart
(Hob y derri dando)
The singer's sighs also depart over the seas, conveying their longing for their love.
And o'er the seas must she be sought
(Down derri down)
The singer believes that they must travel over the seas to find their love.
Who lives yet always in my thought
(Down down hie derri down)
The singer repeats the refrain as they reflect on how their love is always on their mind.
My darling Mary do not frown
(Down down hie derri down)
The singer pleas with Mary to not frown, as they continue to address her.
'Neath the waves I shall reside
(Hob y derri dando)
The singer seems to have given up on seeking their love, choosing instead to reside beneath the waves.
'Neath the waters and the tide
(Hob y derri dando)
The singer reiterates their intention to dwell beneath the waters and the tide.
For my longing heart did break
(Down derri down)
The singer's heart is broken, causing them to give up on their search for love.
When she another love did take
(Down down hie derri down)
The singer likely gave up on love when they discovered that Mary had taken another lover, causing them to repeat the refrain one last time.
My darling Mary do not frown
(Down down hie derri down)
The singer once again addresses Mary, urging her not to frown in light of their decision to reside beneath the waves.
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.