Born and raised on the north coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal (South Africa), singer… Read Full Bio ↴Born and raised on the north coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal (South Africa), singer songwriter Farryl Purkiss's music is captivating, emotive and memorable.

His 2005 debut EP release, "Chapter One", a self financed project, was recorded in collaboration with South African guitar legend Nibs van der Spuy and marketed and released with the assistance of Sheer Sound.

Apart from a heavy 2006 touring schedule which has included headline appearances at festivals such as Splashy Fen, Wavescapes Film Festival, Mr Price Classic and The Billabong Pro Farryl has also recently completed two national tours as a guest of Australian superstars Missy Higgins (July 2006) and Ben Lee (April 2006).

He has also toured with Donovan Frankenreiter and has played with Jack Johnson, which resulted in a co-composition with Jack.

The "Chapter One" EP was nominated for a 2006 South African Music Award (SAMA) in the 'Best Adult Contemporary' category.

His eponymous debut has recently been completed for 2 Feet Music as well as a music video for his first single "Better Days". Farryl Purkiss has recently completer a tour of Australia to support the release of this album in that territory. The tour features solo dates as well as support slots for Canada's Serena Ryder and Hawksley Workman.

Reviews:

"...there is a real musicality here that sets this album apart from the surfboard toting imitators. Solo acoustic instrumental 'Speechless' is one of the albums highlights. 'Please Stay' is uplifting and heartbreaking all at once, showing off this singer-songwriter's ability to make a deep impression with just a light touch of the guitar frets." - Laura MacIntyre, www.mediasearch.com.au

"...a charmingly open, friendly stage presence that pulls you in as his songs caress you with their easy melodies" - Michael Smith, Drum Media, Sydney, Australia

"...a great start from a promising songwriter with a voice of his own, and I can't wait to see what the future yields. Get this album, in a few years you'll be saying "Oh yeah, I remember listening to Farryl ages ago." He's the kind of artist who you'll want to build a long-term audio relationship with through the collection of every single album. Start yours now." - Matthew Christensen (4 out of 5)

"Farryl Purkiss is better than damn good, combining inventive guitar play with introspective wordplay on an album that’s delves deep in to the heart’s emotions. An absolute stunner! ... the best debut of the year." - Craig Canavan (4 out of 5)

"Purkiss gave a brilliant performance, apparently unfazed, despite the problems the crew encountered. The crowd also warmed up towards him and when he told a story about how he played with Jack Johnson in 2003 and how Johnson inspired him to finish his song Déjà Vu, with which he'd been struggling, everyone became a fan before he stepped off stage just before 23h00." - Henriël Veldtmann, Oppikoppi Festival 2006.

Seraphine
Farryl Purkiss Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Seraphine
Would you look for me?
Count your steps back
From land to sea
Sweet Seraphine

Count your steps back
From you to me

My sweet Seraphine

Seraphine
Would you cry for me?
Hang your head down
For all to see
Sweet Seraphine

So hunt me down
And turn me around
Seraphine

So hunt me down
And turn me around
My sweet

So hunt me down
And turn me around
Seraphine

So hunt me down (Hunt me down)
And turn me around (Turn me around)
My sweet Seraphine

So hunt me down (Hunt me down)

And turn me around (Turn me around)
My sweet

Overall Meaning

The song "Seraphine" by Farryl Purkiss is a melancholic anthem of longing and desperation for the titular character Seraphine. The song starts with a request to Seraphine to look for the singer while counting her steps back from land to sea. The singer appears to be lost and seeks refuge in the memory of Seraphine. The repetition of the phrase "Sweet Seraphine" only heightens the emotional intensity of the song. In the second verse, the singer asks Seraphine to cry for him and hang her head down for all to see. This could be interpreted as an act of surrender or a plea for Seraphine to battle whatever is separating them for their love to thrive. The singer seems to be powerless and dependent on Seraphine to either locate him if he is lost or to guide his heart away from whatever pain he is feeling.

As the chorus begins, the singer repeats the request from the first verse, imploring Seraphine to hunt him down and turn him around. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the desperateness of the singer and his reliance on Seraphine. The song's melancholic melody, haunting harmonies, and soulful delivery by the singer all contribute to its emotional weight.

Overall, "Seraphine" is a song of longing, desperation, and dependence. The character Seraphine is central to the singer's emotional state, and the repetition of her name makes her almost god-like and all-powerful in his mind. The song's meaning is intentionally ambiguous, and listeners may interpret it in different ways based on their personal experiences.

Line by Line Meaning

Seraphine
Address to the person named Seraphine

Would you look for me?
Asks for Seraphine's help in finding the singer

Count your steps back From land to sea
Asks Seraphine to retrace their own steps to find the singer

Sweet Seraphine
Endearing term for Seraphine

Would you cry for me?
Asks for Seraphine's emotional support

Hang your head down For all to see
Asks for a public display of mourning from Seraphine

So hunt me down And turn me around Seraphine
Asks Seraphine to actively pursue and redirect the singer's path

So hunt me down And turn me around My sweet Seraphine
Reiteration of the previous line with endearing term

So hunt me down (Hunt me down) And turn me around (Turn me around) My sweet Seraphine
Reiteration with additional emphasis on the plea for action

So hunt me down (Hunt me down) And turn me around (Turn me around) Seraphine
Reiteration without endearing term

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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