The band has kept up the mix of traditional Irish or Scottish songs and self-written tracks, though the self-written tracks have progressively become less and less folky. The band's influences are wide and varied, but obviously heavily influenced by Celtic rock bands like the Pogues, the Waterboys and Great Big Sea. Recent albums also see a clear influence from Gothic rock music. Having enjoyed growing success in and around Germany, the band reached 1000 played concerts in 2004 (the only band member to play them all is bass player Rainer Schulz), which was celebrated with a concert at Castle Hoheneck. This concert was filmed and released on two DVDs: Celebrate! and Jubilate! The concert saw participation from former band members and other guest musicians. Main lyric and music writer Peter Pathos has left the band in summer 2006 and was replaced by Patrick 'Pat' Prziwara. A live DVD Folk's not dead was released to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary in 2010
Members:
Ralf 'Albi' Albers - Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki
Tobi Heindl (Tobias Anton Heindl) - Violin, Vocals (since 2000)
Rainer Schulz - Bass
Stefan Klug - Accordion, bodhrán (since 1991)
Frank Jooss - Drums, percussion (since 2001)
Patrick 'Pat' Prziwara - Guitar, vocals (since 2006)
Former members:
Dr. Robert Oppel (1990 - 1991) - Violin
Eric Obst (1990 - 1995) - Drums
Wolfram Kellner (1995 - 2000) -Drums
Tobias Rempe (1991 - 1995) - Violin
Tobias Schäfer (1995 - 2000) - Violin
Peter Pathos (Peter Müller) (1990 - 2006) - Guitar, whistle, mandola
Discography:
Fiddler’s Green (1992)
Black Sheep (1993)
King Shepherd (1995)
Make Up Your Mind (1996)
On and On (1997)
Spin Around (1998)
Stagebox (1999) (Live)
Another Sky (2000)
Folk Raider (2002)
Nu Folk (2003)
Celebrate! (2005) (Live)
Celebrate! DVD (2005) (Live)
Jubilate! DVD (2005) (Live)
Drive Me Mad! (2007)
Sports Day at Killaloe (2009)
Folk's not dead DVD (2010) (Live)
Wall of Folk (2011)
Winners and Boozers (2013)
Straight Ahead
Fiddler's Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our captain takes command
He's drunken like a madman
The pilot sights the land
He slobbers like a toddler: "Full stream ahead"
The tanker runs aground the cliff
And thousand square miles are dead
He's longing for a kick
He saw these things on TV
And takes his hockey stick
Tonight he'll have his crime time
He walks the streets at night
Some people even saw the fight
But ran away to hide
The mighty men of power
They meet on floor nineteen
They are the old white yuppies on dope
Their faces cruel and mean
They would stick at nothing
They merely hunt for cash
They play roulette with our lifes
For them we're only trash
I'm fallin' fallin'
I hear them callin'
Straight ahead
Straight ahead into disaster
Money talks
Bullshit's walking fast and faster
Straight ahead
Straight ahead into confusion
Money talks
The song "Straight Ahead" by Fiddler's Green talks about the dangers of taking risks and following the path of instant gratification, particularly when it comes to making decisions for personal gain at the expense of others. The lyrics describe a reckless captain who is too drunk to lead the ship, which results in the tanker crashing into a cliff and causing massive destruction. The captain's behavior is a clear indication of a person who is desperate for some excitement in their life and has no regard for the safety of the crew or the environment.
The second verse of "Straight Ahead" shifts the attention to a lone individual who is looking for a thrill in their mundane life. This person is not satisfied with their current state of affairs and is willing to take drastic actions to achieve their goal of finding adventure. They use a hockey stick to threaten others and engage in violent acts just to feel alive. Even though people witness their actions, they choose to hide rather than intervene, which adds an element of hopelessness to the song.
The song concludes with a reference to the powerful individuals who hold the fate of society in their hands. These people are not interested in the well-being of others; all they care about is making money and accumulating wealth. The lyrics suggest that these leaders are willing to gamble with human lives and destroy the environment to achieve their selfish desires. The repetition of the phrase "money talks" underscores the corrupt nature of this society and its disregard for morality and ethics.
Line by Line Meaning
Roaring thunder's raging
The situation is intense and chaotic, with a sense of urgency and danger.
Our captain takes command
Someone is stepping up to lead and take control of the situation.
He's drunken like a madman
The person in charge is reckless and not in his right mind.
The pilot sights the land
Amidst the chaos, someone is keeping their focus and aiming towards their destination.
He slobbers like a toddler: "Full stream ahead"
The person in charge is giving orders without thinking them through or considering the consequences.
The tanker runs aground the cliff
The reckless actions of the person in charge have resulted in a catastrophic outcome.
And thousand square miles are dead
The consequences of their actions are widespread and far-reaching, causing significant loss of life and damage.
He's hungry for adventure
The person in question is looking for excitement and novelty in their life.
He's longing for a kick
They are in search of a thrill, something that will give them a rush of adrenaline.
He saw these things on TV
Their expectations of what adventure should be and what they are looking for are shaped by what they see in media and pop culture.
And takes his hockey stick
They are ill-prepared for the adventure they seek and not equipped to face the challenges that come with it.
Tonight he'll have his crime time
The person has a tendency towards criminal activity and is likely to commit a crime.
He walks the streets at night
They are acting out their desires and impulses, disregarding their safety and the safety of others.
Some people even saw the fight
Their actions have been noticed by others, and they could potentially face consequences for them.
But ran away to hide
Those who witnessed their actions are afraid and reluctant to intervene or report them to authorities.
The mighty men of power
Those who hold significant influence and control over society are in charge.
They meet on floor nineteen
They have access to the highest levels of power and operate on a level above that of the average citizen.
They are the old white yuppies on dope
They are wealthy and privileged, living lives of excess and indulgence.
Their faces cruel and mean
They are ruthless and merciless in their pursuit of power, disregarding the suffering of others.
They would stick at nothing
They will do whatever it takes to maintain their hold on power and continue to benefit themselves.
They merely hunt for cash
Their sole motivation is profit, and they do not care about the well-being of society or the environment.
They play roulette with our lives
Their actions have real consequences on the lives of ordinary people, but they do not seem to value human life or take responsibility for their actions.
For them we're only trash
They see the average person as disposable and valueless, not deserving of basic human dignity or respect.
I'm fallin' fallin'
The artist is experiencing a sense of falling or losing control.
I hear them callin'
They feel like they are being pulled towards a dangerous situation or group of people.
Straight ahead
Despite the danger and chaos around them, the singer is being urged to continue forward without hesitation.
Straight ahead into disaster
They are being led towards a catastrophic outcome, and there is no turning back.
Money talks
The primary motivation behind their actions is financial gain, and this takes precedence over other considerations or consequences.
Bullshit's walking fast and faster
Their rhetoric and justifications for their actions are becoming increasingly illogical and nonsensical, but they are continuing to push forward without regard for logic or reality.
Straight ahead into confusion
Despite their lack of direction or clear plan, they continue forward recklessly, leading to further chaos and disorganization.
Contributed by Kylie N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.