The band's name refers to magnetic fields and the biblical Nephilim race. Their sound was innovative in the gothic scene, incorporating heavy metal elements to make a hard, bass and guitar driven sound underneath McCoy's growled vocals. Lyrically, they incorporated mystical themes, especially relating to Sumerian Mythology, Hebrew Mysticism, and Aleister Crowley.
Their debut release the "Burning the fields EP" was released in 1985 showing the raw power and melody that began to earn them a big underground following. They signed to Beggars Banquet in 1986 to release "Power" and "Preacher Man". Both singles were alternative rock hits, and "Dawnrazor", their debut album did similarly well. "Dawnrazor" was a powerful, albeit standard gothic rock collection of modern horror-film themed songs, standout songs were "Dust" (a live favourite), "Vet for the Insane" a quieter melodic showcase for Yates' guitar and McCoy's gruff, dramatic vocals, and the powerful ten minute title-track.
The single "Blue Water" was subsequently released reaching the main UK charts for the first time, and making a big impact on the Independent chart listings for their label Situation Two. The following year the single "Moonchild" was released followed by their assured second album "The Nephilim". Displaying a more confident and polished sound, the band cemented their status as one of the biggest underground acts on the circuit. The standout tracks were "The Watchman" (later released as a single), "Phobia" (a live favourite), "Love under will" and the anthemic "Last exit for the lost". The following live dates with the more sophisticated light show and effects, and of course the larger venues, highlighted their inexorable rise in popularity and confidence.
"Psychonaut" was released in 1989; this ten minute track indicated a slight shift for the band toward a more experimental and intense sound. This single/EP was a candle-bearer for the polished and highly produced "Elizium" album. Produced for the first time by ex-Pink Floyd producer Andy Jackson (taking over from previous band producer Bill Buchanan), the opus represented the band at the zenith of their creativity and powers. The album was preceded by the single "For Her Light" which again followed the bands custom of charting highly one week courtesy of their army of followers, then dipping out of the chart listings the next.
To the shock of their following, Carl McCoy left the band in 1991, and in a subsequent interview uttered the immortal words "I am the Nephilim...". The remaining band members formed Rubicon, while McCoy began a new group called Nefilim. "Zoon" was released in 1996, an album that largely disappointed followers of his former band. The collection of mostly hard metal and speed-metal tracks pointed in a new direction, but one that ultimately still awaits a follow-up.
The band reformed in 1998, and a collection of out-takes and assorted unreleased recordings, "Fallen" was released in 2002 exciting many of the followers who had grown used to reading about imminent new material, but then disappointed as the tracks were definitely not new material. The album has been disowned by the band who insist that the album was released by their old record label without their wishes or permission.
Live dates penciled in were canceled in 2003 as the band insist they will only tour with new material, refusing to join the other bands of their generation touring to old audiences playing old material. The anticipation amongst their following - The Watchmen, grew awaiting new material, taking their individual and intense sound and lyrics to new spaces and dimensions.
A new album "Mourning Sun" was released in Europe on November 28, 2005, with the North American release scheduled February, 2006. The hitherto hinted at reformed line-up hadn't materialized, and the Carl McCoy led and penned collection of new material received mixed reviews.
In 2007 FotN had gigs in London and at Ville Valo's Helldone Festival in Finland. In 2008 they've played in Warsow and Athens and headlined the Wave Gotik Treffen Festival in Leipzig, Germany. They also performed at M'era Luna 2008 in Germany. At all gigs Carl McCoy was the only member of the original line-up.
The Wright brothers have released two albums and an EP under the name Last Rites playing an ambient sounding dark rock. A third album is currently planned. Tony Pettit is currently a member of the goth rock/metal outfit NFD, also with two released albums. Peter Yates is featured on both NFD-albums as a guest musician.
In 2009 Tony Petitt under the name The Eden House released a collaborative album "Smoke and Mirrors" featuring former members of Fields of the Nephilim Nod Wright, Peter Yates and Paul Wright as well as former producer Andy Jackson.
Official site: http://www.fields-of-the-nephilim.com
/ For Her Light
Fields of the Nephilim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll elude you, I will lose you
Existing were no soul apart
You stand on a platform
Your effigy dissolves in my hands
When I feel like someone to lie on
You can't wake up
Illusions born of the air
Something seems so precious there
I'll elude you, I will lose you
As rehearsal of my despair
When I feel like someone to lie on
And I feel like someone to die on
You can't wake up
Oh here me
I'm what you have left
Here I am
In this necrologue of love
The lyrics to Fields of the Nephilim's song For Her Light evoke a sense of loneliness and isolation. The opening lines describe a person waiting in a park, feeling completely alone. The singer then declares that he will elude and lose this person, implying that their connection is tenuous and temporary. Despite this, the person being addressed remains desperate for someone to rely on or die with, but the singer remains forever out of reach.
The imagery of an effigy dissolving in the singer's hands suggests a sense of transience and ephemerality. This is further reflected in the line, "illusions born of air", which implies the fleeting nature of the emotions and connections described in the song. The final line, "In this necrologue of love", adds to the melancholic tone of the track, suggesting that the love being described is dead and gone.
In summary, the song For Her Light is a mournful exploration of loneliness, transience, and the inability to form lasting connections. The lyrics paint a picture of a world in which people are perpetually disconnected from one another, doomed to seek out illusory connections that are doomed to fade away.
Line by Line Meaning
How lonely you are waiting at the Sunday park
You are sitting alone at the park on a quiet day.
I'll elude you, I will lose you
I will continue to avoid and distance myself from you.
Existing were no soul apart
There was no one else around.
You stand on a platform
You are standing on a raised surface.
Your effigy dissolves in my hands
The image of you in my mind is fading away.
When I feel like someone to lie on
When I want someone to trust and depend on.
And I feel like someone to rely on
When I want someone to lean on for support.
You can't wake up
You are unable to shake yourself out of this state.
Illusions born of the air
False perceptions created out of thin air.
Something seems so precious there
There is something valuable or desirable about that illusion.
As rehearsal of my despair
I am practicing and perfecting my sad and hopeless feelings.
Oh hear me
Listen to me.
I'm what you have left
I am the only thing you have left.
Here I am
I am present and here for you.
In this necrologue of love
In this chronicle of a dead or lost love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALEXANDER JAMES WRIGHT, CARL MCCOY, PAUL ALEXANDER WRIGHT, PETER YATES, TONY PETTITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
meow
He said, how lonely you are
Waiting at the Sunday Park
I'll elude you I will lose you
Existing we're no soul apart
You stand, stand on a platform
Your effigy dissolves in my hands
When I feel like someone to lie on
And I feel like someone to rely on
You can't wake up, you can't wake up
You can't wake up
You can't wake up, you can't wake up
You can't wake up
Illusions born of the air
Something seems precious there
I'll elude you I will lose you
As rehearsal of my despair
When I feel like someone to lie on
And I feel like someone to die on
You can't wake up, you can't wake up
You can't wake up
You can't wake up, you can't wake up
You can't wake up
findemundo
Es increible que tan pocas personas conozcan a esta gran banda.
Reynald HFT
Hello 👍 Awesome, je suis fan de FIELDS of the NEPHILIM 🌾 depuis 1995 🇬🇧...🇫🇷 j'ai toute la collection ⭐⭐
Spellbound Venom
DAMMIT 25 YEARS HAVE PASSED AND I STILL LOVE THIS BAND!!!!
Spellbound Venom
Iam a goth and i will always be,m friend.Love the FOTN!!!
Spellbound Venom
Of course!What else and i adore FOTN and The Mission and many many more! Do you like today's music?I hate it!!!
Spellbound Venom
Yes me too
James Mac Oisdealbhaigh
You're beautiful 😊
LittleMissIssues
Yeah I was a Goth girl in London back in the day when these guys were playing!! I saw them a handful of times! Wild days the 80s in London!
LittleMissIssues
@Celeste 🖤❤
eon14873
I'm envious! Saw them in 2021 and 2022 though. Still amazing