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
Celebrate
Fields of the Nephilim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only moments rise
For a lesser blessed
It'd all promises
When the donors rise
From their comas rise
For a lesser blessed
It seems honest here
Celebrate, give love and praise
Celebrate, for our lesser days
Obsessions in your eyes
The peril of my life
Where others fall
You came back again
With no grace in mind
See them make him blind
For a lesser god
We seem honest here
Bridge and you turn
You find new highways
And you'll turn
The lady you'll burn
This moment's all
You have it there
This moment hangs
Like your ragged hair
Celebrate, give love and praise
Celebrate, for our lesser days
When the moment's right
Only moments rise
You turn a sea mood silence
The shadows of mankind
And you'll turn
You find new highways
And you'll turn
You find new highways
Celebrate here
Celebrate yeah, please, for all you changed me
Celebrate yeah
Celebrate yeah
Celebrate for our lesser days
Love under will taken from the watchman)
I need to be alone tonight
Smother me or suffer
Lay down I'll die tonight
Smother me or suffer
When I'm gone, wait here
Discover all of life's surprises
When I'm gone wait here
I'll send my child my last good smile
If you pass through my soul tonight
Gather all his troubles
Tomorrow's long eternal night
Gather for tomorrow
When I'm gone wait here
Discovers all of earth's surprises
When I'm gone wait here
I'll send my child my last good smile
[Chorus:]
Between the cracks and hollows
The earth is good,the earth is good
Between the cracks and hollows
The earth is good,the earth is good
Lay down, lay down, lay down for me
Lay down, lay down, lay down with me
When I'm gone wait here
Discover all of life's surprises
When I'm gone wait here
I'll send my child my last good bye
Hey embrace me, someone's gonna suffer
Lay lay lay it on lay lay lay it on me
Someone
Hey embrace me someone's gonna suffer
Sweet dreams my angel
At last good bye
Sweet dreams
Last exit for the lost (straight from album cover)
Would you pay life's pleasures to see me?
Does it hurt, for I want you to remain?
I run your hair through, in another decade
Summer land holds me, in Sumerian haze
Pain in places, where the lovers mourn
Arranging the play things, up and down the hall
Forever remain, for every day
My honour remains, forever remain
Between the spaces along the wall
Appearing faces that disappear at dawn
We're getting closer, I can see the door
Closer and closer, kthulhu calls
Forever remain, forever remain
You'll seek it, it'll take a while
You'll seek this, if it's a thousand miles
Take what fate brings, eternal and desire
I'll change those faces, then I take their smile
We're getting close to you, I can see the door
Closer and closer, or is it there at all
Forever remain, forever remain
This could be my last regress, last exit for the lost
This could be my last regress, last exit for the lost
This could be my last regress, precious for the lost
Fields of the Nephilim's song "Celebrate" seems to be about finding solace and happiness in life's little moments. The song seems to say that these moments are fleeting and may not always come back, so it is important to cherish and celebrate them while you can. The lyrics are vague and open to interpretation, but they seem to describe someone who has been through a lot and has come out on the other side, ready to celebrate the small victories in life.
The song's chorus, "Celebrate, give love and praise/ Celebrate, for our lesser days," is an anthem for living in the present and enjoying the moment. The song seems to be saying that even when things are difficult, we should find joy in the little things and celebrate them. The lyrics suggest that this is not always easy but is something that can be achieved by putting things in perspective and finding beauty in life's imperfections.
Overall, "Celebrate" is a song about living in the moment, celebrating life's little victories, and finding happiness in the midst of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
When the moment's right
When the timing is suitable
Only moments rise
Only brief periods of opportunity arise
For the lesser blessed, it'd all promises
For those who have less, promises are all that they have
When the donors rise, from their comas rise
When people awaken from their inactivity
For the lesser blessed, it seems honest here
To those with less, this seems truthful
Obsessions in your eyes, the peril of my life
The thing that brings danger to my life is the fixation I see in your eyes
Where others fall, you came back again
Where other things have failed, you have returned and succeeded
With no grace in mind, see them make him blind
We watch as they take the sight of another, without any mercy
For a lesser God, we seem honest here
When it comes to a God that is not the most powerful, we appear truthful
You turn a sea mood silence, the shadows of mankind
You transform an atmosphere into one of peacefulness, with only the negative aspects of humanity lingering
Celebrate here, for all you changed me
Let us celebrate all that you have altered within me
I need to be alone tonight, smother me or suffer
I have to be alone this evening, suffocate me or endure the outcome
Lay down, I'll die tonight, smother me or suffer
Let me rest, I will pass away this evening, please stifle me or cope with the aftermath
Between the cracks and hollows, the earth is good, the earth is good
In the tiny crevices and empty spaces, the earth is sound and reliable
If you pass through my soul tonight, gather all his troubles
Should you traverse my spirit tonight, gather all the issues within it
Between the spaces along the wall, appearing faces that disappear at dawn
Among the gaps beside the wall, faces materialize and then vanish by daybreak
You'll seek it, it'll take a while, you'll seek this, if it's a thousand miles
You will search for it extensively, and if it's located thousands of miles away, you'll go there
This could be my last regress, last exit for the lost
This may be the last time I retreat, the final opportunity for those without guidance
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: GRANT BLACK, RACHEL N HOWELLS, TIMOTHY KELLETT, YVONNE N NASH, PAUL N SIMM, GEMMA LOUISE N WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind