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
Last Exit for the Lost
Fields of the Nephilim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Does it hurt, for I want you to remain?
I run your hair through, in another decade
Summerland 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
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
The lyrics of "Last Exit for the Lost" by Fields of the Nephilim paint a haunting and mysterious picture of a journey towards an unknown destination. The opening lines, "Would you pay life's pleasures to see me? / Does it hurt, for I want you to remain?" suggest a willingness to sacrifice for something important, while also acknowledging the potential for pain. This theme of sacrifice and the unknown continues throughout the song, as the singer describes a journey through a hazy, dream-like landscape.
The lines "Summerland holds me, in sumerian haze" and "Closer and closer, Kthulhu calls" suggest a mystical, otherworldly journey, rooted in ancient mythology. The references to pain and mourning, as well as the mention of changing faces and taking smiles, create a sense of unease and danger. The repeated refrain of "Forever remain" hints at a desire for immortality, or at least a lasting impact, in the face of the unknown.
Overall, "Last Exit for the Lost" is a poetic exploration of themes of sacrifice, exploration, and the unknown. The haunting imagery and references to ancient mythology create a sense of mystery and foreboding, while the repeated refrain hints at a desire for a lasting legacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Would you pay life's pleasures to see me?
Do you value your own pleasures so little that you would sacrifice them to spend time with me?
Does it hurt, for I want you to remain?
Do you feel pain when I express my desire for you to stay with me?
I run your hair through, in another decade
I will still be caressing your hair even ten years from now.
Summerland holds me, in sumerian haze
I feel a sense of peacefulness and contentment in the afterlife, surrounded by a dreamy, ancient atmosphere.
Pain in places, where the lovers mourn
I feel the sadness and heartache that comes from lost love.
Arranging the play things, up and down the hall
I am engaging in futile tasks to distract myself from the pain of my broken heart.
Forever remain, for every day
My longing for my lost love will be a constant presence in my life from now on.
My honor remains, forever remain
Even though I have lost the person I love, I will hold onto the honor and dignity that define me.
Between the spaces along the wall
As I observe the world around me, I feel a sense of detachment and distance from it.
Appearing faces that disappear at dawn
I am haunted by the fleeting faces of people I've known who have passed away.
We're getting closer, I can see the door
I feel that I am moving closer to a significant moment or realization in my life.
Closer and closer, Kthulhu calls
I am approaching a threshold, and the call of the ancient god Cthulhu seems to beckon me forward.
You'll seek it, it'll take a while
You will search for what you desire, and it will be a long and difficult journey.
You'll seek this, if it's a thousand miles
You will travel to the ends of the earth to find what you are looking for.
Take what fate brings, eternal and desire
Whether it is good or bad, accept what destiny brings with a passion and intensity that never fades.
I'll change those faces, then I take their smile
I will try to bring happiness to others by making them smile, even if it means changing my own face to do so.
This could be my last regress, last exit for the lost
This moment that I am experiencing might be the final downward spiral before I am lost forever.
This could be my last regress, last exit for the lost
This could be my last chance to escape from a downward spiral and reclaim what I have lost.
This could be my last regress, precious for the lost
This moment that I am experiencing might be my last chance to find something precious that I have lost.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEXANDER WRIGHT, CARL MCCOY, PAUL WRIGHT, PETER YATES, TONY PETTIT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
PaZuZu 666
@Lᛜᚹ Yeah, I'll always remember the advice I got from a fellow Scot, when I was at college down in Wales...
"speak slower, otherwise no-one'll be able to understand you, even me"...lol
He was from Cumbernauld iirc, cheers Scott I owe ya big-chap !!!
Ah, a Norwegian, huh... spoken to a few Norwegians through gaming, all of them were cool AF, pretty chill dudes, all excepting one arse-hat, but you get that with every set of peoples, lol. I think the Scandinavian languages are awesome, I'm just terrible at learning languages, or I'd give it/them a go, although one Dane did compliment me on my pronunciation of his name, damned if I can remember how to spell it, was "Yld", or something like that, he said, " out of all the native English speakers, that was bloody good", lol.
Hmm, regarding lyrics... I once saw the term "plagiarist" levelled at Carl in a forum some years ago, which if we're honest, isn't too far off the mark, lol... the lyrics in Pazuzu(Black Rain) are a clear example, excerpts lifted directly from Edith Sitwells', "Still Falls The Rain". Not that I'm complaining, far from it, I think Carl's took those words, and transformed them into something better imo, same with anything he's taken from either The Book of Enoch, The Bible or whatever it may be. Obviously, there'll be the detractors, but meh... f'-em ;o)
Yea, I think I read that analysis of Zoon 15+ yrs ago, thought it was good back then, I should give it another perusal, just to see if my opinion has changed, as much as what I have since then ?
Anyways, hope you're having an awesome Sat'y night bud... B.
PaZuZu 666
@Lᛜᚹ I'm from the west-coast, Ayrshire- of Dairy Cattle, and Robert Burns fame, not exactly a "Glasgow-accent", just a tad worse, plus we have words in the "Ayrshire dialect" that even the wee-g's(Glaswegians) don't know... ;o)
I can't say I've dared to read Joyce myself, lol, as I wasn't very 'literature' inclined as a kid, it was more books about birds, nature & science I was into reading. About the only thing of note that I've read, is probably J.G. Frasiers' "Golden Bough".
I don't really read much nowadays, but a few years ago I went a bit mad, and splashed out for Peter Levendas "Sinister Forces" trilogy, which is quite an interesting 'peek' into the darker coincidences of recent American history, worth a read, keeping in mind he's an "ex-intel" agent, lol.
On the subject of laughter, and getting through stuff... one band that has helped me laugh in the face of adversity, is good ol' Half-man Half-biscuit, absolutely hilarious, but sadly there'll be a lot of references people from outwith the UK won't get... :o(
Anyways, if ya do give them a listen, probably start with "Renfield's Afoot", as I think you'll get the "Renfield" reference ;o)
take care as always bud... B.
Martin Hannett
The second 'this could be my last regress' always get the hairs on my neck. This is simply one of the most under-rated or under-heard bands ever. Really I mean just listen to it.
Wikinger 2911
Righty ♡
Clive Milburn
I'm always pleased when people discover this band. They were largely sidelined at the time (70s/80s) as being Sisters of Mercy, Joy Division clones, but they actually have a unique sound.
Angela Blackstock
🤣🤣🦄🤌
Bryan Drewry
No shit. Same here.
Jon Wood
Heard these for the first time today. You are correct!
Bill T
Remember its not just Carl, I've always felt that they were the tightest sounding band of any genre , eerie guitars, driving relentless bass, and complex drumming backing Carls presence.
Tikhon Gilson
The spaghetti western getup may have prevented FotN from getting the respect they deserved.
hollow232
i'm more into death and black metal but this band has always had a special place in my heart... Carl McCoy rules and always will. Forever Remain!!!!!!!!!!!
Blizbor Pipi
Mam tak samo jak ty.