The band consisted of keyboardist Brian Chatton (born Brian Charles Chatton, 19 July 1948, Bolton, Lancashire, England), Ronnie Caryl (on bass guitar), Gordon Smith on guitar and bass, and Collins on drums. Toward the group’s end, Rod Mayall briefly joined on organ, and the group became more free-form.
The group released an album, 'Ark 2', in 1969. In November 1969, the British music magazine, NME, reported that the concept album was the subject of an hour long television special, which the group had filmed in the Netherland. The LP was released on the Fontana Records label to some critical but no commercial success. There was also a follow-up single recorded, “Man, Woman, and Child”. After a brief tour, the group dissolved.
Collins and Caryl both auditioned for Genesis the following year, although Caryl was not successful.[2] Caryl later played with Collins as his guitarist on his solo tours. Collins also kept in touch with Chatton, playing on at least one song by the band Boys Don't Cry on their second album.
Pulsar
Flaming Youth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Demon of self-destruction
I feel her signal pulsing into my mind
Black waves of death transmitting
Sweet words with honey dripping,
She summons me to join her in her despair
And beware the hooded stranger
That way lies dead-end, no exit or return
Lighthouse with black beam sweeping
'Cross the aeons of forever
Luring voyagers to perish on her rockshore
Graveyard of aspiration
One moment's hesitation
And I am lost and drown in her endless night
She is guardian of disaster
Daring us to travel past her
In her lies dead-end, no exit or return
Raddled harlot, fallen woman
Lust consumed and turned her inward
Pock-marked, cratered, she exudes the reek of decay
And yet her passions smoulder
Obscene, she grows still bolder
And I am weak and almost prey to her power
Evil witch, dark hag of terror
Waiting for one single error
To entrap me with no exit or return
The lyrics of Flaming Youth's song "Pulsar" describe the seductive and destructive power of a force or entity that the singer refers to as a "beating, burnt-out ember." This entity, also referred to as a "demon of self-destruction," sends a signal pulsing into the singer's mind that lures them towards despair and a grave end. The singer is warned to steer their course from danger, to beware of the hooded stranger, and to avoid the dead-end path that leads to no escape.
The metaphors and imagery in the song paint a picture of a treacherous siren or lighthouse with a black beam that guides voyagers to perish on her rock-shore. The entity is also described as a raddled harlot or fallen woman, consumed by lust and turned inward, exuding the reek of decay. Her passions still smolder, and she grows bolder, daring the singer to fall prey to her power.
Overall, "Pulsar" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of giving in to temptation and embracing destruction, no matter how compelling that pull may be. It serves as a reminder to stay vigilant and be aware of the warning signs that signal danger ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
That beating, burnt-out ember
Referring to a person's inner self, which is on the brink of destruction due to certain negative thoughts and feelings that are gradually burning out the goodness within.
Demon of self-destruction
The negative, self-destructive feeling or desire that resides within a person, often leading them towards a path that causes harm to them.
I feel her signal pulsing into my mind
The constant lure of this negative feeling that keeps calling a person, influencing their thoughts and actions towards the path of destruction.
Black waves of death transmitting
An overwhelming and powerful force that transmits negativity, eventually leading to death or harm.
Sweet words with honey dripping,
The temptation of the negative force which seems to be alluring, but is in fact, extremely dangerous and harmful.
She summons me to join her in her despair
The negative force or feeling constantly tempting a person to join them in their self-destructive path of despair.
I must steer my course from danger
The realization that one must stay away from such negative forces or feelings, in order to avoid harm and disappointment.
And beware the hooded stranger
Being cautious and careful of unknown or negative elements that might be lurking around, waiting to trap and harm a person.
That way lies dead-end, no exit or return
The acknowledgement that once a person falls trap to such negative forces, there is no way out, leading to a path of destruction with no hope of return or redemption.
Lighthouse with black beam sweeping
The negative force or feeling, acting as a beacon or warning sign, luring people towards it, only to put them in danger.
'Cross the aeons of forever
The negative force or feeling, present since eternity, leading people towards destruction, with no end in sight.
Luring voyagers to perish on her rockshore
The negative force or feeling, constantly trying to lure people towards a path of self-destruction, with no escape, only leading to harm and disappointment.
Graveyard of aspiration
The negative force of feeling, acting as a deterrent towards one's goals and aspirations in life, leading to a sense of hopelessness and despair.
One moment's hesitation
The acknowledgement that even a moment of pause or hesitation towards such negative forces, can lead to one's downfall and destruction.
And I am lost and drown in her endless night
The realization of being totally consumed and lost in the negative feeling or force, leading to a path of darkness and despair, with no hope of return or redemption.
She is guardian of disaster
The negative feeling or force, being the protector or gatekeeper, leading people towards a path of disaster and harm.
Daring us to travel past her
The negative force or feeling, constantly daring and tempting people to cross its path and fall trap to its destructive nature.
In her lies dead-end, no exit or return
The realization that once a person falls trap to such negative forces, there is no way out, leading to a path of destruction with no hope of return or redemption.
Raddled harlot, fallen woman
The negative feeling or force, portrayed as a prostitute or broken woman, consumed and consumed by its own self-destructive nature.
Lust consumed and turned her inward
The negative feeling or force, devouring and destroying the goodness within, turning it inwards, leading to a path of self-destruction.
Pock-marked, cratered, she exudes the reek of decay
The negative feeling or force, portrayed as disfigured and decaying, emitting a stench of destruction and death.
And yet her passions smoulder
The negative feeling or force, despite consuming and destroying everything in its path, still continues to burn and smoulder, leading people towards destruction and harm.
Obscene, she grows still bolder
The negative feeling or force, becoming even more intense and challenging, daring people to cross its path and fall trap to its destructive nature.
And I am weak and almost prey to her power
The acknowledgement of being vulnerable and weak in the face of the negative feeling or force, almost surrendering to its destructive nature.
Evil witch, dark hag of terror
The negative feeling or force, portrayed as a witch or hag, with evil and destructive intentions.
Waiting for one single error
The negative feeling or force, waiting for even a slight mistake or hesitation, to trap people in its destructive path.
To entrap me with no exit or return
The realization that once a person falls trap to such negative forces, there is no way out, leading to a path of destruction with no hope of return or redemption.
Contributed by Riley W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.