Funeral Oration was formed in April 1982 out of the ashes of singer Peter Zirschky's former band – Last Warning – and made their first appearance on the international hardcore punk compilation "Raw War" after only a few rehearsals. In the next months recordings of those early practices surfaced on numerous other cassette-only compilations around the world – most notably "Holland Hardcore 2nd Attack" on Er Is Hoop Tapes and a split tape with Gepøpel on legendary BCT from San Diego, CA. The initial line-up was completed by drummer Ferry Fidom, bassist Mike de Veer who was soon replaced by William Steinhauser, and guitarist David. The latter quit just after the recording of their first demo, "There's Nothing Left To Laugh About", in September and their first gig in October 1983, so Zirschky took over guitar duties.
In the beginning of 1984 another demo tape was recorded – "The Godsend" – this time with better production which captured the raw energy of those early days of the band. Both demos received favorable reviews in Maximum Rock'n'Roll and other punk zines.
It wasn't until the fall of 1984 that their music finally made it to vinyl when the self-produced "Shadowland" 12-inch EP was released. Four tracks of ripping hardcore on side A, backed with three of the darkest post-punk songs established their trademark sound.
The next year brought a new guitarist, Tos Nieuwenhuizen (ex- Jezus and the Gospelfuckers), and a new release – their first and now legendary LP "Communion" (1985) on Diehard Records, which was ranked No. 3 Best Punk Rock Album of the Year by Flipside magazine, and Record of the Year by Berkeley's own KALX radio station. The unique guitar style of Tos Nieuwenhuizen and heartfelt lyrics of Peter Zirschky earned the album a classic status. That summer Funeral Oration toured Germany and Spain with fellow band Gepopel.
By the end of 1985 guitarist Tos left the band. He was replaced by Hayo Buunk and in April 1986 a new 7-inch EP was recorded – "Survival".
Their second LP, simply titled "Funeral Oration", saw the light in 1987 and the same year drummer Ferry Fidom left the band. With the new drummer Erik Jansen in, the band’s line-up didn’t change for a decade.
Another 7-inch EP, "The More We Know", was released in 1989 and at the end of the year material for a new album was recorded, but a hiatus in the band caused its late release – "Say No To Life" LP was finally put out in 1993 by WRF Records. This record gave a hint of what would become their definitive sound in the '90s – catchier melodies and better production, still keeping the edge of their previous albums.
After almost five years of silence the four band members entered Bunt's Studio in Utrecht to record their CD debut "Punk Rock Nation" (1994) with producer Menno Bakker. The album was again released by WRF Records, in a modest press of 500, but a copy of it caught the ear of Louis Posen, founder of American label Hopeless Records, who eventually signed the band. Most of the tracks off "Punk Rock Nation" were included on their next release, predictably titled "Funeral Oration". A semi-professional video was shot for the song "Outside", which can be seen on the "V.A. Cinema Beer Goggles" video. Another promo video, mainly compiled of live footage from their first US tour, was made for the song "This Punk Thing" which can be heard on the "Discography" double CD set.
In early 1997 the all-time classic "Communion" was reissued, for the first time on CD (with the addition of "Shadowland" EP), by German label Nasty Vinyl.
Hopeless Records issued the band’s last two studio albums – "Believer" (1997) and "Survival" (1998) – and the "Discography" 2xCD, which compiled most of their best songs, recorded through a 15+ year lifespan, but also some rare, unreleased and live material. In 1997 Vinny Tjoa joined as a guitarist since Hayo Buunk couldn't take part in the recording of "Survival".
Funeral Oration did three American tours in three consecutive years – in 1996, '97 and '98 – promoting each of their Hopeless Records releases.
By the end of the decade the band members went their separate ways.
Members:
Peter Zirschky – vocals, guitar (R.I.P.)
Ferry Fidom – drums (1982 to '87)
Michael "Mike" de Veer – bass (1982)
David – guitar (1982 to '83)
William "Wil" Steinhauser – bass (1983 – )
Thomas "Tos" Nieuwenhuizen – guitar (1985)
Hayo Buunk – guitar (1985 to '97 )
Erik Jansen – drums (1987 – ) (R.I.P.)
Barend van der Meer – drums (live, 1996)
Vincent "Vinny" Tjoa – guitar (1997 – )
Jevin – guitar (live, 1998)
Menno Bakker – guitar (live, 1998)
Discography:
Albums:
Communion LP (Diehard, 1985)
Funeral Oration LP (Swaddle, 1987)
Say No To Life LP (WRF, 1993 /recorded in 1989/)
Punk Rock Nation CD (WRF, 1994)
Funeral Oration CD/LP/cass (Hopeless, 1995)
Believer CD/LP/cass (Hopeless, 1997)
Survival CD/LP/cass (Hopeless, 1998)
Discography 1983 - 1998 2CD (Hopeless, 1999)
EPs:
Shadowland 12" (self-released, 1984)
B.C.T. Proudly Presents: Funeral Oration & Gepøpel cassette (B.C.T., 1985)
Survival 7" (Remedy, 1986)
The More We Know 7" (Loony Tunes, 1989)
What Is It? 7" (Hopeless, 1995)
Stop For A Moment/Expanding 7" flexi (Hopeless/Flipside, 1995)
Demos:
There's Nothing Left To Laugh About cassette (self-released, 1983)
The Godsend cassette (self-released, 1984)
Warrior
Funeral Oration Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were a warrior, like a warrior
Am I still in your head
Still in your mind
And I think it's too bad
Yes it is too sad
About early times
We had better things to do these days
Warrior, like a warrior
You were a warrior, like a warrior
Nothing that they said was right
We were fighting for our rights
Nothing that we did was wrong
We chose our thing and called it punk
Somewhere back in your head
Somewhere in your mind
Is there maybe some left with the past so dead
Everything went
Without a fraction left of it
I understand that's just the way it is
[Chorus]
And it's true
Who am I to judge this way
About the kids alive today
Pretend we're better is a big mistake to do
Knowing what we had behind
Don't it seem like better times
When you remember what you were like
Like a warrior in time, like a warrior in time...
The song "Warrior" by Funeral Oration is reflective in nature and deals with themes of nostalgia and the passage of time. The song is a tribute to a past era marked by rebellion, struggle, and the emergence of punk music.
The opening lines of the song pay tribute to the spirit of a warrior who fought for his beliefs, and the singer questions whether that warrior is still remembered, perhaps still present in someone's mind. The verses then move on to acknowledge the passing of time, and how certain decisions made in the past may have been regrettable. Despite this, the singer recognizes that they "chose [their] thing and called it punk", showing a sense of pride in their past.
The chorus of the song reflects on the tendency to glorify the past, particularly the punk movement, and cautions against judging the present by those standards. The line "Pretend we're better is a big mistake to do" serves to remind listeners to focus on the present and future while acknowledging and respecting the past.
Overall, "Warrior" is a tribute to a bygone era of rebellion and punk culture, while also encouraging reflection on how the past can be remembered and celebrated without romanticizing it to the point of dismissing the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Warrior, like a warrior
You were strong like a warrior and lived your life with the same fierceness and bravery
You were a warrior, like a warrior
You embodied the qualities of a true warrior and demonstrated strength and courage in everything you did
Am I still in your head
Do you still think about me and remember the moments we shared?
Still in your mind
Do memories of our time together continue to exist in your thoughts?
And I think it's too bad
I regret the fact that things ended the way they did
Yes it is too sad
It's heartbreaking to think about what could have been
About early times
When we were younger and carefree
We could make money, but walked away
We had opportunities to earn more money but chose to prioritize other things instead
We had better things to do these days
We value other things now and our priorities have shifted
Nothing that they said was right
Others didn't understand our choices and criticized us, but we knew what was best for ourselves
We were fighting for our rights
We were standing up for ourselves and advocating for what we believed was fair and just
Nothing that we did was wrong
We were true to ourselves and lived our lives authentically
We chose our thing and called it punk
We defined our own way of life and gave it a name that represented our values and beliefs
Somewhere back in your head
There may be a small part of you that still remembers our shared past
Somewhere in your mind
Memories of our time together may still exist in your thoughts
Is there maybe some left with the past so dead
Do any remnants of our past relationship still linger, even though it is over?
Everything went
Our relationship ended and everything that we had shared is no longer
Without a fraction left of it
There is no trace of our past left behind
I understand that's just the way it is
I accept that our relationship ended and that we have both moved on since then
And it's true
The following statements are accurate
Who am I to judge this way
I have no right to criticize or judge others for how they live their lives
About the kids alive today
I have no right to judge the choices of younger generations
Pretend we're better is a big mistake to do
It is harmful to compare ourselves to others and pretend that we are superior in some way
Knowing what we had behind
Remembering the good times we shared together
Don't it seem like better times
Doesn't it feel like those past moments were happier and simpler?
When you remember what you were like
Looking back on your past self and the person you used to be
Like a warrior in time, like a warrior in time...
You remember the strength and courage you possessed, but it feels like a distant, distant memory
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: ALLAN DIAS, BRUCE SMITH, JOHN LYDON, JOHN MC GEOGH, LU EDMONDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richi3is32
I like how it sounds like GIBBERISH!!! xD