Funeral Oration was a melodic hardcore punk band from Amsterdam, The Nether… Read Full Bio ↴Funeral Oration was a melodic hardcore punk band from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. They were active from 1982–83 until the end of the 1990s, putting out highly influential records on Dutch, German, British and American labels. They managed to create their own unique sound, mainly due to the unmistakable vocal style of Peter Zirschky.

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)

What Is It
Funeral Oration Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well here again I strike the lucky
So you're the one that's gonna make me happy
But every time we go downtown
I see the way you look around
It makes me wonder what I really found
It's that you don't think the way I do
But, I need someone too
I hate it when you say you're undecided

And your heart's divided
If you give me nothing
What am I supposed to do
I'm more cynical than before
I'm not a little kid no more
My feet on the ground
I am not wrapped around your fingers
Hey hey hey
So what is it you're gonna do
There are times you come on easy
And there are times it's just impossible
To reach you
And now it's just a matter of time

And you'll vanish from my mind
I'd feel much better with all behind

Overall Meaning

these lyrics are from the song “What Is It” by Funeral Oration. The song is about being in a relationship with someone who is indecisive and unsure about their feelings. The singer is expressing how they feel when they are around this person, and how they are not sure if it’s worth staying with them if they’re not sure about their love for them. The song talks about the singer being more skeptical than before, and not being wrapped around the person's finger.

The singer is saying that they are in love with someone who is not sure about their feelings for them. Whenever they go out, the person seems to look around, making the singer feel unsure about what they have found. The singer needs someone who understands them, but they are not sure if the person they’re with does. They are frustrated by the person’s indecision and the fact that their heart is divided. They say that if they don’t get anything from them, they don’t know what to do. The singer emphasizes that they are not a little kid anymore, but a mature person who knows their worth.

In conclusion, the song is about being in love with someone who is indecisive and unsure about their love for the singer. The singer expresses their frustration and their need for someone who understands them. The song talks about the singer not being a little kid anymore and being more skeptical than before.

Line by Line Meaning

Well here again I strike the lucky
I am fortunate once again to have found someone to potentially make me happy.

So you're the one that's gonna make me happy
I have high hopes that being with you will bring me happiness and fulfillment.

But every time we go downtown
Whenever we go out and about,

I see the way you look around
I notice how your eyes wander and appear distracted.

It makes me wonder what I really found
This leaves me questioning if you are truly the right person for me.

It's that you don't think the way I do
I have realized that we have differences in our thought processes and perspectives.

But, I need someone too
Despite these differences, I still desire to have a partner in my life.

I hate it when you say you're undecided
I feel frustrated and upset when you express uncertainty or indecisiveness about our relationship.

And your heart's divided
I am concerned that you may have conflicting feelings about me or us together.

If you give me nothing
If you do not offer or reciprocate the feelings I have towards you,

What am I supposed to do
I am left feeling unsure or lost about what to do or how to proceed.

I'm more cynical than before
As a result of these doubts and uncertainties, I have become more skeptical and distrustful.

I'm not a little kid no more
I am no longer naive or innocent when it comes to relationships or matters of the heart.

My feet on the ground
I am now more grounded and realistic in my expectations and approach to love and romance.

I am not wrapped around your fingers
You do not have complete control or influence over me.

Hey hey hey
A general exclamation of dismay or frustration.

So what is it you're gonna do
I am asking you to take action or make a decision regarding our relationship.

There are times you come on easy
There are instances where you are easily approachable or receptive to me.

And there are times it's just impossible
However, there are also times when it seems impossible to connect or reach you.

To reach you
To get through to you or to make our relationship work.

And now it's just a matter of time
I have come to accept that our relationship may not work out and it is only a matter of time before we eventually move on.

And you'll vanish from my mind
You will eventually fade from my thoughts and I will move on.

I'd feel much better with all behind
I believe I would feel better and move on more easily if we could put everything behind us.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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3y↑1

I'm extremely disappointed at how many people in the comments have no fucking brain cells. This kinda shit is the sound of my youth, and has more heart and more soul than 3/4 of the bullshit that passes as "rock" or "punk" these days. It's fucking brilliant.