There are two bands named Gazpacho:

The first are a Norwegian band, … Read Full Bio ↴There are two bands named Gazpacho:

The first are a Norwegian band, who have been described by one critic as being "classical post ambient nocturnal atmospheric neo-progressive folk world rock" Gazpacho almost defies genre classification. Gazpacho were at one time described as "the greatest unsigned band in the world" by some critics. A tour of Europe as support for Marillion's "Marbles" tour in 2003 radically raised their profile, earning the respect of audiences everywhere they played and garnering critical acclaim.

Without the backing of a major label, Gazpacho is one of many bands now utilising the resources of the internet to create word of mouth promotional opportunities, with a reliance on their website and its forum, online shopping, MySpace and other 'net initiatives to spread the word. This allows the band to hold down full time jobs, yet still manage to release an album a year with total artistic control over their compositions and distribution.

Characterised by moody keyboards, a stunning violin virtuoso, a poignant and relevant rhythm section, ethereal guitars, Jan Henrik Ohme's floating, pure Hypnotic voice and atmospheric contributions from samples, low whistle, tin whistle, banjo, accordion, didgeridoo and mandolin. This is not a bombastic, pompous progressive outfit, but a cohesive unit that forgoes the technically brilliant but emotionless solo in favour of mood creation through emotive keyboards, layering of textured sounds, use of spatial tension and seamlessly operating as a band not a collective of virtuoso instrumentalists.

Their fourth album, "Night", represents a quantum leap in terms of the maturation of the band, building on the already impressive body of work the band has accumulated over the last 5 years. A true concept album exploring the realms of a night of dreams and reality, and the thin line that can divide one from the other. Moody, evocative melodies are juxtaposed with passages of power and darkness, creating a nocturnal soundscape of over 53 minutes divided into 5 parts.

Musically similar acts include Marillion, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree, Chroma Key, IQ, OSI and there are hints of Mike Oldfield, Roger Waters, Pink Floyd and Muse in there, too. Another good Norwegian comparison is White Willow, similarly atmospheric prog fronted by female vocals.

Official website: www.gazpachoworld.com

NOT to be confused with The Argentinian and American bands who have taken the same name.

The second is an American band active during the 90's, who were featured on the "Memories of Tomorrow" hardcore compilation put out by Youngblood Records.

Once In A Lifetime
Gazpacho Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here's a girl that came back
Though her memories are cold
Barefoot summers a long time ago
Believed in things she never could own
She's been waiting to come home

Where the windows are cracked
Faith is peeled off the world

Eyes are open but vision is blurred
While the reeds have grown as high as before
You can't see them anymore

Once in a lifetime
Gold in the rye
Is found in the moment
You're waving goodbye

Once in a lifetime
Exploding in light
If you ever find it
Don't throw it away

At the edge of the night
You can't go to sleep
Though I know that you're weary
Every second you're afraid
You're in too deep
With your dream

Your dream of a lifetime
One single day
If you ever find it
Don't throw it away

Once in a lifetime
Delight of the blood
Reminds you of somewhere
That you want to go

If you ever find it

Don't throw it away
Don't throw it away

Overall Meaning

The song "Once in a Lifetime" by Gazpacho seems to be about a girl who had left her home and now she has returned but her memories are cold. She had faith in things that she could never own and she's been waiting to come home. The setting of the song appears to be rustic and nature-oriented. The windows of her house are cracked, faith has peeled off the world, and the vision is blurred. The reeds have grown as before but you can't see them anymore.

The chorus of the song shares an optimistic message that there are some moments in life that are priceless, and we should cherish them. The golden moments are like the gold found in the rye, and once you experience them, you can't throw them away. The lyrics suggest that we all have a dream or goal that we aim to achieve in our lifetime. We should hold on to those dreams and not waste them. It talks about the anxiety and uncertainty we feel when we are close to our dream; it's like being at the edge of the night and unable to sleep.

Overall, the song seems to be uplifting and positive. It's about cherishing the beauty in life, the ephemeral moments that get lost in time, the dreams we chase once in a lifetime, and holding on to them when we come across them.

Line by Line Meaning

Here's a girl that came back
There's a woman who's returned

Though her memories are cold
But her memories are distant

Barefoot summers a long time ago
Summers of running barefoot in fields far away

Believed in things she never could own
Believed in things she could never have or hold

She's been waiting to come home
She's been longing to come back to where she started

Where the windows are cracked
In a house where the windows are worn out

Faith is peeled off the world
With no faith left in the world

Eyes are open but vision is blurred
Although eyes are open, vision is unclear

While the reeds have grown as high as before
The reeds have grown tall like before

You can't see them anymore
But they can no longer be seen

Once in a lifetime
A moment that comes once in a lifetime