As many Belgian bands, Gorky rose to the attention of the crowd during Humo's Rock Rally. They finished third in the edition of 1990, enough to gain record company interest. Together with producer Wouter Van Belle, they recorded their self-titled debut album, which was intimistic and powerful at the same time. Singer Luc De Vos managed to write very personal yet recognizable lyrics filled with imaginative imagery. Not less than five singles were taken from the album. Songs such as "Lieve kleine Piranha" and especially "Mia" remain very popular up till today.
In 1992 the band recorded a semi-acoustic album "Boterhammen" in a park in Brussels. This was a series of intimistic concerts held every Friday during summer, an initiative by the Ancienne Belgique called 'Boterhammen in het park'. This album features guest performances of Rick De Leeuw, singer of the Dutch group Tröckener Kecks and guitarist Patrick Riguelle (see Riguelle & Hautekiet, Kadril). This album becomes the last act of the group Gorky.
Soon afterwards Luc De Vos reforms the band and the record company insists it would be called Gorki (with an "i"). Together with old-timer Sylvain Van Holme (a.o. Two Man Sound) the new band moves to Dakar in Senegal to go record the album "Hij leeft" in the Xippi studios of Youssou N'Dour. The album is much more subtle than the older products of Gorki "which makes the melodies and the superior lyrics of De Vos sound even better" (Oor). The album achieves a gold status in Belgium and 3 singles are released.
1994 and 1995 are a lot more quiet for the group. Luc De Vos goes literary and becomes a columnist for leading Flemish newspaper "De Standaard" and radio station "Studio Brussel".
In 1995 the group bivouac in the ICP-studios in Brussels together with Jo Bogaert (the man behind Technotronic) to record their fourth album entitled "Monstertje" (Little monster). Record company Virgin initially refused the mix Bogaert had made in his home studio, so the album is remixed for a second time. Singles from the album are "Lang zullen ze leven" (Long will they live - For they are jolly good fellows), "Monstertje" (Little monster) and "Kom me toch halen" (Come and get me).
Luc de Vos died unexpectedly on 11/29/2014, only 52 years of age.
Band members (Gorky):
- Luc De Vos : vocals, guitar
- Geert Bonne : drums
- Wout De Schutter : bass
Band members (Gorki):
- Luc De Vos : vocals, guitar
- Erik Van Biesen : bass
- Luc Heyvaerts : keyboards
- Wim Rogge : guitar
- Steven Van Havere / Eric Bosteels / Bert Huysentruyt : drums
XTC
Gorki Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
op de bodem van de kelder
ze boren naar de bron
en ze nemen die pillen zonder water
ik wou dat ik dat kon
de nieuwe bazen zijn harde jongens
de nieuwe bazen zijn tegen mij
mijn voorraad voor later
als de woestijn naderbij komt
zit ik veilig op rozen
ik heb pillen voor mijn geest
en pillen voor mijn buik
de barbaren aan de grenzen
die kunnen mij niet raken
ik sliep al jaren door de koude oorlog heen
in diepe rust was ik verzonken,veilig thuis
ik hoefde niet veel en wat ik had was niet duur
een boterham met hero'ne daar hield ik van
maar de nieuwe bazen zijn harde jongens
de nieuwe bazen zijn tegen mij
maar ik heb water in mijn kelder
mijn voorraad voor later
als de woestijn naderbij komt
zit ik veilig op rozen
ik heb pillen voor mijn geest
en pillen voor mijn buik
de barbaren aan de grenzen
die kunnen mij niet raken
ik heb traangas in de kast
en films met naakte dieren
elke middelgrote storm kan ik overleven
ze zoeken naar olie
op de bodem van de kelder
ze drinken aan de bron
en ze nemen die pillen zonder water
ik wou dat ik dat kon
The song "XTC" by Gorki deals with themes of escapism and survival in a changing world. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who is surrounded by uncertainty and chaos, but manages to find solace in drugs and other means of self-preservation. The search for oil in the basement is a metaphor for the search for something valuable and essential in the darkest corners of our lives. The singer wishes that he could take drugs like the "new bosses" who are "hard boys" and against him. He finds safety in his own kelder, where he has stockpiles of water and pills for his mind and body. He also has tear gas and movies to help him survive any storm.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is weary of the world and its constant changes. He sleeps through the cold war and finds solace in a heroin sandwich. The world is too much for him, and he retreats into himself. At the same time, he is prepared for the worst-case scenarios. He has stocked up on everything he needs to survive any attack, and he feels safe in his own space. The singer is also critical of the "new bosses" who are against him. He does not trust them, and he finds refuge in his own world.
In summary, "XTC" by Gorki is a song that explores themes of escapism, survival, and mistrust in a changing world. The lyrics suggest that the singer is weary of the world and finds solace in his own kelder, where he has everything he needs to survive. The song is critical of the new bosses who are against him and suggests that the world is too much for him to handle, so he retreats into himself.
Line by Line Meaning
ze zoeken naar olie
They are searching for something valuable.
op de bodem van de kelder
It is somewhere difficult to find or reach.
ze boren naar de bron
They are trying to find the source of something.
en ze nemen die pillen zonder water
They are willing to do something difficult or unpleasant.
ik wou dat ik dat kon
I wish I could be as determined as them.
de nieuwe bazen zijn harde jongens
The new authorities are tough and formidable.
de nieuwe bazen zijn tegen mij
The new authorities have something against me.
maar ik heb water in mijn kelder
I have something valuable that will help me in the future.
mijn voorraad voor later
I am prepared for future difficulties.
als de woestijn naderbij komt
I am ready for when things get tough.
zit ik veilig op rozen
I have something valuable that will allow me to survive.
ik heb pillen voor mijn geest
I have something that helps me deal with mental challenges.
en pillen voor mijn buik
I have something that helps me deal with physical challenges.
de barbaren aan de grenzen
There are threats on the outside.
die kunnen mij niet raken
I am well-protected from external threats.
ik sliep al jaren door de koude oorlog heen
I have been able to rest peacefully for a long time now.
in diepe rust was ik verzonken,veilig thuis
I was able to find peace and security at home.
ik hoefde niet veel en wat ik had was niet duur
I was content with what I had, even though it wasn't much.
een boterham met hero'ne daar hield ik van
I found pleasure in something unconventional.
ik heb traangas in de kast
I have something to use in self-defense.
en films met naakte dieren
I have something to entertain myself with in difficult times.
elke middelgrote storm kan ik overleven
I have the means to survive most challenges.
ze drinken aan de bron
They are taking advantage of something valuable.
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bobantje
Dank je voor al je bedenkingen, muziek en je puurheid! We blijven bij je, Luc. Slaap zacht...
LutherWallander
Blijft echt een van zijn beste nummers, past trouwens ook perfect bij de videoclip, zelden zo een goeie combinatie gezien...
Jochen Jeroen Smet
Ik weet niet wat het is, maar dit lied raakt mij diep... Gorki op zijn best, zoals heel het album 'Eindelijk Vakantie!'...
Koen Van Tijn
R.I.P. Wat een mooi lied.
robbievangeenen
Ha! Vos als kerkbaas :-)
AnnigjeP
wouw
Rolf Bron
Bedankt
wolken.belgie
Ik moet kaken