GOTHICA are Roberto Del Vecchio (programming, keyboards, voice) and Alessan… Read Full Bio ↴GOTHICA are Roberto Del Vecchio (programming, keyboards, voice) and Alessandra Santovito (voice, keyboards). All the music has been composed by Roberto Del Vecchio and Alessandra Santovito and played with the collaboration of some musicians like Flavia Prosperi (flute), Claudio Di Bucchianico (oboe), Domenico Mancini (violin), Alberto Biondi (percussions). The lyrics are poems written by Alessandra Santovito but there are also poems by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, Delgado José Espronceda, Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Christina Georgina Rossetti. GOTHICA formed toward the end of 1994, but the line-up became stable at the start of 1995. In September 1995, GOTHICA recorded their debut demo tape "Gothica". The demo was positivily reviewed by several magazines and fanzines and it was distributed in Italy and abroad by Beyond…Prod. In November 1996, the band recorded a new song entitled "Nothingness" which was included in the CD compilation "Screams From Italy" vol. 3 by Dawn Of Sadness.
In June 1998, GOTHICA released their second demo entitled "Proserpina" (demo of the month – METAL HAMMER Nr. 11 / November 1998). Thanks to this demo, GOTHICA signed the contract with the Swedish Cold Meat Industry label. In April 2000, GOTHICA appeared in the CD compilation "Intimations Of Immortality" vol. 5 by Energeia with the song "The Land Under The Waves" (demo version).

Where the Lilies Fade
Gothica Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Lines by Christina Georgina Rossetti 1830-1894)
Thou sleepest where the lilies fade,
Thou dwellest where the lilies fade not:
Sweet, when thine earthly part decayed
Thy heavenly part decayed not.

Thou dwellest where the roses blow
The crimson roses bud and blossom:

While on thine eyes is heaped the snow -

The snow upon thy bosom.

Overall Meaning

In Gothica's song Where the Lilies Fade, the lyrics were adapted from a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti, written during the Victorian era. The poem explores the contrast between the earthly and heavenly realms through the imagery of flowers, snow, and decay. The first stanza of the song suggests that the subject of the poem (presumably a loved one who has passed away) is now resting peacefully in a place where the lilies fade. This can be interpreted as a reference to the transience of life on earth, as lilies are a symbol of death and new beginnings. However, the second line of the stanza suggests that the subject is now dwelling in a place where the lilies do not fade, indicating that they have transcended their earthly existence and have found a new home in the heavenly realm.

The second stanza of the song continues the theme of contrasting imagery, with the subject now dwelling where the roses blow, representing life and beauty. However, this is juxtaposed with the image of snow on the subject's eyes and bosom, representing the coldness and finality of death. This contrast highlights the duality of existence and suggests that death is not the end, but a transition to a new state of being.

Overall, the lyrics of Where the Lilies Fade explore themes of life, death, and the afterlife. The use of nature imagery adds a sense of beauty and melancholy to the poem, reflecting the Victorian fascination with death and mourning.

Line by Line Meaning

Thou sleepest where the lilies fade,
You rest where the lilies wilt and wither away

Thou dwellest where the lilies fade not:
You reside where the lilies remain eternally blooming

Sweet, when thine earthly part decayed
Your mortal body may have withered away, but your spirit remains sweet

Thy heavenly part decayed not.
Your immortal soul has not decayed, it remains intact

Thou dwellest where the roses blow
You reside where the roses flourish and thrive

The crimson roses bud and blossom:
The red roses bloom and flourish beautifully

While on thine eyes is heaped the snow -
While snow covers your eyes

The snow upon thy bosom.
The snow lays on your chest

Contributed by Aaliyah C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS