Band members
* Jim Lockhart, from Francis St in Dublin, studied classical music at Trinity College Dublin. He fell under the influence of Sean Ó Riada, wanting to build an orchestral sound out of Irish music. He played keyboards, pipes, whistles and flute. He did vocals on a select number of songs, mainly in Manx or Irish.
* Eamon Carr is from Kells, County Meath. He started a quarterly literary magazine called The Tara Telephone in Dublin in the late 60s that also ran poetry recitals. He was the drummer.
* Charles O'Connor, from Middlesbrough in the UK played concertina, mandolin, and fiddle (later on he played the electric guitar) and shared the main vocal tasks with Barry Devlin and Johnny Fean.
* Barry Devlin, from Ardboe in County Tyrone once trained as a Franciscan priest. He left this to do English in UCD and then after joined a graphics company as a screenwriter. He was the band's bass player, shared vocals and its unofficial front man.
* Johnny Fean was born in Dublin in 1951 and spent his childhood in the city of Limerick. He soon mastered guitar, banjo, mandolin and harmonica. In his teens, he played in sessions in Limerick and County Clare. He developed his listening tastes from rock to blues and incorporated it into his guitar style. In his late teens he played in a group called "Sweet Street," with Joe O'Donnell on electric fiddle and Eugene Wallace. He later played in "Jeremiah Henry," a rock and blues band. His idols were Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. He left "Jeremiah Henry" in 1970 to play traditional music again in Limerick.
Time To Kill
Horslips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fly past the sun.
I wish I, too, were gone
Back home again.
It seems our fortunes lied
Despite our gain.
Our tears fall like our pride.
We cry in shame.
Kill the shadows on our skin.
Kill the fear that grows within.
Killing time, my friend.
I stare into your eyes.
But can't see far.
You cut me down to size.
You bring the dark.
My body's black and sore.
I need to sleep.
Now hear the heaven's roar.
I can't escape.
Now we've got time to kill!
Kill the shadows on our skin.
Kill the fear that grows within.
Killing time, my friend.
The lyrics to Horslips's song Time To Kill! speaks about a sense of hopelessness and despair in a world where fortunes have lied and tears and shame abound. The singer wishes to be home again and sees the last black swan fly past the sun, a symbol of beauty and grace, leaving behind a trail of darkness. The singer feels trapped, with fear growing within, and seeks to escape this feeling by "killing time." This time-killing involves not only eradicating the shadows on their skin and the fear within, but also confronting their own mortality.
The lyrics are potent and poignant, evoking a feeling of emptiness and frustration that many people can relate to. The verses are filled with vivid imagery that reflect the themes of the song, such as tears falling like pride, and bodies being black and sore. The chorus is a call to action, inviting the listener to take control of their lives and actively work to eliminate their fears and doubts.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the last black swan
I witness the final moments of something rare and beautiful.
Fly past the sun.
It disappears beyond my reach and vision.
I wish I, too, were gone
I long to be free from this earth, to leave all the burdens behind.
Back home again.
To return to a place of comfort, familiarity and belonging.
It seems our fortunes lied
Our luck has turned against us, leading us to a path of misfortune.
Despite our gain.
Even though we might have achieved something, it has no value anymore.
Our tears fall like our pride.
Our sorrow leaves no room for ego and self-esteem.
We cry in shame.
Our remorse and guilt is too much to bear.
Now we've got time to kill!
We have idle time to spend and are looking for a way to fill it.
Kill the shadows on our skin.
Uproot the hidden doubts and insecurities that weigh us down.
Kill the fear that grows within.
Eliminate the terror that paralyzes us and stops us from moving forward.
Killing time, my friend.
Passing the time with someone we know or trust.
I stare into your eyes.
I look deeply into your soul to find something that connects us.
But can't see far.
Unfortunately, I fail to find what I am looking for.
You cut me down to size.
You confront me with my shortcomings and flaws.
You bring the dark.
Your negativity and pessimism darken my spirits.
My body's black and sore.
I am physically and mentally tired, drained and hurt.
I need to sleep.
I crave for rest and peace, a break from everything.
Now hear the heaven's roar.
The sky screams with anger, frustration and unforgiveness.
I can't escape.
There is no way out, no respite from reality.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARRY DEVLIN, CHARLES LESLIE O'CONNOR, EAMON JOHN CARR, JAMES FRANCIS LOCKHART, JOHN MARTIN RICHARD FEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Patricia The Wisher
More influential than the Dubliners than The Pogues than any group. But not financially nor so globally rewarded. More creative than Clancy Bros etc. more artistic
MrWishud
Been influencing me and my mando for a long time now. Up there with the very best.