House of Lords' eponymous debut was released in 1988, featuring a heavier sound than Giuffria with slightly less emphasis on keyboards, the debut received critical acclaim and the band toured with Cheap Trick and opened for Scorpions in 1989. The album featured one major hit, "I Wanna Be Loved" (Hot 100 #58). The Stan Bush penned "Love Don't Lie" was the second single but aside from some airplay on MTV it failed to ignite. Despite a successful tour, original guitarist Lanny Cordola left in 1990, replaced by Michael Guy.
Their next effort, 1990's Sahara, features Michael Guy and an impressive list of guest musicians. Other notable contributions to the album came from Doug Aldrich, Rick Nielsen, Chris Impellitteri, Mandy Meyer, David Glen Eisley, Robin Zander, Mike Tramp, Steve Plunkett and Ron Keel. The first single & video was the Blind Faith cover "Can't Find My Way Home" which did well on Album Rock radio peaking at #10.. The second single "Remember My Name" was a bigger hit at Top 40 radio hitting #72 on the Hot 100 and a Top 5 regular on DIAL MTV. Soon after the single peaked, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary (drummer) would leave.
1992's release Demons Down, described by Christian as his favorite release, features Dennis Chick (guitars), Sean McNabb (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums) as well as, sole original members, James Christian and Gregg Giuffria. The album spawned two singles for the title track and the ballad "What's forever for" which would have been massive in a pre-grunge climate. After recording demos to shop for a new label, the band parted ways.
From a business point of view, House of Lords never reached the same level of popularity that Giuffria did in the mid-eighties until Jeff Kent was called to pull the band out of its black hole at the Frontier Records, ready to drop the House of Lords after the bands disastrous ratings of "The Power And The Myth" CD. The sacking of original Giuffria vocalist David Glen Eisley by Gene Simmons was not the most clever decision, but accepted by Gregg Giuffria.
A new album was rumored to be released in 2002, with original members Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary. Two years later The Power And The Myth was released by Frontiers Records with lack luster ratings and songs, however Greg Giuffria had pulled out and keyboard work was done by guests Derek Sherinian, Allan Okuye, Sven Martin and Ricky Phillips.
In 2006 House of Lords released a truly new album with most all the melodies and lyrics written by Jeff Kent (formerly of Pierce Arrow, Dreams, CBS songwriter, MTM Songwriter, and Producer of countless songs and projects, including songs on Robin Beck's "Trouble or Nothin" CD, including the 20th Anniversary newly released version, her "Living on a Dream" CD lyrics written almost exclusively with Jeff Kent) and World Upside Down with a new lineup including Jeff Kent as a “full band member” pictured in his barrette on the CD cover as well as all over the inside jacket of credits. Jeff Kent also played all the Keyboard parts in spite of what their fans were told about Gregg Giuffria, who backed out at the last minute, but was paid for the use of his name and credits to keep the band’s continuity with their fans.
Soon to follow was a live album HOL released Live in the UK which was released in January 2007. To the band’s great pleasure, Melodicrock.com also included two of Jeff Kent's co-compositions on the double 20th Anniversary CD, regularly released by MELODICROCK.COM, the greatest authority on Heavy Melodic Rock music in the world today.
2008 was marked with the release of the long awaited next new studio album, where Jeff Kent was again solicited to write “all the lyrics and melodies” with the exception of one song on this new amazing CD. Even the title came from Jeff Kent's Lyric on the song “Come to My Kingdom”, used as the title of the entire CD Come to My Kingdom, which was again followed by a limited European, US tour. However, unfortunately, due to poor business decisions, this barely supported and promoted new album rated at 97% on Melodicrock.com's website. Jeff Kent's work on the World Upside Down CD raised the bar on Melodicrock.com to being rated at 96% after the bands poor effort on "The Power And The Myth." Recently, the band was asked to play for the first time in Brazil, together with White Lion and Tyketto (both for the first time in Brazil as well), in the Hard in Rio II Hard Rock Festival.
In 2009, the band plans to resume limited touring and continue the infamous Come to My Kingdom tour of Europe, starting in September 2009.
Ghost Of Time
House of Lords Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Afraid to look you in the eyes
I paid the price for hurting you
I failed to read between the lines
If everything is falling down
And burning in the way
And I can't see the light anymore
'Cause it's too late to change
I'm haunted by the ghost of time
I should have listened to your words
But it's too late to turn back now
There could have been another world
But now I'll pay for every lie
If everything is falling down
And burning in the way
And I can't see the light anymore
I'll be strong now you're gone
'Cause it's too late to change
I'm haunted by the ghost of time
For every moment that remains
For every storm to take its place
The days we had are lost in time
But you will never leave my mind
If everything is falling down
And burning in the way
And I can't see the light anymore
I'll be strong now you're gone
'Cause it's too late to change
I'm haunted by the ghost of time
You will never leave my mind
(I'll be strong now you're gone)
You will never leave my mind
(I'll be strong now you're gone)
Oh, you will never leave my mind
(I'll be strong now you're gone)
The lyrics of "Ghost of Time" by House of Lords portray the pain and regret of someone who failed to recognize the significance of the relationships they once had, and is now haunted by the "ghost of time" or the memories of what could have been. The singer is seemingly talking to a former lover whom they hurt with their actions, and starts off the song by admitting to their mistake of not understanding the subtleties of what their partner needed. The lines, "I failed to read between the lines / If everything is falling down and burning in the way" convey a sense of helplessness and despair that the relationship is now over and there's nothing that can be done to salvage it.
As the song progresses, the singer seems to be reflecting on what they had and how it all went wrong, admitting that they should have listened to their partner's words and that they won't be able to turn back time now. The lines, "There could have been another world / But now I'll pay for every lie" show the singer's realization that their actions have consequences, and they are now paying for them. Despite this realization, they seem to be holding on to the memories of their past, with the lines, "The days we had are lost in time / But you will never leave my mind" expressing the bittersweet feeling of nostalgia for times that can never be retrieved.
Overall, the lyrics of "Ghost of Time" are a poignant reminder that time is fleeting and we should cherish the moments we have with the people we love before it's too late. The song expresses regret and longing for the past, but also acknowledges the reality that we cannot change what has already happened.
Line by Line Meaning
I walk into another day
Starting a new day uncertain about the future
Afraid to look you in the eyes
Regretful and guilty of past actions and unable to face the consequences
I paid the price for hurting you
Suffering the consequences of causing pain to a significant other
I failed to read between the lines
Mistakenly misinterpreted the true meaning of a situation or conversation
If everything is falling down
If life is crumbling
And burning in the way
And there is chaos and destruction around
And I can't see the light anymore
And there is no hope or positivity in life anymore
I'll be strong now you're gone
Will strive to be strong and get through life after losing a loved one
Cause it's too late to change
Because past actions and decisions cannot be undone
I'm haunted by the ghost of time
Haunted by memories and events of the past that cannot be altered
I should have listened to your words
Regretful of not heeding the advice or warnings of someone
But it's too late to turn back now
Unable to undo what has already been done
There could have been another world
There was potential for a different outcome or reality
But now I'll pay for every lie
Will suffer the consequences of every deception and falsehood
For every moment that remains
For every future moment yet to come
For every storm to take its place
For every hardship or trial that will occur in the future
The days we had are lost in time
Memories of good times past cannot be relived or changed
But you will never leave my mind
The memory of a loved one will always remain
You will never leave my mind (I'll be strong now you're gone)
The memory of a loved one will always remain, but the singer will strive to be strong even after their passing
Oh, you will never leave my mind (I'll be strong now you're gone)
The memory of a loved one will always remain, but the artist will strive to be strong even after their passing
Contributed by Samuel Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.