Since then, Jeff has made it his life's work to evolve as a composer and technology specialist. In 1992, at the age of 23, Jeff began to make his mark as a composer/sound designer at Electronic Arts, working on classic computer game franchises including FIFA Soccer, NHL Hockey and the dynamic Need for Speed series.
After 5 years of sports games, Jeff was ready to take on more cinematic styles of composing. He relocated to Australia and contracted to companies around the world creating orchestral, electronic and ethnic/historical soundtracks.
During this time, one of the most successful independent game developers in the world, The Creative Assembly, were looking for a composer for their new Total War franchise and Jeff was the answer. In 2001 he was rewarded for their first collaboration with a BAFTA (British Academy Award) for the Japanese themed soundtrack to The Creative Assembly's Shogun: Total War - Warlord Edition.
The globally recognised BAFTA Interactive Awards reward the achievements in innovation and creativity in the new media industries.
Jeff was once again nominated in 2005 for his original music soundtrack for the computer game Rome: Total War.
The top-selling game, garnered a string of awards which culminated in a cover feature in December's issue of Time Magazine, two BAFTA nominations and three Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) nominations.
The Creative Assembly has an operation based in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, where Jeff is the Audio Director. In opening an Australian studio of this calibre, The Creative Assembly has recognised the technical talents and skills of Australian artists, audio engineers and programmers.
Jeff's music has proven so popular that The Creative Assembly have released soundtrack CDs of the Total War games.
bird of time
Jeff van Dyck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fallen from your brow all sense of peace
In your eyes, the fiercest gaze
Through the morning mist I watch you leave
Bird of time on the wing
How far is she to fly?
Come now love, do not weep
On the road of destiny
There is shadow and there's light
For as the leaves fall from the tree
so our days will pass us by
Blowing in the wind, blossoms fall
Falling on me, heavy is my heart
In my mind you raise your sword
Oh we will endure while we're apart
Bird of time on the wing
How far is she to fly?
Come now love, do not weep
We all must live and die
On the road of destiny
There is shadow and there's light
For as the leaves fall from the tree
so our days will pass us by
Beneath the blossom tree
under a watching moon
I dreamed but woke too soon
Far away the sounds of war
but in your arms there is peace
For here in goodness I believe
Carry this heart -- break it not
Oh love out of time, oh dream forgot
Carry now this soul and take your fill
Oh mind out of time, oh heart so still
Bird of time on the wing
How far is she to fly?
Come now love, do not weep
We all must live and die
On the road of destiny
There is shadow and there's light
For as the leaves fall from the tree
so our days will pass us by
The lyrics of "Bird of Time" by Jeff van Dyck are particularly poignant as they explore the eternal themes of love and mortality. The opening lines of the song strike a melancholic note as the "golden sun" is contrasted with "all sense of peace" fallen from the singer's brow. Their lover is leaving, and they watch them go with a combination of sadness and admiration for their "fierce" gaze. The imagery of the "morning mist" adds to the sense of fleeting beauty and impermanence.
The chorus of the song features the titular "bird of time" as a metaphor for the journey of life. As humans, we all must travel along the "road of destiny" which is replete with both "shadow" and "light." The leaves falling from the tree underscore the cyclical nature of existence, with days passing us by just as surely as the seasons turn. The second verse introduces the motif of falling blossoms which further emphasises the fleeting nature of life. The singer is weighed down by the heavy heart of a love lost but is nonetheless sustained by the memory of their loved one's strength and resolve.
Line by Line Meaning
See the golden sun on your face
You have a bright future ahead of you and the world is yours for the taking.
Fallen from your brow all sense of peace
You have lost your sense of calm and tranquility that you once had in your life.
In your eyes, the fiercest gaze
You have a determined and powerful look in your eyes that shows your unwavering will.
Through the morning mist I watch you leave
I'm watching you set out on a new journey, disappearing into the misty horizon.
Bird of time on the wing
The passing of time is like a bird taking flight, unstoppable and always moving forward.
How far is she to fly?
Do we know how much time we have left before our journey ends?
Come now love, do not weep
Everything has its time, and it's important to enjoy the present moment without dwelling too much on the past or future.
We all must live and die
Death is an inevitability that we must all face, so it's important to make the most of our time while we're here.
On the road of destiny
Our path in life is predetermined, and it's important to embrace it and make the best of what we have.
There is shadow and there's light
Life is comprised of both good and bad experiences, and we must learn from both to appreciate the full spectrum of life.
For as the leaves fall from the tree
Just as the leaves of a tree fall, our time on this earth is fleeting and should be savored while we can.
so our days will pass us by
Our time on earth will come and go, and it's important to make the most of every moment that we have.
Blowing in the wind, blossoms fall
Just as blossoms can be carried away by the wind, life is transient and constantly changing.
Falling on me, heavy is my heart
The fleeting nature of life can be overwhelming and difficult to cope with at times.
In my mind you raise your sword
In my thoughts, you are fighting for what you believe in and standing up for your values and beliefs.
Oh we will endure while we're apart
Even when apart, our love and connection will endure and remain strong.
Beneath the blossom tree
A place of beauty and tranquility where we can find solace and peace.
under a watching moon
Being watched over by a greater power that is always present, even when we can't see it.
I dreamed but woke too soon
A fleeting moment of happiness or contentment that was quickly disrupted or interrupted in reality.
Far away the sounds of war
The world can be a chaotic and tumultuous place, filled with strife and conflict.
but in your arms there is peace
Despite the chaos of the world, finding peace and solace in the love and connection with another person is possible.
For here in goodness I believe
Believing in the goodness of the world and of others can bring hope and light to even the darkest of situations.
Carry this heart -- break it not
Hoping that our hearts will remain strong and unbroken despite the hardships and struggles we may face in life.
Oh love out of time, oh dream forgot
The idea of a love or a dream that has been forgotten or missed out on, but still holds a special place in our hearts and minds.
Carry now this soul and take your fill
Taking time to care for ourselves and nourish our souls, filling ourselves up with the good things in life.
Oh mind out of time, oh heart so still
Feeling disconnected from the present moment and longing for a sense of stillness and calm in our lives.
Contributed by Gabriella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.