The other project Katharine is known for is Miranda Sex Garden of which Katharine was a founder member, lead singer, songwriter and lyricist. Formed in 1990 the band started out as a busking Madrigal trio. Later mutating into an avant garde gothic rock band, the group has released five studio albums, toured throughout Europe and America and supported bands such as Hole, Einstürzende Neubauten, Depeche Mode and Nick Cave.
Katharine's other projects include a collaboration with Nick Marsh whose album ..A Universe Between Us , she produced, played and sang on, guest performances with the experimental Jazz group Blowpipe, and numerous cabaret and Jazz performances over the years, many of which have taken place at art happenings such as The Waikiki Lounge and self hosted events such as Slappers and Queens of Sheba .
Katharine has just finished recording her first solo album Midnight Flower, which is a collaboration with Nick Marsh, featuring guest performances from members of the Mediaeval Baebes and Miranda Sex Garden.
The new album can be purchased at Katharine's Myspace page:-
http://www.myspace.com/katharineblake
The Hour When Daylight Dies
Katharine Blake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And sunbeams melt along the silent sea
For then sweet dreams of other days arise
And memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee
And as I watch the line of light that plays
Along the smooth way tow'rd the burning west
I long to tread that golden path of rays
Katharine Blake's song "The Hour When Daylight Dies" is a beautiful and contemplative piece that reflects on the bittersweet hour of dusk when the sun sets and daylight fades away. The opening lines express the singer's fondness for this time of day, when the sun's final rays are reflected on the still waters of the sea. The image of the sunbeams melting along the silent sea is a metaphor for the fleeting nature of time and life itself.
The second verse brings the theme of memory into focus. The singer describes how the hour of sunset brings back sweet dreams of other days, invoking a feeling of nostalgia and sentimentality. The line "memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee" suggests that the singer is addressing someone specific, perhaps a loved one or a departed friend. The word "vesper" refers to evening prayer, adding a spiritual dimension to the singer's reflections on the passing of time.
In the final verse, the singer expresses a desire to follow the sun's path across the sea, imagining that it might lead to a bright and peaceful place. This verse is tinged with a sense of longing and wistfulness, as the singer confronts the transient nature of existence and seeks solace in the beauty of the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
How dear to me the hour when daylight dies
The moment when the sun sets is very precious to me
And sunbeams melt along the silent sea
The sun's rays blend with the still sea creating a beautiful sight
For then sweet dreams of other days arise
At this time, fond memories of the past resurface and bring me joy
And memory breathes her vesper sigh to thee
My reminiscences exude a tranquil sigh dedicated to someone dear to me
And as I watch the line of light that plays
As I observe the sun's rays flickering on the horizon
Along the smooth way tow'rd the burning west
Radiant light smoothly illuminating the westward sky
I long to tread that golden path of rays
I yearn to walk on the path of light the sun creates
And think t'would lead to some bright isle of rest
I believe it would guide me to a paradise of peaceful relaxation
Contributed by Harper H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.