A key influence on industrial rock, their early music was described by critics Stephen Thomas Erlewine and John Dougan as well as industrial metal and "quasi-metal, dancing to a tune of doom and gloom," which gradually evolved over the years, incorporating elements of electronic music, synth-pop, gothic rock, and alternative rock, though always emphasizing Coleman's "savagely strident vocals."
Finding modest commercial success, Killing Joke have influenced many later bands, such as Nirvana, Ministry, Amen, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Napalm Death, Amebix, Big Black, Godflesh, Tool, Prong, Metallica, Primus, Jane's Addiction, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Faith No More, Blacklist, Shihad and Korn, all of whom have at some point cited some debt of gratitude to Killing Joke.
Honour the Fire
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The glorious now
Just to feel freedom
Just for the sounds
Shoulder to shoulder
Until the end
Constant companion
Eternal Friend
And the fire that drives us overcomes all pain
And all of our struggles never been in vain
As we get older - we cry, just one more sunset
One more blue sky
Just to hear laughter
Just one more sigh
One perfect gig, please
Before I die
And the fire that drives us overcomes all pain
And all of our struggles never been in vain
Spark of life, eternal spring - everlasting flame
Gain to lose, lose to gain - utterly enflamed
Marching into the mire -
Together we will honour the fire...
Just one more winter
Geneva snow
Just one more Christmas
Before I go
Just one more smile
Just one more laugh
Beloved mother
Guiding my path
And the fire that drives us overcomes all pain
And all of our struggles never been in vain
Spark of life eternal spring - everlasting flame
Gain to lose, lose to gain - utterly enflamed
Marching into the mire -
Together we will honour the fire...
Spark of life - eternal spring
The song "Honour The Fire" by Killing Joke focuses on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing the present moment. The lyrics describe the desire to experience the beauty of the world around us and the joy of simple pleasures such as laughter and music. The repeated phrase "just for this moment, the glorious now" emphasizes the need to appreciate the present and not take it for granted.
The central metaphor of the song is the "fire" that drives us forward and helps us overcome pain and struggles. This fire symbolizes passion, drive, and the will to live life to the fullest. The lyrics suggest that this fire is everlasting and can give us strength even in the darkest times. The final lines of the song are particularly moving as they honor the memory of a mother who has passed away but continues to guide her child's path.
Overall, "Honour The Fire" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to embrace life and appreciate its fleeting beauty.
Line by Line Meaning
Just for this moment
In this very moment, we hope to experience something special.
The glorious now
We want to embrace the beautiful present without worrying about the past or future.
Just to feel freedom
We want to escape from everything that's holding us back and feel free in this moment.
Just for the sounds
We want to immerse ourselves in the music that surrounds us.
Shoulder to shoulder
We stand side by side, ready to face any challenges that come our way.
Until the end
We will continue to support each other until the very end, no matter what happens.
Constant companion
We will always be there for each other, as good friends and loyal companions.
Eternal Friend
Our friendship will last forever, even beyond this life.
And the fire that drives us overcomes all pain
The passion that burns within us helps us overcome all obstacles and hardships in life.
And all of our struggles never been in vain
All the difficulties we've faced have given us valuable experiences and made us stronger as individuals.
As we get older - we cry, just one more sunset
As we age, we come to appreciate the simple beauties of life, like watching one more sunset before our time runs out.
One more blue sky
We want to take in one more beautiful, clear sky before we go.
Just to hear laughter
We want to experience joy and laughter for as long as we can.
Just one more sigh
We want to revel in the simple pleasures of breathing, taking in life's sweet air, for a bit longer.
One perfect gig, please
We hope to have one last incredible musical performance, to enjoy the magic of live music one more time.
Before I die
We hope to experience all these things before our journey comes to an end.
Spark of life, eternal spring
The spark of life in us never dies and continues to flourish like a never-ending spring.
Everlasting flame
Our passion for life remains strong and bright, like an eternal flame that never goes out.
Gain to lose, lose to gain - utterly enflamed
We may lose, but we won't give up, as we're fully committed to living life to the fullest.
Marching into the mire -
We are willingly taking risks and stepping into the unknown, even though it might be challenging.
Together we will honour the fire...
We'll support each other in our endeavors and fiercely celebrate the passion that inspires us to live life boldly.
Just one more winter
We hope to experience another winter, with its snow and icy chill, one more time.
Geneva snow
We have fond memories of snow-covered surroundings, especially in Geneva.
Just one more Christmas
We hope to celebrate one more Christmas with our loved ones, enjoying good food and great company.
Just one more smile
We want to cherish one more smile, one more moment of happiness, before our time runs out.
Just one more laugh
We want to hear another joyous laugh, a moment of mirth that makes life worth living.
Beloved mother
We hold dear the memory of our mother, who guided and supported us throughout our lives.
Guiding my path
Our mother's wisdom and guidance will always light our way forward, even after she's gone.
Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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