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.
Song and Dance
Killing Joke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I made my way to the basic man assembly
Music filled the air and voices sing
And then the song became alive
Stick hit the skin - I hit the stick
And we've all been keeping time
And all the boys been playing the drums
Let's make our way to song and dance - continue
I've seen a place - set in time
And pillars tall in my sight
Then I heard voices sing
Sweet in the air [they fell through]
Haunting you
And then the song became alive - song and dance
Ways we've lost come flooding back now
Then my ancestors awake
(then I forgot myself)
And in our joy they take their joy
And in their skills we take our skills
Then all the lines between are gone
Then all the lines between are gone
Stick hit the skin - I hit the stick
And we've all been keeping time
So all you boys keep playing the drums
Let's make our way to song and dance - continue
And then the song became alive - song and dance
Song and dance - let's make our way
The lyrics to Killing Joke's "Song and Dance" speak to the power of music to connect people across time and space. The first verse describes the singer's arrival at a gathering of people, where music is being played and voices are singing. As the rhythm of the drums takes over and everyone begins to keep time together, the song itself seems to come alive. The second verse describes a vision of an ancient place with tall pillars and haunting voices singing sweetly in the air. Here, the singer feels a deep connection to their ancestors and their skills, bridging the gap between past and present. In the final verse, the lines between time and space continue to blur as everyone keeps playing the drums and making their way to the song and dance.
The song seems to be celebrating the power of community, music, and tradition to bring people together and transcend the boundary between past and present. The drumbeat and the voices singing create a sense of unity, as everyone keeps time and becomes a part of the music itself. The vision of the ancient place with its haunting voices and tall pillars speaks to the timeless nature of human culture, and the way in which our ancestors continue to live on in the rhythms and melodies we create.
Overall, "Song and Dance" is a celebration of the human spirit and our capacity to connect with one another through music and tradition. It highlights the way that music can bridge the gap between past and present, bringing people together and reminding us of our shared humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
All time was left behind
I left my worries and troubles behind and entered a new space
I made my way to the basic man assembly
I went to a gathering of people from all walks of life
Music filled the air and voices sing
There was live music and people were singing along
And then the song became alive
The music became more intense and captivating
Stick hit the skin - I hit the stick
We were playing drums and keeping the rhythm going
And we've all been keeping time
Everyone was working together to keep the beat going
And all the boys been playing the drums
The drums were the main instrument being played
Let's make our way to song and dance - continue
We should keep the music and dancing going
I've seen a place - set in time
I have experienced a moment in time that will stay with me
And pillars tall in my sight
I saw tall structures that stood out to me
Then I heard voices sing
Singers added another layer to the music
Sweet in the air [they fell through]
Their voices added a sweet and captivating quality to the music
Haunting you
The music and singing were so powerful that they stayed with me
Ways we've lost come flooding back now
Memories of the past and things that have been lost come back to me now
Then my ancestors awake
I feel connected to my ancestors in this moment
(then I forgot myself)
In this moment, I forgot about my own individual concerns and lost myself in the music
And in our joy they take their joy
Our ancestors would have found joy in this moment as well
And in their skills we take our skills
We inherit skills and knowledge from our ancestors, which we are using in this moment
Then all the lines between are gone
Lines between past and present, self and others, and individual and collective begin to blur
Stick hit the skin - I hit the stick
We continue to play drums and keep the rhythm going
And we've all been keeping time
Everyone is still working together to keep the beat going
So all you boys keep playing the drums
Encouragement to keep the music going
Song and dance - let's make our way
We should continue with the music and dancing
And then the song became alive - song and dance
The music and dancing became even more powerful and captivating
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEREMY COLEMAN, MATTHEW FERGUSON, PAUL VINCENT RAVEN, KEVIN WALKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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