Paul Ion Barker is a producer, composer and touring musician. His extensive… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Ion Barker is a producer, composer and touring musician. His extensive production and writing work with Ministry extended from 1985 through 2004. He's been involved with bringing a wide range of other musical projects into fruition: Lard, Pailhead, Revolting Cocks, Flowering Blight, USSA, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, Malekko, & recently as a touring member of Puscifer.

Lead into Gold is considered his 'solo' side-project after he joined Ministry. Under this name he put out 2 releases, a full length called: Age of Reason (featuring his brother Roland (from the Blackouts on one track and Ministry's Al Jourgensen on another) and a CD single/12" called: Chicks & Speed: Futurism. A video for the song "Faster Than Light" was created with Jourgenson & Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) both making an appearance, which was available on the Wax Trax! Black Box. A 12" EP titled "Low and Slow" was released roughly 25 years after recording in 2015 on Wax Trax! Records.

In 2018, "The Sun Behind The Sun" was released on the label "No, So Yes Recordings", featuring appearances by people such as Bill Rieflin (of groups Ministry, Revolting Cocks and others.) on tracks 1, 2, 6, and 8. In 2023, Paul Barker and Josh Holley (Who co-owns MALEKKO Heavy Industry with Paul) joined the Skinny Puppy final tour as an opening act on both legs of the tour.

Lunatic/Genius
Lead Into Gold Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Why must the tin-headed know
What I can and cannot do?
A task worth knowing
Or just something to do?
How can the thoughts of a few
Become the love of many?
Trusted? belived?
Taught as the truth?

Hold my head

What will the rush of ideas
Eclipsing all others
Mean to the core?
And never ending
Never forgiving
When is the moment of truth
And how will you know it?
Decide the valid, the true
Decide the living from the dead

Pain in my head

Always will a lunatic
Clutching my head
Lways will a genius
Clutching my head
Yet always will a lunatic
Pain in my head
Yet always will a genius
Pain in my head
Always will a lunatic
Clutching my head

Lways will a genius
Clutching my head

Overall Meaning

The Lead Into Gold song "Lunatic/Genius" seems to explore the tension between conforming to societal norms and embracing one's individuality and creativity. The lyrics suggest frustration with being scrutinized and judged by others for one's actions and thoughts. The singer questions why others feel the need to exert control over them and limit their potential. They also contemplate the power of ideas and how they can shape the world. The chorus seems to suggest a constant battle within oneself between madness and brilliance, both causing pain but also serving as sources of inspiration.

Musically, the song's heavy, industrial sound complements the intense and introspective lyrics. The use of repeating synth and guitar riffs throughout the song create a hypnotic and almost trance-like effect, which adds to the song's overall mood of internal struggle.

Line by Line Meaning

Why must the tin-headed know
Why do people who lack creativity have to judge or dictate what I am capable of?

What I can and cannot do?
Why can't I just do what I feel is right without being told or limited by others?

A task worth knowing
Is this task actually important or is it just busy work?

Or just something to do?
Is this task just to keep me occupied or is there a real purpose to it?

How can the thoughts of a few
Why do we sometimes let the opinions and beliefs of a few people shape the views of many?

Become the love of many?
Why do we become so enamored with certain ideas, even when they may not be true or beneficial?

Trusted? belived?
Why do people place so much trust and belief in things without questioning their validity or truthfulness?

Taught as the truth?
Why do we often accept things as true simply because we were taught them, without questioning their accuracy?

Hold my head
Feeling overwhelmed and needing support or assistance.

What will the rush of ideas
What will happen if too many ideas flood my mind and overwhelm my thinking?

Eclipsing all others
Taking over and dominating all other thoughts or ideas.

Mean to the core?
What will be the ultimate outcome or effect of having these new and overpowering ideas?

And never ending
The constant onslaught of new ideas and thoughts that never seem to stop.

Never forgiving
The mental burden of constantly processing new ideas and thoughts can be unforgiving and relentless.

When is the moment of truth
When will the truth or validity of certain ideas be revealed or become clear?

And how will you know it?
How will I be able to discern what is true and what is not, especially when there are so many ideas to consider?

Decide the valid, the true
Sorting through and determining which ideas hold merit and are worth keeping or pursuing.

Decide the living from the dead
Discerning which ideas or beliefs still hold relevance and which have become outdated or no longer have relevance.

Pain in my head
The mental burden and strain of constantly having to process and evaluate new ideas and thoughts.

Always will a lunatic
The feeling of being a bit crazy or unstable due to constantly having to process and sort through so many ideas and thoughts.

Clutching my head
The physical manifestation of the mental strain and burden of having to constantly process and evaluate new ideas and thoughts.

Lways will a genius
Despite the mental burden, there is also a sense of genius and creativity that comes with being able to process and sort through so many new ideas and thoughts.

Contributed by Maria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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