1) an English folk-rock gr… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name:
1) an English folk-rock group from Newcastle-upon-Tyne;
2) a Black Metal band from Volgograd, Russia;
3) a Pagan/Folk Black Metal from Solingen, Germany;
1) Lindisfarne were an English folk-rock group from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, formed in 1968. The original line up was Alan Hull, Ray Jackson, Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements, and Simon Cowe.
The group released their debut Nicely out of Tune in 1970. Their second album, Fog on the Tyne, was produced by Bob Johnson, who had also worked with Bob Dylan, to whom Alan Hull was being compared at the time. Following their third album, Dingly Dell, the group split and Lindisfarne (Mark II) continued with new members, and produced a few more albums before disbanding in 1975, seemingly for good.
1978 saw the original group re-form, with the album Back and Fourth, and the hit single "Run for Home". This line-up continued for many years. New member Marty Craggs came in for the 1986 album Dance Your Life Away. Ray 'Jacka' Jackson eventualy left to work in London, and then Si Cowe left to run a brewery in Canada. Jackson now (2008) has a career as an artist, specialising in colourful paintings of buses, a passion since he was a boy. He also played the mandolin on Rod Stewart's "Maggie May".
The group celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary of performing at Newcastle City Hall in the summer of 1995. Less than six months later Hull died of a heart attack. There was a period of consolidation for the group, which decided to continue - going back to their folk roots, and new members Billy Mitchell, Dave Denholm and Ian Thompson. This line up continued for several years until the departure of Marty Craggs. After this the three remaining members continued to tour as an acoustic trio before calling it a day with a final gig on 17th May 2004.
2) a Black Metal band from Russia, Volgograd.
3) a Pagan/Folk Black Metal from Germany, Solingen.
Demons
Lindisfarne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All them demons know what it's all about
talk in whispers don't need to twist and shout.
Dancing in your head, just like the dance of the dead
all them demons know what it's all about.
All them demons know when the time is right
They slide into your dreams, with a smile and a strangled scream
all them demons know what's wrong is right.
Chorus:
Oh Mamma, can you really feel the pain
Oh Mamma, it's hard to explain.
Oh Mamma, I'm begging on my knees
Oh Mamma, help me if you please.
All them demons know my home address
inside my head is where I hang my happiness.
But these bastards won't leave me alone, they're even on the ansaphone
come on Mamma get me out of this mess.
Chorus:
Oh Mamma, it's so hard to take the pain
Oh Mamma, is it me to take the blame
Oh Mamma,I do love you still
Oh Mamma,won't you help me if you will.
The song "Demons" by Lindisfarne is about battling personal demons and how they can haunt and torment an individual. The lyrics describe how these demons know the person's weaknesses and how to manipulate them. The demons speak in whispers, and their presence is like a dance in the person's head, similar to the dance of the dead. The lyrics suggest that the demons know the right time to strike, and they enter the person's dreams with wicked grins and strangled screams. The chorus repeats the plea for help from the singer's mother, acknowledging the pain and difficulty of facing these demons alone.
The song's lyrics resonate with many people who struggle with personal demons, whether it be addiction, mental health issues or trauma. The metaphor of demons within us as being sinister and pervasive, haunts the song. The call for help to his mother suggests a desire for guidance and support, something that many individuals seek when battling their own personal demons.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was written by the band's founder, Alan Hull, who was known for his insightful and emotional lyrics. Another significant fact is that the song was one of the few singles that they released that did not receive much commercial success in the UK, although it did better overseas. "Demons" is still a fan favorite and a staple in Lindisfarne's live repertoire. Another interesting fact is that the cover artwork for the single featured the wings of an angel being ripped, suggesting that even angels can face demons within themselves.
The chord progression in the song is quite simple, with a standard folk-rock strumming pattern in the key of E. The chords used in the verse are E major, A major, and B major, while the chorus shifts to A major, E major, and B major.
Verse: E A B (x2)
Chorus: A E B (x2)
Line by Line Meaning
All them demons know what it's all about
The negative thoughts and emotions that haunt a person understand their vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
talk in whispers don't need to twist and shout.
These demons don't need to make much noise to sow discord and despair.
Dancing in your head, just like the dance of the dead
These demons seem to be moving inside a person's head, tormenting them like the undead.
all them demons know when the time is right
These malevolent entities strike when someone is at their most vulnerable.
just when the dawn takes over from the night.
When the sun rises, and happiness should replace feelings of dread and despair, demons bring more pain and suffering.
They slide into your dreams, with a smile and a strangled scream
These demons also torment individuals in their dreams, terrifying them both during and after their sleep.
all them demons know what's wrong is right.
These demons manipulate the victim, making them question what is right and wrong.
Oh Mamma, can you really feel the pain
The person is asking their mother if she understands how they feel, if she has ever felt as they did.
Oh Mamma, it's hard to explain.
The pain and emotions experienced are difficult to convey or articulate.
Oh Mamma, I'm begging on my knees
The person is begging for their mother's help and support.
Oh Mamma, help me if you please.
The person is asking their mother for help and any relief she might be able to offer.
All them demons know my home address
These demons are familiar with the person's every thought and habit, leading to them knowing their home and their thoughts.
inside my head is where I hang my happiness.
The person's internal thoughts and emotions dictate their well-being and happiness.
But these bastards won't leave me alone, they're even on the ansaphone
These demons are intruding on every aspect of the victim's life, even bothering them through the telephone.
come on Mamma get me out of this mess.
The person is pleading with their mother to rescue them from the pain, despair, and chaos these demons have brought to their life.
Oh Mamma, it's so hard to take the pain
The individual is again asking their mother if she understands the pain these demons are inflicting.
Oh Mamma, is it me to take the blame
The person is questioning whether their demons and mental torment are their fault, and if there is anything they could have done to avoid or prevent it.
Oh Mamma, I do love you still
The person reassures their mother that they still love and appreciate her despite their mental anguish.
Oh Mamma, won't you help me if you will.
The person restates their request for their mother's help and support in overcoming their demons.
Contributed by Lillian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.