The band line-up stayed stable for the release of the next album, named after a Dario Argento's film, "Suspiria", which is where the bands full sound was realized. A spin-off band, "The Waltzing Maggots" were gigging around this time, taking their name from the bizarre tracks "Widdle Biddle and His Waltzing Maggot", and "Willie Biddle in His Watery Grave".
Around the time of their third album, "Fairytales of Slavery", they said they wanted to create music that evoked a "seductive garden of earthly delights, full of color and chaos". For the release of the "Peepshow" single the band actually played naked in the window of one of the main record stores in London with the windows blocked out apart from a peephole apparently...
The band took a hiatus after the release of "Fairytales of Slavery" during which founder member Katharine Blake formed the wildly successful all girl band Mediaeval Baebes who debuted at number 1 in the classical charts with their "Salva Nos" album.
Miranda Sex Garden then reformed and released in 2000 the best album of their career, the aptly named "Carnival of Souls", featuring the bands swan song "Without Trace". The band also contributed a song to a Radiohead tribute entitled "Exit music for a film".
After this the Mediaeval Baebes took over as Katharine's main concern, and MSG fell into a slumber.
In 2006 Ben Golomstock released a solo album under the name Stories from the Moon which featured members of Miranda Sex Garden, Mediaeval Baebes, Queen Adreena, Colt, etc. which highly reprized the traditional MSG sound.
In 2007 Katharine Blake released her first solo album, "Midnight Flower", and In March 2009 Jocelyn West released her solo album, "Salt Bird".
Members:
The members in the group have changed significantly over time; only Katharine Blake remained in the group for their entire run.
The performers on their last album, Carnival of Souls, were:
Katharine Blake - vocals, violin, keyboards, recorder (1991-2000)
Trevor Sharpe - drums (1992-2000)
Ben Golomstock - guitar, keyboards (1992-2000)
Teresa Casella (ex-Mediæval Bæbes) - bass guitar (2000)
Mike Servent - keyboards (2000)
Barney Hollington (The Urban Voodoo Machine) - violin and Hammond organ (2000)
Former members:
Jocelyn West (Jocelyn Montgomery) - vocals (1991)
Kelly McCusker - vocals, violin (1991-1993)
Donna McKevitt - vocals, viola (1992-1994)
Hepzibah Sessa - vocals, violin, keyboards, percussion (1994)
Discography:
Albums:
1991 - Madra
1992 - Iris (EP)
1993 - Suspiria
1994 - Fairytales of Slavery
2000 - Carnival of Souls
Singles:
1991 - Gush Forth My Tears
1993 - Play
1993 - Sunshine
1994 - Peep Show
2000 - Tonight/Sex Garden
If It Be Love
Miranda Sex Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to grieve and sigh and be forlorn
fa la la
i love but if in it joy there be
i do not i do not for there is none in me
fa la la
The lyrics in Miranda Sex Garden's "If It Be Love" convey a sense of conflicted emotions and confusion on the topic of love. The first two lines indicate a somber tone, suggesting that the singer may be experiencing heartbreak or loss. However, the following lines introduce a sense of contradiction, as the singer states that they "love", but only if there is joy in it. This statement implies that the concept of love may be difficult for the singer, and that they are only willing to engage with it if there are positive and upbeat components involved. The final line, "I do not for there is none in me," reinforces the discordant feeling present throughout the song, indicating a sense of emptiness or lack of connection to love.
Overall, the lyrics paint a bleak picture of love and its accompanying emotions, with a sense of detachment and isolation pervasive throughout. However, the inclusion of the phrase "fa la la" lends a whimsical element to the song, perhaps indicating a desire to reject reality and instead lose oneself in a fanciful, carefree world.
Line by Line Meaning
if it be love to sit and mourn
If it is truly love, then it must involve being sad and grieving
to grieve and sigh and be forlorn
Love includes a state of mourning, sighing, and sadness
fa la la
This is a meaningless refrain that emphasizes the poetic nature of the lyrics
i love but if in it joy there be
If love brings happiness, then I do not truly love because I am incapable of it
i do not i do not for there is none in me
There is no joy or happiness in me to be found in love
fa la la
This is a meaningless refrain that emphasizes the poetic nature of the lyrics
Contributed by Hailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kevin
on Fear
I always thought that the last two lines were:
"Afraid to laugh, afraid to cry,
Afraid to love, afraid to try.