Turner was a major influence on the Hawkwind sound during the band's most popular period in the early 1970s, writing and singing a number of their best-loved tracks, including Master of the Universe. Turner was ousted from the band in 1976. Brock maintained it was due to his finally losing patience with Turner's supposedly chaotic and distracting habit of playing over the sound of his bandmates. The event signalled the start of a feud between Brock and Turner which has simmered for 20 years.
After his first stint with Hawkwind finished, Turner performed as a solo artist, then helped form the psychedelic punk band Inner City Unit. In 1982, his disagreements with Brock put aside for the time being, Turner rejoined Hawkwind, performing with the group for the next two years. He later formed a group of his own, teaming up with other former Hawkwind musicians, getting involved in a name dispute after calling his group xHawkwind. The band now calls itself Space Ritual, after Hawkwind's most famous live album. Later he performed as the Nik Turner Band and as the Nik Turner Fabulous All Stars.
In 2008 Turner was invited to join Space Mirrors collective as a guest member. He recorded flute and saxophone on three Space Mirrors releases: Majestic-12: A Hidden Presence (2009), Dreams of Area 51 (2011) and In Darkness They Whisper (2012).
Nik Turner, who served two stints as a member of the space rock outfit Hawkwind, died at the age of 82 on Nov. 10, 2022. Turner was a multi-talented musician who was known for playing both flute and saxophone with the band, while also serving as a vocalist and composer. Turner was first a roadie to the newly formed band, but once they learned he could play saxophone he was offered a position within the group. He was let go in 1976, and invited back in 1982 until he was let go again from the band in 1984.
Osiris
Nik Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord of the underworld
I procure regeneration
Lord of mins and transformation
My bones are in my habitation
Shining on the moon
Forging alls transpire(?)
When Set plotted insurrection
Executed my decision
Isis and Nephthys caused my resurrection
When I lay covered earth and fire
My fire’s on fire in my divine omniscience
My rooms of flames …(?) my plume of running water
Set, a broken flail repaired in my omnipotence
Mt heart devours all slaughtered things
My still, still heart
Sat in the boat of millions of years
In the Uchat when it closeth
My white light is shining
My head in turquoise brilliance
I rise out the egg in the hidden land
The things which are created are in the hollow of my hand
But those which are to be are in my body
Speak to me the words of gods
And I’ll speak to thee the words of man
My forms are inverted
The unveiled one
The lyrics of Nik Turner's song 'Osiris' are an ode to the ancient Egyptian deity Osiris, who was known as the God of the Afterlife, the Underworld, and the Dead. The song describes Osiris as the King of Eternity and Lord of the Underworld, who is responsible for regeneration and transformation. The bones of Osiris rest in his habitation and his light shines bright on the Moon, where he forges new paths and changes.
The lyrics also touch upon the story of Set, who plotted against Osiris and caused his death by cutting his body into pieces. However, with the help of Isis and Nephthys, Osiris was resurrected and regained his power. The song speaks of his divine omniscience and omnipotence, with his heart devouring all slaughtered things, symbolizing the power to oversee life and death. His resurrection and ascent to the heavens are described with his head shining in turquoise brilliance as he rises out of the egg in the hidden land. Osiris is hailed as the one who holds the fate of creation and is capable of speaking the words of gods and men.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Osiris' celebrate the god's power and role as the harbinger of transformation and regeneration, who holds the fate of all creation and the power over life, death, and rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
King of eternity
I am eternal and will reign forever
Lord of the underworld
I am the ruler of the underworld
I procure regeneration
I have the power to bring about new life
Lord of mins and transformation
I am in control of time and can cause great changes
My bones are in my habitation
My physical body is in its resting place
Shining on the moon
My energy illuminates the darkness of the moon
Forging alls transpire(?)
I create and control all events
Osiris, Osiris, Osiris, Osiris
This is my name, my legend
When Set plotted insurrection
When my enemy tried to overthrow me
Executed my decision
I acted on my own judgement
Isis and Nephthys caused my resurrection
I was brought back to life by these two goddesses
When I lay covered earth and fire
When I was buried under the earth and consumed by flames
My fire’s on fire in my divine omniscience
My power and knowledge burn with intense strength
My rooms of flames …(?) my plume of running water
I control both fire and water, representing great power
Set, a broken flail repaired in my omnipotence
Even my enemy is subject to my power, as I have the ability to fix his weapon
Mt heart devours all slaughtered things
I am all consuming and nothing can escape my grasp
My still, still heart
Despite my voracious appetite, my heart is always calm and still
Sat in the boat of millions of years
I have access to eternal life
In the Uchat when it closeth
When the portal is closed, and the world is dark
My white light is shining
I am a source of illumination and hope
My head in turquoise brilliance
I am radiantly beautiful, in possession of great wealth
I rise out the egg in the hidden land
After death, I was reborn anew in the underworld
The things which are created are in the hollow of my hand
I have the power to create and control all things
But those which are to be are in my body
All that has yet to be created is within me
Speak to me the words of gods
Divine knowledge can be revealed to me
And I’ll speak to thee the words of man
I can share my gifts of knowledge with humanity
My forms are inverted
My true form may not be what it seems
The unveiled one
I am all-seeing and divine
Contributed by Alice Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.