Off Kilter often performs in the Canada Pavillion of Disney World's Epcot Center Sunday through Thursday, with performances nearly every hour up to 7:30 PM.
The band consists of: Jamie Holton from Ormond Beach, Florida, on bagpipes and vocals; Mark Weldon from Cork City, Ireland, on bass and vocals; Randy Holbrook from Richmond, Kentucky, on guitar and vocals; Tony Escapa from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, on keyboards and vocals; and Scott Zymowski from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on drums and vocals.
OR:
Off Kilter is a two piece hardcore punk band from California, on Pandacide Records.
Back Home in Derry
Off Kilter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out from the sweet town of Derry
Australia bound if we didn't all drown
And the marks of our fetters we carried
In the rusty iron chains we sighed for our wains
As our good wives we left in sorrow
As the mainsails unfurled our curses we hurled
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
I cursed them to hell as our bow fought the swell
Our ship danced like a moth in the firelights
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Taking souls to Hades by twilight
Five weeks out to sea we were now forty-three
We buried our comrades each morning
In our own slime we were lost in a time
Endless night without dawning
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Van Dieman's land is a hell for a man
To live out his life in slavery
When the climate is raw and the gun makes the law
Neither wind nor rain cares for bravery
Twenty years have gone by and I've ended me bond
And comrades' ghosts are behind me
A rebel I came and I'll die the same
On the cold winds of night you will find me
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
Yeah, yeah
"Back Home in Derry" by Off Kilter is a song about the experience of Irish convicts who were transported to Australia by the English government as a form of Exile. The singer describes the conditions of their journey to "Van Dieman's Land" (now known as Tasmania), and the hardships they faced during their time there. The lyrics present a nostalgic longing for the singer's home in Derry, specifically in contrast to the "rusty iron chains" they carried through their journey. The song is known for its haunting and melancholic melody that further emphasizes the mournful narrative.
The first verse depicts the sailors leaving the town of Derry to travel to Australia, singing about their resentment towards the English government ("cursing them to hell"). The second verse reminisces on the hardships they faced during their journey, such as losing comrades, living in their own filth, and the constant threat of death. In the final verse, the singer has served his sentence and has survived the brutal conditions of the colony. However, he still yearns to return to his home in Ireland, where he had been exiled from.
Line by Line Meaning
In 1803 we sailed out to sea
At the start of the 19th century, some of us left our hometown by sea
Out from the sweet town of Derry
We left the charming locale of Derry
Australia bound if we didn't all drown
We were headed towards Australia, hoping not to perish at sea
And the marks of our fetters we carried
We still bore the physical scars of the chains that bound us
In the rusty iron chains we sighed for our wains
We lamented leaving behind our families while shackled in old, corroded chains
As our good wives we left in sorrow
We witnessed the sorrowful expressions of our wives as we departed
As the mainsails unfurled our curses we hurled
We let our frustrations out as we set sail
At the English and thoughts of tomorrow
Our anger was directed towards the English and our uncertain futures
I cursed them to hell as our bow fought the swell
At intense moments, I blasphemed and wished ill towards them while facing rough sea waves
Our ship danced like a moth in the firelights
Our vessel's movement resembled a dancing moth in the reflection of bright flames
White horses rode high as the devil passed by
Powerful waves were like horses, and it felt ominous as though the devil was lurking around
Taking souls to Hades by twilight
It felt like people were being taken to the afterlife by nightfall
Five weeks out to sea we were now forty-three
After 35 days, we were still on the ocean and our group was reduced to 43 people
We buried our comrades each morning
Every day, we held a funeral for those who didn't survive the journey
In our own slime we were lost in a time
We were trapped in our own filth, disoriented in both space and time
Endless night without dawning
We were stuck in an unending darkness with no signs of sunlight
Van Dieman's land is a hell for a man
Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) was a difficult place to inhabit
To live out his life in slavery
To remain alive, one must endure being enslaved
When the climate is raw and the gun makes the law
In this harsh environment, brute force is the rule of law
Neither wind nor rain cares for bravery
Courage means nothing when facing brutal weather conditions
Twenty years have gone by and I've ended me bond
I've completed my sentence and have been released after two decades
And comrades' ghosts are behind me
Memories of my departed fellow prisoners are with me
A rebel I came and I'll die the same
I came as a rebel, and that's how I'll die
On the cold winds of night you will find me
When the chilling winds of night blow, you'll find me there
Oh Oh Oh Oh I wish I was back home in Derry
I yearn to be back in my beloved hometown of Derry
Yeah, yeah
An exclamation of affirmation
Contributed by Hunter F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.