Orphaned Land is a doom/death band at its core, but they are highly influenced by the folk music and tradition of the Oriental Jews (Mizraḥim), making their sound much more progressive than typical doom/death bands. Their album Sahara (1994) was the first to include a combination of death metal and traditional oriental music. In their second album El Norra Alila (1996), Orphaned Land elaborated the combination of metal and oriental music, including the addition of song with traditional oriental Jewish piyyut and Arab melodies. This album conveyed a message of co-existence between Jews and Muslims. Their third album, Mabool (the Hebrew name for the Deluge, depicted in the Bible and Noah's story), 2004, was worked for seven years and takes the combination of doom/death metal, oriental music and biblical issues to a new level. The album tells the story of the seventh son of God (who was divided into three, each one symbolizing one monotheistic religion) which try to warn humanity from a coming flood (deluge) as punishment for their sins. Musically, the album contains oriental instruments, two choruses, traditional Yemenite chants sung by Shlomit Levi and quotes of Biblical verses from the story of the Deluge, read by Kobi Farhi, Orphaned Land's vocalist and one of its founders. The level of musical competency displayed in the heavy layering and orchestration combined with the more story-driven, conceptual nature of the album's lyrics as a whole lend a very strong progressive feel to the work.
Band Members:
Kobi Farhi − lead vocals, backing vocals, death growls, chants
Shlomit Levi - female vocals
Matan Shmuely - vocals, session drums
Matti Svatizky − rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
Uri Zelcha − bass, fretless bass
Yatziv Caspi − drums, percussion
Idan Amsalem – guitars, bouzouki
Former Band Members:
Eran Asias − drums
Sami Bachar − drums
Avi Diamond − session drums
Itzik Levy − keyboards
Eden Rabin − keyboards, backing vocals
Yatziv Caspi - session drums
Avi Agababa - session drums
Yossi Sa'aron (Sassi) - guitars, oud, saz, bouzouki, chumbush, backing vocals
The Truth Within
Orphaned Land Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Salvificet pietas tua nos bone rector, eleison
The golden wine flows through my veins
I know the meaning behind the holy words
A lesson must be learned - so listen all
Let your heart rule or we all must fall
We cry out for help, a prayer for your soul
you will faster crawl
The whole body withdraws with the pain of birth
And once again I know the true meaning of life
Once again I know that looking through their eyes
... As they came with their love...
I know the truth of life and it lies before my eyes
The truth lies within you know
The truth lies within the holy words
The first line of the lyrics, "Fons et origo boni ple luxque perenis. Salvificet pietas tua nos bone rector, eleison" is a Latin phrase meaning, "Fountain and origin of all goods, eternal light. Your goodness, O Good Rector, save us, have mercy." It sets the tone for the song as a contemplation of life, death, and the transcendent power of faith.
The singer of the song is experiencing a moment of transcendence through the consumption of wine, leading him to a deep understanding of the "holy words" and the lesson that must be learned. The lesson is one of personal responsibility - each person must let their heart guide them, or risk the downfall of all. The singer cries out for help and prays for the salvation of his soul as he contemplates the end of life.
The song then takes a more mystical turn, invoking the pain of birth and the idea of rebirth, leading to a realization of the truth of life that lies within everyone. This truth is tied to the "holy words" mentioned earlier, suggesting a spiritual or religious connotation to the truth. Ultimately, the song is a meditation on the nature of truth, faith, and personal responsibility in the face of mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
Fons et origo boni ple luxque perenis
May your benevolent authority be the source and origin of good and eternal light
Salvificet pietas tua nos bone rector, eleison
May your piety, good ruler, save us, have mercy
The golden wine flows through my veins
I am filled with a warm and satisfying feeling, like drinking wine
I know the meaning behind the holy words
I understand the true purpose and significance behind sacred teachings
A lesson must be learned - so listen all
We must gain wisdom from our experiences and pay attention to the messages we receive
Let your heart rule or we all must fall
We must prioritize our emotions and moral compass, otherwise we risk great harm and chaos
We cry out for help, a prayer for your soul
We are desperate for assistance, and we hope for your spiritual guidance
When you will know the end is near, you will faster crawl
As we perceive our mortality, time seems to accelerate and our efforts become more urgent
The whole body withdraws with the pain of birth
When we undergo hardship, it feels like our entire being is recoiling in agony
And once again I know the true meaning of life
After enduring trials, we gain a deeper understanding of what it means to exist
Once again I know that looking through their eyes
Observing things from another's perspective provides valuable insight and empathy
... As they came with their love...
As others offer us their care and concern...
I know the truth of life and it lies before my eyes
I have come to recognize what life is truly about, and it is glaringly obvious to me now
The truth lies within you know
The secrets of existence can be found within your own consciousness
The truth lies within the holy words
Sacred texts contain profound wisdom worth exploring and contemplating
Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.