Pale Saints were a British alternative rock band formed by Ian Masters (bas… Read Full Bio ↴Pale Saints were a British alternative rock band formed by Ian Masters (bass/vocals), Graeme Naysmith (guitar), and Chris Cooper (drums). They began as a three-piece band based in Leeds, England, in 1987. The band was signed to 4AD records by 4AD chief Ivo after their first London show. They were amongst a number of groups in the nineties who were dubbed as shoegaze by the NME and Melody Maker.

Early band interviews showed them to be a fun-loving bunch in contrast to their dark, lyrically pessimistic pop music. Guitarist Graeme Naysmith and drummer Chris Cooper described themselves as enthusiastic football fans and were perpetually excited about touring. Lead vocalist Ian Masters was often known to gratuitously lie in interviews, helping the group to successfully build up a certain party reputation.

In late 1990, the band added Meriel Barham, the original vocalist from Lush, as second guitarist and vocalist.

Ian Masters departed the band in 1993. By most accounts, he became more and more disenchanted with pop music and wanted to go in a more experimental direction with minimal drums and ambient sounds. He also seemed to have lost all joy for touring and live performance.

Pale Saints added former Heart Throbs bassist Colleen Browne in 1993. Meriel Barham departed in September of 1995 and the band eventually came to an end in early 1996, partly as a result of weak label support and relative lack of interest.

Ian Masters formed Spoonfed Hybrid, a duo who released a self titled album on the Guernica Label. Challenging and more experimental than Pale Saints releases.

Following the Spoonfed Hybrid Ian Masters and Warren Defever made an album together in Livonia, Michigan called 'ESP Summer'.

Shortly after Ian Masters moved to Japan, where he still lives. Material under the name 'Two Sun Tears' (a collaboration with Cailan Burns of Pretty Boy Crossover) has been released and Masters has been collaborating with musicians in Japan (Luminous Orange), Brazil (Gerador Zero) and America (Dive Index).

Ordeal
Pale Saints Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dreaming too long
Wake up
Hear ? ocean roaring ? ? ? feeling
Making fishes mouths inside your skin

Now your senses
Grow impatiently
Feel the light is landing

On the surface of your being

Like you're dragging an old dress along a floor

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pale Saints' song Ordeal invite the listener to delve into their dreams and explore the subconscious. The opening lines suggest that the person has been dreaming for too long and it's time to wake up. However, the dream has been so vivid that its effects linger, causing them to hear the roaring of the ocean and feel as though fish are moving inside their skin. The imagery here is striking, reflecting the depth of the dream world and its ability to leave lasting impressions on the waking mind.

As the song progresses, the person's senses become more impatient, longing to feel the light land upon the surface of their being. The metaphor of an old dress being dragged along a floor seems to represent the weight of the subconscious on their conscious self, dragging along like a burden. The lyrics suggest that the dream world is so captivating that it can even override one's basic instincts and lead them to feel things that aren't physically present.

Overall, Pale Saints' Ordeal is a haunting exploration of dreams and the subconscious. The vivid imagery and emotive language serve to draw the listener in, encouraging them to let go of their inhibitions and delve into the depths of their unconscious mind.

Line by Line Meaning

Dreaming too long
You have been lost in your dreams for too long.

Wake up
It's time to wake up from your dream state.

Hear ? ocean roaring ? ? ? feeling
You can hear the loud sound of the ocean and suddenly start feeling something deep within.

Making fishes mouths inside your skin
You feel as if fishes are gnawing at your skin from inside.

Now your senses
You are now fully aware of your surroundings.

Grow impatiently
You are becoming agitated and restless.

Feel the light is landing
You start feeling the warmth and brightness of the sun.

On the surface of your being
It feels as if the light is shining on your soul.

Like you're dragging an old dress along a floor
Your movements feel heavy and cumbersome, as if you're dragging an old, heavy dress on the ground.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CHRIS COOPER, GRAEME NAYSMITH, IAN MASTERS, MERIEL BARHAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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