1. Pallas is a progressive… Read Full Bio ↴There are more than 1 band called Pallas:
1. Pallas is a progressive rock band from Scotland. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s (other major acts included Marillion, IQ, Twelfth Night, and Pendragon).
After releasing a self-produced LP entitled Arrive Alive (recorded in Scotland in 1981), Pallas was courted by EMI records (who had just signed contemporaries Marillion) and thrust into the studio with none other than Yes / Emerson, Lake & Palmer producer Eddie Offord to record the LP that would become The Sentinel.
All this boded well for Pallas, but EMI's initial interest in the band waned (EMI perhaps feeling that Marillion had the better potential for mass-market success, and the market may not sustain both bands), as did Offord's enthusiasm for producing the album properly, and when The Sentinel was released in 1984, it was regarded as a compromised affair by all involved (despite sporting what was widely regarded as one of the genre's most beautiful covers ever, illustrated by Patrick Woodroffe). Original singer, Euan Lowson left the band shortly after release.
Pallas recruited new singer, Alan Reed, recruited from Scottish contemporaries Abel Ganz, to mixed success in the late 80's, recording The Knightmoves EP (1985) - featuring the epic "Sanctuary" - and album The Wedge the following year. Disagreements led to the band quitting EMI in 1987, and despite sporadic attempts the band effectively faded from view.
Eleven years later - much to everyone's surprise - the band reappeared with the album Beat The Drum. Now signed to Germany's specialist prog label, Inside Out, there was also a tentative return to live work. Good reviews and a regular revenue stream meant a regular flow of material. 2001 saw the release of The Cross & The Crucible, which heralded a return to more progressive stylings as well as a taste for the gothic. A live DVD/CD package The Blinding Darkness in 2003 served as an effective "greatest hits" collection, and included a surprise guest appearance by original singer, Lowson.
2005 saw the release of The Dreams Of Men, a harder-edged yet still more complex work that rates among the band's best. Hardly the most prolific of bands, they continue to write and perform regularly.
2. Pallas are a post-punk / noise band from Minneapolis, MN
https://dropmedium.bandcamp.com/album/12
Spirits
Pallas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A smoke-filled tear rolls down his cheek at what this land's become
He sees the ghosts of trees stretch out within his mind
How bright they burned before they died
The shaman strains his ears for any living thing
But all around is death though he can hear their spirits sing
He climbs the hill-side turns his palms towards the sun
I hear you now - so near, so far
And through the mourning of the Earth
I sense the wonder of rebirth
I feel the wonder, I feel the wonder of rebirth
And when the spirit comes to take them
I'll be right there by their side
And like the smoke-filled air, we'll rise to paradise
We'll leave the world behind a blackened suicide
And when tomorrow comes and the forest grows anew
We'll watch new life undo the evil that men do
For where the forest grows, that's where the future's sown
In Pallas's song Spirits, the shaman appears to be grieving for the destruction of his land. As he gazes up at the sun, a single tear runs down his cheek, and he can see the ghosts of the trees that once stood. He remembers how brightly they burned before dying and feels immense sorrow at their loss. Although he strains to hear anything living, all he can hear are the spirits of the dead trees singing to him. Climbing up the hillside, he faces the sun, offering a prayer for all that has vanished from the Earth, destroyed by human hands.
The song talks about rebirth and hope for the future. As the shaman weeps for the loss of the forest, he can hear the spirits of the trees singing to him. The song depicts rebirth as though new life will undo the damage that humans have done. The shaman declares that he'll be with the trees when their spirits rise to paradise, symbolizing their rebirth, and leaving the world of blackened suicide behind. The singer hears the spirits of the trees as they sing; the mourning and the gloom of the world do not escape the song's message of hope for a brighter future. The singer witnesses new life springing from the ashes of destruction and chaos, uplifting the spirits of all in the vicinity even after the big loss.
Line by Line Meaning
The shaman lifts his eyes to see the glory of the sun
The shaman looks up and sees the sun shining brightly
A smoke-filled tear rolls down his cheek at what this land's become
The shaman is sad and crying because the land is polluted with smoke
He sees the ghosts of trees stretch out within his mind
In his mind, the shaman sees the ghosts of trees that have been cut down
How bright they burned before they died
The trees were alive and vibrant before they were cut down
The shaman strains his ears for any living thing
The shaman listens carefully for signs of life
But all around is death though he can hear their spirits sing
Despite the absence of living things, the shaman hears the spirits of the dead
He climbs the hill-side turns his palms towards the sun
The shaman goes up a hill and faces the sun
To offer up a prayer for all that's gone
He prays for what has been lost
I hear you now - so near, so far
The singer hears something that is close but distant at the same time
And through the mourning of the Earth
During the time of sadness for the land
I sense the wonder of rebirth
The singer feels the potential for growth and renewal
I feel the wonder, I feel the wonder of rebirth
The singer senses the possibility of new life
And when the spirit comes to take them
When their spirits are taken away
I'll be right there by their side
The singer will be there with them
And like the smoke-filled air, we'll rise to paradise
Their spirits will ascend to a better place, like smoke rising
We'll leave the world behind a blackened suicide
They will leave behind a dark and ruined world
And when tomorrow comes and the forest grows anew
When a new day comes and the forest regenerates
We'll watch new life undo the evil that men do
The singer and the spirits will witness new growth that will reverse the damage done by people
For where the forest grows, that's where the future's sown
The forest is where new life and hope for the future are planted
Contributed by Nora J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.