Paul Roland (born 6 September 1959 in Kent) is a British singer-songwriter,… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Roland (born 6 September 1959 in Kent) is a British singer-songwriter, author and journalist. Since the release of his first tune "Oscar Automobile" in 1979, Roland has been spinning his tales against a backdrop of Gothic rock, psychedelic pop, folk and, occasionally, baroque strings.

Roland,, described as "the male Kate Bush" by one-time label mate Robyn Hitchcock, has released a series of albums for collectable labels such as Bam Caruso, New Rose and Imaginary in a low-key career that has seen him acclaimed on the continent but somewhat ignored in his native country. In England he is better known as a writer of mass market books on mysticism and the occult for major publishers. However, his reputation as a uniquely imaginative and consistently fascinating figure on the psych-pop circuit has substantially increased with each album. Other cult figures such as Robyn Hitchcock, Nick Saloman (Bevis Frond), Nick Nicely, and Andy Ellison (John's Children) have made guest appearances on his albums, several of which are now listed as highly collectable.

Since 1979 Paul has been spinning his bizarre tales in music. Among his more whimsical creations are the eccentric characters on the largely acoustic album "Happy Families" and its prequel "A Cabinet of Curiosities".

His first album "The Werewolf of London" (1980) which boasted a penchant for historical and supernatural themes was picked up by Armageddon Records, who at the time also had the Soft Boys on their roster.
And it was there that Paul met Robyn Hitchcock who later appeared on tracks for Paul's second album.
After an abortive flirtation with the music business, when he was managed by David Enthoven and June Bolan (widow of Marc Bolan), he returned to Armageddon in 1985 for the mini-album "Burnt Orchids".
Its title track was the first to feature Paul backed by a small string and woodwind ensemble, a trademark of all his albums to date.

The success of the album led to Paul's first tours in Europe and label deals in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the USA and Japan.

A series of diverse albums followed, including the psych cult classic "Danse Macabre" (1987), the acoustic based mini LPs "A Cabinet of Curiosities" (1987) and "Happy Families" (1988), the rockier "Duel" (1989) with its medieval-tinged three-song suite "The King Must Die", the folk rock of "Masque" (1990), the more commercial "Roaring Boys" (1991), "Strychnine" (1992), a mini-album of cover versions and "Sarabande" (1994). "Gargoyles" (1996) and "Pavane" (2004). Many albums have followed.

http://www.paulroland.de
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Nosferatu
Paul Roland Lyrics

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He dines alone in empty rooms with sweet bouquet of withered blooms, His teeth long rotted to the root he sucks the pulp of bruised fruit. Gone the bearing and the grace, sad sunken eyes and charmel face, He'll dye his hair and paint his nails and rouge the cheeks that aging pales. Nosferatu he sleeps the restless sleep of the undead. And when he stands before the glass no reflection does he cast, This vile disease that taints his line burns the fabric of his mind.
He writes accursed in his bed, the wretched sleep of the undead, The slow parade of faded friends, the long dark sleep that never ends. His great house weeps with rank decay, he walks by night and sleeps by day, He'll rail the Reaper, curse him low, he who waits and mocks him so.

Overall Meaning

Paul Roland's song "Nosferatu" tells the story of a vampire living in despair and isolation. The first verse describes the physical decay of the vampire, whose long teeth have rotted to the root and who now dines alone in empty rooms with only the fragrant reminder of what was once beautiful - withered blooms. The second verse dives deeper into the emotional turmoil of the vampire; he is no longer handsome nor graceful but instead has sunken eyes and a charmel face. He tries to maintain his youth but only succeeds in revealing his aging with his fake hair, painted nails, and rouge cheeks. The chorus encapsulates how the vampire, Nosferatu, sleeps restlessly and cannot even see his reflections due to the vampiric curse that taints his line.

The third verse paints a picture of Nosferatu's isolated existence, writing accursed in his bed with a wretched sleep of the undead. His only company is the parade of faded friends from his past that haunt him. We see how the vampire's great house now weeps with rank decay and he sleeps by day and roams by night, trying to ward off death but always failing. He curses the Reaper who waits and mocks him endlessly, as the curse of eternal life has become a burden and a form of punishment.

Overall, "Nosferatu" is a haunting tale of a vampire's cursed existence that touches on themes of loneliness, decay, and the inescapability of death. The lyrics are rich with imagery and detail, making it a powerful and evocative song.

Line by Line Meaning

He dines alone in empty rooms with sweet bouquet of withered blooms,
He eats by himself in vacant spaces with nice smelling dead flowers that have lost their beauty,

His teeth long rotted to the root he sucks the pulp of bruised fruit.
His teeth have decayed completely, so he sucks on the insides of damaged fruits.

Gone the bearing and the grace, sad sunken eyes and charmel face,
He has lost all of his gentlemanly qualities and physical attractiveness, replaced by gloomy eyes and unappealing looks.

He'll dye his hair and paint his nails and rouge the cheeks that aging pales.
He will change his hair color, manicure his nails, and apply makeup to enliven the pale cheeks that come with aging.

Nosferatu he sleeps the restless sleep of the undead.
He is Nosferatu, one of the undead who sleeps unsettled.

And when he stands before the glass no reflection does he cast,
His reflection does not show up when he stands in front of a mirror.

This vile disease that taints his line burns the fabric of his mind.
This disgusting illness that runs in his family is destroying his mental health.

He writes accursed in his bed, the wretched sleep of the undead,
He suffers from nightmares about the curse he has brought upon himself and his dreadful undead existence.

The slow parade of faded friends, the long dark sleep that never ends.
He mourns the gradual loss of his close friends and the never-ending sleep that awaits him.

His great house weeps with rank decay, he walks by night and sleeps by day,
His once grand home is now decaying and putrid, he roams during the night and rests during the day.

He'll rail the Reaper, curse him low, he who waits and mocks him so.
He will scold and belittle Death who torments him by lingering and taunting him relentlessly.

Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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