After a period in several obscure bands, Samson formed his own eponymous outfit, Samson, in 1978, consisting of Chris Aylmer on bass, and Clive Burr on drums. Burr left, and eventually joined Iron Maiden, and was replaced by the controversial Thunderstick, who wore a gimp mask on stage. At a time when the also masked Cambridge Rapist was making the news, he became a target for criticism. In 1979, the line-up was expanded to a four piece with the addition of Bruce Bruce (aka Bruce Dickinson) on vocals.
The band enjoyed a strong cult following in the best years of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal releasing the albums Survivors, Head On and Shock Tactics, until 1981 when Thunderstick left, and Bruce Bruce, who changed his name back to his real surname of Dickinson at this point, left to join Iron Maiden.
The talented vocalist Nicky Moore was recruited as replacement and Mel Gaynor then Pete Jupp took over drums, and this line-up released the commendable albums Before the Storm and Don't Get Mad Get Even. These two albums sold in higher quantities than the first three, and the band toured more countries and played to bigger audiences than the Bruce/Thunderstick lineup, although the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was by now said to be a spent force. The band finally threw in the towel in 1984.
Samson spent the subsequent years in a variety of solo and group projects, including various temporary reformations of Samson, and had success as a producer, and also as a blues player, spending a year in Chicago. He played on the recording of the Ram Jam 1977 rock hit Black Betty.
In 2002 he died of cancer, whilst recording a new Samson album with Nicky Moore.
Earth Mother
Paul Samson Lyrics
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Raw lines were crossed on my back
Teasing and taunting me, twisting my words
Eyes turning red fade to black
Earth Mother, help me
Bury me down there
Earth Mother, can't you see
Snake like you kissed me and chained me
Treachery barred my escape
Surrender to destiny, death for all time
Eternal light, losing faith
The lyrics to Earth Mother seem to speak to a tale of pain and betrayal. The opening lines speak to physical abuse, as the singer describes being grabbed, whipped, and stretched. The second line, "Raw lines were crossed on my back," further emphasizes the brutality of the situation. The following lines suggest a more psychological form of torment, as the singer is teased, taunted, and has their words twisted. The final two lines of the verse are particularly haunting, as the singer notes "Eyes turning red fade to black," which can be read as losing consciousness or, more metaphorically, losing hope.
The chorus seems to switch focus, calling out to the Earth Mother for help. The singer seems to be asking to be buried, perhaps as a way to escape their tormentors. The second line, "Earth Mother, can't you see, suck my breath of air," suggests that the singer feels suffocated or that they are being denied air or life. The second verse continues the theme of betrayal, as the singer describes being kissed by a snake and chained up, unable to escape. The line "Treachery barred my escape" speaks to a sense of being trapped and unable to find a way out. The verse concludes with the singer surrendering to their destiny, facing death for all time and losing faith in some way.
Line by Line Meaning
You grabbed me and whipped me and stretched me
I was forcefully held, lashed with whips and pulled apart
Raw lines were crossed on my back
The result of the whipping left deep scars on my skin
Teasing and taunting me, twisting my words
I was mocked, provoked and manipulated with my own words
Eyes turning red fade to black
In response to the pain and mistreatment, I became emotionally overwhelmed, losing consciousness
Earth Mother, help me
I pray to Nature, seeking protection and guidance
Bury me down there
I long for death and peaceful rest from the traumatic experience
Earth Mother, can't you see
I feel abandoned and neglected by the universe and its guardians
Suck my breath of air
I am suffocating, unable to breathe and feel alive
Snake like you kissed me and chained me
I was deceived, betrayed and enslaved by someone I trusted
Treachery barred my escape
Betrayal caused the closure of any possible means of liberation
Surrendered to destiny, death for all time
I accepted my fate of unavoidable death, forever lost in the eternal realm
Eternal light, losing faith
I am exposed to a never-ending radiance that diminishes my hope and faith
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: AYLMER, BRUCE, SAMSON, THUNDERSTICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind