Their musical style merged elements of the shoegaze scene with ethereal vocals in the style of Sarah McLachlan and the Cocteau Twins.
The band released their debut EP, "Dead and Gone to Heaven", in 1993, scoring a significant chart hit with "Awaiting Eternity". Their debut full-length album, "Shiver", was released in 1994 under the Nettwerk label. "Shiver" went on to win a Juno Award in 1995 for Best Alternative Album.
Thirsk subsequently contributed vocals to tracks on several of Delerium's albums from "Semantic Spaces" (1994) onwards.
In 1996, founding members Judd Cochrane and Steve van der Woerd had finished the followup to "Shiver", but left the band amidst a hailstorm of in-fighting and uncertainty with Nettwerk's intentions. Maranda and Thirsk regrouped with drummer Trevor Grant and bassist Howard Redekopp to complete one new song, which was added to the forthcoming album. The follow-up album "Happily Ever After" was released in 1996, but Thirsk and Maranda's partnership had dissolved prior to its release. The break-up announcement came after the album's release. The single "Voice in Jail" was moderately successful.
Forgotten
Rose Chronicles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will I stay unbroken, unbroken?
If I've damned you wrong
It's for the forgive me's
All the vanishing emotion
And the blasphemy devotion
Or the things that I tried not to see
Don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten
Now I'm stone and forgotten to you
Don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten
Will I be so strong?
Far less trusting
Is all broken up
Yet still spoken of
In a crime of need
Blood steams for me and sacrifices blaze
To try to find your peace
Now I'm stone and forgotten to you
Don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten
Now I'm stone and forgotten to you
Don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten
Now I'm stone and forgotten to you
Don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten
Now I'm stone and forgotten to you
Don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten
The lyrics of Rose Chronicles' "Forgotten" depict a sense of introspection and self-critique. The song's speaker questions their own strength and ability to remain unbroken, wondering if they have caused harm and seeking forgiveness. The repetition of the line "now I'm stone and forgotten to you" creates a feeling of isolation and abandonment, suggesting that the singer may have pushed away those closest to them in their own attempts to distance themselves from guilt and shame. The refrain "don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten" is a haunting plea for others to let go and move on from their past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
Should I be so strong? Can I be?
Questioning whether one is capable of strength.
Will I stay unbroken, unbroken?
Questioning whether one will continue to remain intact.
If I've damned you wrong
Acknowledging wrongdoing.
It's for the forgive me's
Apologizing for the wrongdoing.
All the vanishing emotion
Acknowledging the loss of emotion.
And the blasphemy devotion
Acknowledging a misplaced sense of devotion.
Or the things that I tried not to see
Acknowledging ignorance and avoidance.
Now I'm stone and forgotten to you
Feeling abandoned and ignored.
Don't throw down your life to me, I choose to be forgotten
Rejecting help or sympathy from others.
Will I be so strong?
Questioning whether one can maintain strength.
Far less trusting
Losing faith in others.
Is all broken up
Feeling shattered and fragmented.
Yet still spoken of
Despite feeling broken, still being talked about.
In a crime of need
Feeling desperate and guilty.
Blood steams for me and sacrifices blaze
Feeling a sense of guilt and being punished.
To try to find your peace
Attempting to make amends and find resolution.
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.