Rough Silk build up a good reputation as a live-act by suporting bands like Helloween , Deep Purple, Dio, Savatage, Manowar, Fate's Warning, Accept, Whitesnake, Axxis, Europe, Saxon and Vicious Rumors among others.
The founding members were Ferdy Doernberg (keyboards, slide-guitars & vocals), Hilmer Staake (guitars), Jan Barnett (lead vocals, guitars), Ralf Schwertner (bass, vocals) and Herbert Hartmann (drums, vocals) but there have been some changes that created kind of different eras of the band’s history.
The first era contained the albums “Rough Silk” (Vinyl LP only), “Roots of Hate”, “Walls of Never”, “Circle Of Pain” and “Mephisto” followed by a first European tour with Savatage.
The second era started with the 5th album when Barnett left the band and was replaced by Thomas Ludolphy. In this period the band recorded the albums “Beyond the Sundown” and “Symphony of Life” and supported Savatage in Europe once more, on Savatage’s special wish. During this time Rough Silk brought out their first best of album “Wheels of Time”.
In 2002 Ludolphy left the band due to personal reasons and the band decided that they would not look for a new singer. On the band's 7th studio album "End of Infinity", Doernberg, Hartmann and Wunderlich shared the lead-vocals. But unfortunatly it became obvious that the band members had parted minds and had no common vision on this style anymore, so this finally led to the end of the era and Rough Silk was put on ice.
In 2009 Doemberg found the fitting band members for the reincarnation of Rough Silk, and due to the 20th band anniversary now the 3rd era starts – with “A New Beginning”.
Discography:
* Rough Silk – 1991 (no official release, only Vinyl)
* Roots of Hate – 1993
* Walls of Never – 1994
* Circle of Pain – 1996
* Mephisto – 1997
* Beyond the Sundown – 1998,
* Wheels of Time – 1999 (Best Off)
* Symphony of Life – 2001
* End of Infinity – 2003
* A new Beginning – 2009
Line Up:
Ferdy Doernberg - lead vocals, slide-, lead- & rhythm-guitars, keyboards
André Hort - bass, backing vocals
Mike Mandel - lead- & rhythm-guitars, backing vocals
Alex Wenn - drums & percussion, backing vocals
Stay Gold
Rough Silk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tuesday a ray of hope is callin'
wednesday we spend the night together
thursday we try to love forever
friday we're left -again- alone
and the weekend's dressed in black and made of stone
stay gold - when the world comes down on you
stay gold - when forever's lies come true - so
stay gold - when you haven't got a clue
stay gold
of war and reason
- trigger and season - just to get closer
lies again - over when we are
just like the angry ones torn apart
we ride in vain
down the rain
old at heart
stay gold.....
yesterday life was fast and yellow
today we believe in answers mellow
tomorrow we lose our common senses
eternity comes with picket fences
stay gold.....
The song "Stay Gold" by Rough Silk explores the different emotions and experiences that come with the passing of time. The song begins by expressing sadness and a feeling of loss as the leaves fall on Monday, but then transitions into a ray of hope on Tuesday. The third line is where the true intimacy in a relationship is expressed as the lovers spend the night together on Wednesday. The following line, "Thursday we try to love forever," acknowledges the reality that love is not always easy, but it is worth fighting for. Friday is when the tone shifts again, and the feeling of loneliness returns, and the weekend becomes a symbol of darkness, hence "dressed in black and made of stone."
The chorus, "stay gold," provides an anchoring point throughout the song, reminding us of the importance of holding onto our sense of self and our values no matter what struggles we face. The verses continue to cycle through different emotions, from the darkness of war to seeking comfort and simplicity in mellow answers. The final line, "eternity comes with picket fences," refers to the cliché of the white picket fence symbolizing a perfect life, but in contrast, everything is temporary and limited.
Overall, the lyrics of "Stay Gold" express the universal existential dilemma, that everything changes and is impermanent. The song highlights how our emotions flow with the passing of time, and through it all, it is essential to stay true to oneself and stay connected with what brings us joy and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Mondy we cry when leaves are fallin'
On Monday, when the leaves are falling, we cry because change is inevitable and it's hard to let go.
tuesday a ray of hope is callin'
Tuesday brings a glimmer of hope and positivity amidst the changing seasons of life
wednesday we spend the night together
On Wednesday, we spend time with loved ones, building and strengthening relationships.
thursday we try to love forever
Thursday reminds us of the importance of love and commitment, and to strive to create long-lasting, meaningful relationships.
friday we're left -again- alone
Friday can sometimes be a day of loneliness and solitude, where we are reminded of our own independence and strength.
and the weekend's dressed in black and made of stone
The weekend can sometimes feel gloomy and cold, but it's important to stay positive and shine brightly even in the face of darkness.
stay gold - when the world comes down on you
The phrase 'stay gold' is a reminder to stay true to who you are and to hold onto your inner light even when times get tough and the world feels heavy and oppressive.
stay gold - when you're lost in days of blue
In times of sadness or depression, it's important to cling to hope and positivity, to stay golden even when the world feels grey and heavy.
stay gold - when forever's lies come true - so
Even when life doesn't go as planned, or when we realize that things we were once certain of were not as they seemed, it's important to stay true to ourselves and stay gold.
stay gold - when you haven't got a clue
Even when we are lost or unsure of what to do or how to move forward, it's important to trust in ourselves and stay golden.
of war and reason
Amidst the chaos and confusion of life, it can feel like we are constantly at war, either with ourselves or with others. We must remember to stay grounded and rational in these moments.
- trigger and season - just to get closer
Life is a series of ups and downs, with moments of conflict and resolution, challenge and growth. We must embrace these changes as a means of coming closer to our true selves.
lies again - over when we are
Lies and deceit can damage relationships and create distrust. We must strive for honesty and openness in our interactions with others, to build strong and lasting connections.
just like the angry ones torn apart
Anger can cause rifts in relationships and create distance between people. We must strive for forgiveness and understanding, to move forward in a more positive direction.
we ride in vain
Sometimes it can feel like we are running in circles or that our efforts are futile. Despite this, we must continue to push forward and stay true to our purpose.
down the rain
In times of struggle or hardship, it can feel like we are stuck in a storm with no end in sight. We must stay strong and weather the storm, knowing that things will eventually get better.
old at heart
Even when we are faced with challenges or setbacks, we must maintain a youthful spirit and outlook, staying bright and golden even as we age.
Contributed by Michael L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.