1) Salem (sometimes stylized… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple acts with this name:
1) Salem (sometimes stylized in all caps or as S4LEM) is an American band from Traverse City, Michigan. Considered to be one of the pioneering acts in the witch house genre, Salem's sound contains elements of electronic, chopped and screwed, dark ambient, hip-hop, shoegaze, trap, and crunk. The band was formed in 2008 by Jack Donoghue, John Holland, and Heather Marlatt. They remained active up until 2012; releasing several mixtapes, EPs, singles, and remixes, as well as their debut studio album, King Night in 2010.
They briefly returned in 2016 on Wolfgang Tillmans' "Make It Up As You Go Along - Salem Remix", before another 4-year period of inactivity. In May 2020, Salem returned once again with another mixtape, Stay Down, and released their second studio album, Fires in Heaven in October that same year, 10 years after their debut.
A few weeks prior to the release of Stay Down, Marlatt posted a photo to her Instagram page, alleging that the other 2 members of the band were "attempting to force her out". She has not been featured on any of Salem's output since 2012.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1300441-SALEM-6
2) Salem, also known as Church of Salem, is a British goth/punk rock duo, comprised of Creeper frontman Will Gould and his long-time collaborator, Matt Reynolds. Formed in 2020, they are known for the self-titled Salem (2020) and Salem II (2021) EPs, as well as for the track Fall Out Of Love, which was featured in the 2022 film Scream.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/2978796-Salem-14
3) Salem, formed in 1985, is one of the first Israeli metal bands. They are often considered to be the fathers of "oriental" metal, playing death/doom metal very early on in the global underground scene.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/461981-Salem-3
4) A post-hardcore band from Florida, formerly known as As Friends Rust, that was active from 2002 to 2005.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/1331200-Salem-7
5) A Japanese heavy metal band that was active from 1984 to 1994.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/2986449-Salem-15
6) A British heavy metal band.
https://www.discogs.com/artist/2848875-Salem-13
A moment of silence
Salem Lyrics
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And time was always at your side
The days of childhood are forever gone
Innocence lays shattered by the grave
Wait for a moment of silence
Before the day turns to night
Before the day turns to night
Before the coming of the dark
Before the great storm
Wait for a moment of silence
And then the sun turns to black
The sun turns to black
In remembrance of days
That will never come back
We each must face our dying pasts
For every day must die
And though we strive to make them last
The future is inevitable
Wait for a moment of silence
Before the day turns to night
Before the day turns to night
Wait for a moment of silence
Before the coming of the dark
Before the great storm
Wait for a moment of silence
And then the sun turns to black
The sun turns to black
In remembrance of days
That will never come back
Wait for a moment of silence
in this song speaks to the idea of reflecting on the past and being present in the moment. The lyrics reference the loss of innocence and the passing of time. The first stanza speaks specifically to the fleeting nature of youth and how quickly life can change. The singer reflects on the days of their childhood, describing them as “days of gold” and lamenting that they are “forever gone”. This loss of innocence is further emphasized by the image of “innocence lays shattered by the grave”. The second stanza continues with the theme of the inevitability of time passing, stating that “every day must die”. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that people still try to hold onto special moments in their lives and keep them from slipping away.
The refrain of “wait for a moment of silence” serves as a reminder to slow down and take in the moment before it’s gone. The repetition of this phrase drives home the importance of being present in the now and appreciating the beauty of life as it’s happening. The song also touches on the idea of death and the unknown, utilizing imagery of the sun turning black and a great storm. These references create a sense of foreboding and remind the listener that life is not infinite, further emphasizing the need to treasure every moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Remember when all the days were of gold
Reflect on a time when everything seemed perfect and nothing could go wrong
And time was always at your side
There was never a shortage of time, and days seemed to stretch on forever
The days of childhood are forever gone
The innocence and freedom of childhood are things of the past
Innocence lays shattered by the grave
Death has taken away the purity and naivety of life
Wait for a moment of silence
Take a pause to contemplate and appreciate the present moment
Before the day turns to night
Before the end of the day, when everything is dark and uncertain
Before the coming of the dark
Before the arrival of troubling and uncertain times
Before the great storm
Before the arrival of a tumultuous and unpredictable event
And then the sun turns to black
Everything changes, and nothing stays the same
In remembrance of days that will never come back
Memories of the past can never be fully recaptured or returned to
We each must face our dying pasts
We must confront our past and the things we have lost
For every day must die
No moment or day can last forever, and everything will eventually fade away
And though we strive to make them last
Even though we try to hold onto things and make them last, it is ultimately futile
The future is inevitable
The future cannot be changed or altered, and we must accept and prepare for it
Contributed by Connor Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.