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
Strife
Salem Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Present in every passing day (so i watch what i say)
So i watch what i say
Life is a strife
Time's worth a dime
Both of which I have none
It's a sign
Although at my prime I live like slime
Once upon
Skeleton
A ladder to climb not for real just in mime
You can cry
You can sigh
But life will go on and leave you behind
There's more than 60 minutes of hell (minutes of hell)
Present each hour I know it so well so (I fear my death bell)
So I fear my death bell
Life is a strife...
There's less than 60 seconds of sin (seconds of sin)
I counted in one minute's grin (there is no way to win)
There is no way to win
Life is a strife...
The lyrics of Salem's song "Strife" convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, as the singer reflects on the constant presence of pain in their life. The opening lines "There's more than 24 hours of pain / Present in every passing day" sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer acknowledging that pain is a constant companion that they must endure. The line "So I watch what I say" suggests that the singer is constantly on guard, as if afraid that one wrong word could make their situation even worse.
The chorus of the song, "Life is a strife / Time's worth a dime / Both of which I have none / It's a sign / Re-align / Although at my prime I live like slime" speaks to the singer's feelings of worthlessness and insignificance. They feel trapped in their circumstances, unable to move forward or improve their situation. The line "Once upon / Skeleton / A ladder to climb not for real just in mime" suggests that the singer may feel like they are living a facade, pretending to climb a ladder to success but not making any real progress. The final line of the chorus, "But life will go on and leave you behind" underscores the sense of hopelessness that pervades the song.
The second verse continues the theme of pain and suffering, with the lines "There's more than 60 minutes of hell / Present each hour, I know it so well / So I fear my death bell" emphasizing the relentless nature of the singer's struggles. The idea that there are "less than 60 seconds of sin" suggests that there may be moments of joy or pleasure in the singer's life, but these are fleeting and ultimately futile. The final repetition of the chorus underscores the idea that life is a constant struggle, with little hope for escape.
Line by Line Meaning
There's more than 24 hours of pain (hours of pain)
Every day is full of misery that lasts more than just 24 hours.
Present in every passing day (so i watch what i say)
The pain is always there, so I have to be careful with my words.
So i watch what i say
I have to be cautious with my words because of the ongoing pain I feel.
Life is a strife
Existence is a constant battle.
Time's worth a dime
Time is worth little and is fleeting.
Both of which I have none
I have nothing left of either time or value.
It's a sign
This is symbolic of something greater.
Re-align
Carefully adjust the direction you're heading.
Although at my prime I live like slime
Despite being in my prime, I feel worthless and insignificant.
Once upon
In the past, or in another time.
Skeleton
The bare minimum or stripped down version of oneself.
A ladder to climb not for real just in mime
The path to success seems like an illusion or an unattainable mime.
You can cry
You can weep and show despair.
You can sigh
You can express hopelessness and exasperation.
But life will go on and leave you behind
The world keeps moving, and you will be left in the past.
There's more than 60 minutes of hell (minutes of hell)
Each hour is filled with agony that goes beyond 60 minutes.
Present each hour I know it so well so (I fear my death bell)
The suffering is a constant for each hour, making me dread the end of my life even more.
So I fear my death bell
I'm scared about what the end of my life will bring.
There's less than 60 seconds of sin (seconds of sin)
Sinful actions can be committed in less than a minute.
I counted in one minute's grin (there is no way to win)
I was able to identify and experience sin in just a moment, making it feel impossible to ever succeed.
Life is a strife...
Existence is a constant battle.
Contributed by Kylie L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.