A number of their albums are concept albums - Catatonia is a concept album "depicting the internal journey of a man born without the ability to dream". The Robbery of Murder is about a man who hunts down the drunk driver responsible for running down his father when he was a boy.
Their CD, Mimi's Magic Moment features guest appearances from Neal Morse, David Ragsdale of Kansas and Fred Schendel from Glass Hammer and is highly recommended. They recently released their eighth studio album, Pennies in the Karma Jar, on the surface it appears to be a "praise and worship" album, but like everything with Salem Hill it is much deeper than that. Carl Groves' exceptional guitar playing, introspective lyrics, and love affair with the Hammond dominates their latest work.
Trigger
Salem Hill Lyrics
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In a dank and dirty dim lit dive
And oh how so fitting for your sorry grave
You'll never leave this place alive
You're not quite what I expected
You're small, sad, frail and afraid
But that doesn't change all the things that you've done
You'd better start saying a prayer
I pulled back the hammer so slowly
My stiffening finger prepared
And "Vengeance is Mine!" screamed the trigger
As badly-played blues filled the air
I know you don't know who I am
Your memory faded by years
But that doesn't matter as long as you die
This moment seen clearly through tears
His hands showed the trembling of terror
His eyes displayed pools of great pain
And all of the justifications I'd made
Were no longer clear in my brain
I found myself telling my story
To him who had caused me such pain
And "Vengeance is Mine!" screamed the trigger
Then outside it started to rain
I'll probably live to regret it
I let the poor murderer go
And "Vengeance is Mine!" screamed the trigger
But triggers are heartless and cold
The lyrics of Salem Hill's song "Trigger" depict the story of a character who seeks revenge against a murderer. The song opens with the murderer's end at a dingy, dimly lit dive bar, which serves as a fitting grave for him. The singer then describes how the murderer was not what he had anticipated, small, sad, frail, and afraid, although it can never represent the things he did. The singer prepares to avenge the murder by pulling back the hammer, and the trigger screams "Vengeance is Mine!" amid a badly-played blues tune. The singer then pours out his heart about the actions of the killer, who seems to show fear and pain. As the singer pours out his story, the trigger screams again, and finally, in the pouring rain, the singer decides to let the killer go, fearing his own violent nature, which was expressed in the trigger's heartlessness.
The song portrays a poignant tale of revenge, regret, and mercy. The singer straddles the line between seeking vengeance for the murder and showing mercy to the guilty. An intense conflict exists in the singer's mind, and the trigger's heartlessness represents the consequences of allowing oneself to give in to violent emotions. The song's message is clear: one should leave judgment and vengeance to a higher power.
Line by Line Meaning
At last your bloody trail ends
The person who has caused the singer pain has finally been found and their misdeeds will come to an end.
In a dank and dirty dim lit dive
The location where the confrontation is taking place is run-down and dirty.
And oh how so fitting for your sorry grave
The singer believes that the location where the confrontation is taking place is fitting for the burial of the person who has caused them pain.
You'll never leave this place alive
The outcome of the confrontation will result in the death of the person who has caused the singer pain.
You're not quite what I expected
The person who has caused the singer pain is not who the singer expected them to be.
You're small, sad, frail and afraid
The person who has caused the singer pain appears weak and vulnerable.
But that doesn't change all the things that you've done
Although the person who has caused the singer pain appears weak, it does not negate the harm that they have done to the singer.
You'd better start saying a prayer
The person who has caused the singer pain should start praying for forgiveness before their inevitable death.
I pulled back the hammer so slowly
The singer is gripping a gun and preparing to shoot the person who has caused them pain.
My stiffening finger prepared
The singer's finger is rigid with anticipation of pulling the trigger.
And "Vengeance is Mine!" screamed the trigger
The singer's thoughts turn to vengeance as they prepare to pull the trigger.
As badly-played blues filled the air
The music being played in the background is out of tune and poorly performed.
I know you don't know who I am
The person who has caused the singer pain does not recognize the singer.
Your memory faded by years
The person who has caused the singer pain has forgotten the events that led them to this confrontation.
But that doesn't matter as long as you die
The lack of recognition by the person who has caused the singer pain does not change the outcome of the confrontation, which will result in death.
This moment seen clearly through tears
The singer is overcome with emotion and tears, but remains determined to enact revenge.
His hands showed the trembling of terror
The person who has caused the singer pain is visibly trembling in fear.
His eyes displayed pools of great pain
The person who has caused the singer pain is experiencing immense emotional pain.
And all of the justifications I'd made
The reasons that the singer had previously justified their desire for revenge are now being questioned.
Were no longer clear in my brain
The singer's justifications for revenge are no longer as clear and certain as they once were.
I found myself telling my story
The singer begins recounting their own story to the person who has caused them pain.
To him who had caused me such pain
The singer is speaking to the person who has caused them emotional pain and trauma.
And "Vengeance is Mine!" screamed the trigger
As the singer tells their story, they become more certain of their desire for revenge.
Then outside it started to rain
The weather outside the location of the confrontation changes, possibly reflecting the emotional turmoil of the singer.
I'll probably live to regret it
The singer is uncertain and recognizes the possibility of regretting their actions in the future.
I let the poor murderer go
The singer ultimately decides to spare the life of the person who has caused them pain.
But "Vengeance is Mine!" screamed the trigger
Although the singer does not kill the person who has caused them pain, they still feel a strong desire for revenge.
But triggers are heartless and cold
The singer recognizes that their desire for revenge is ultimately empty and hollow, and that vengeance will not bring them peace.
Contributed by Muhammad D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.