1.) Shakhan is an indie acoustic rock act formed in London, UK in 1995. The line up consisted of Davyd Homan and Shoshanah Homan. The founder and mainstay of Shakhan is Davyd Homan who is from New Zealand.
Shakhan released their debut album The System in 2004, a collection of protest songs. This met with some reaction to its lyrical content. In 2005 Shakhan (Davyd Homan) moved to Australia where he chiselled away at recording technique and writing new material. The result of this was a double release in 2011 of The System (remix) a remastered re-release with acoustic versions added of Religion (acoustic) and Silent Screams (acoustic). 3 new songs were added. The album Forgotten Tree a collection of 18 tracks shows the same focus on lyrical tightness and has a mixture of band and acoustic tracks. Shakhan's recent return to his native New Zealand has launched a new phase in his music.
Tracks available for free download:
touch base
I protest about love (remix)
Who can tame the tongue?
shakhan.com
2.) Shakhan is a heavy metal band formed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1996. Performing regularly since 1997, Shakhan have played a slew of gigs ranging from The Smokefree Rockquest (Regional Finalists in 1997), The Battle of the Bands, Eruption 01 and numerous nights around town at Indigo, Valve and The James Cabaret.
Six years in the making, Shakhan released their debut EP 'In The Zone' in November 2002. The lineup: Peter Elliott (drums), Paul McLaren (guitar), Steve Goodfellow (bass), Rhys Williams (rhythm guitar), Martyn Gadd (vocals).
After splitting up in 2005, they reformed with Zaire Kesha of The Red Carpet Murder on vocals and played a few gigs in 2006. Most recently they reformed again in 2010 with Michael Taylor of Wellington band Product on vocals.
Religion
Shakhan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From his shaven head to his toes.
Then I heard freedom and he spoke
Saying his life was about to go.
Then I heard someone shout
"JOY be upon you"
But I think it slipped off.
In that place I heard no laughter
Why the bells, the smells and
And what's that thing?
No drums sounded out people seemed to be -
Mourning.
I think religion's like paper work
That doesn't have to be done.
Who puts a bandae on a bandage when
There's no cut on the thumb.
Why give glory to the poor man wearing
Something like a dress?
You know the one that thinks he has
Power to bless.
Why's he carrying that great big
Shepherd's crook? I wish from his sheep he would
Unhook.
I think Pentecostals broke out with G-d
By breaking free from their chains.
In flowed the spirit but so sadly
Out leaked fluid mixed with their brains.
Yet they're surely riding on the crest of
G-d's giant moving wave.
Believing that he wants to speak
Wants to heal, to save.
People let's throw away religion that's
Like a yolk.
Strapped around our neck and then be
FREE.
Lyrics by Davyd Homan
The lyrics of Shakhan's song Religion are a commentary on the constrictions of institutionalized religion and the desire for true freedom. The singer observes how religion can bind people, symbolized by the reference to a man with his head shaved to his toes, while freedom is represented by a man speaking about his impending journey. The juxtaposition of these two figures highlights the contrast between the restrictions of religion and the openness of true freedom.
The use of language in the lyrics is poignant and thought-provoking. The line "JOY be upon you" is powerful in its religious connotations, yet the fact that it slips off suggests that it fails to have an impact in this particular instance. The absence of laughter and the presence of a cough create a dark and somber mood that hints at the potential dangers of too much religious fervor.
The lyrics go on to question the purpose of religious rituals and symbols, such as the bells and smells, and the robes worn by those with supposed power to bless. The reference to a shepherd's crook is likely a nod to the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but its presence seems out of place in this context. The verse about the Pentecostals breaking out with God refers to the belief in the Holy Spirit as a powerful force for change, but the imagery of leaked fluid mixed with brains creates a disturbing image of the risks inherent in religious devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
Saw religion had tied freedom
Religion was suffocating the concept of freedom
From his shaven head to his toes.
It had controlled every inch of his being
Then I heard freedom and he spoke
The idea of freedom expressed itself
Saying his life was about to go.
Freedom was at the verge of losing existence
Then I heard someone shout
A voice interrupted
"JOY be upon you"
It greeted with joy
But I think it slipped off.
However, it quickly withered away
In that place I heard no laughter
The atmosphere was dull
Only a cough.
The only sound was a cough
Why the bells, the smells and
What's the significance of the bells and fragrances
And what's that thing?
And what's that object?
No drums sounded out people seemed to be -
There were no joyful sounds of drums, rather, people were
Mourning.
In a state of sadness
I think religion's like paperwork
Religion is comparable to tedious paperwork
That doesn't have to be done.
Something that doesn't necessarily need doing
Who puts a bandae on a bandage when
Why waste resources on something that's not needed?
There's no cut on the thumb.
When there's no injury to treat.
Why give glory to the poor man wearing
What's the use in honouring a man covered in
Something like a dress?
A garment resembling a dress?
You know the one that thinks he has
The individual confident he has
Power to bless.
The ability to bless
Why's he carrying that great big
What's the purpose of holding the large
Shepherd's crook? I wish from his sheep he would
Shepherd's staff? It would be better if he would
Unhook.
Release his flock.
I think Pentecostals broke out with G-d
Pentecostals gained freedom by breaking away from God
By breaking free from their chains.
They escaped from the chains which held them bound
In flowed the spirit but so sadly
The spirit of God entered, but unfortunately
Out leaked fluid mixed with their brains.
Their brains began to lose their senses
Yet they're surely riding on the crest of
However, they are still at the forefront of
G-d's giant moving wave.
God's massive movement.
Believing that he wants to speak
Faithful followers believe that God wants to talk
Wants to heal, to save.
God wishes to heal and deliver.
People let's throw away religion that's
People, let's discard religion that
Like a yolk.
Is a burden.
Strapped around our neck and then be
Held on our necks; instead, let's become
FREE.
Free.
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheHendersongs
well done, we like it! :-)