At first, they enjoyed some success on the dance charts on their original Y Records label, releasing material such as 1983's 'Care', but the guys left for the big time on Arista Records for 1984's 'Jam Science'. Finding little success there, they switched to Island Records for the next year's breakout, 'Oil & Gold'. This album signaled a shift for the band, with Carl Marsh leaving the group and rockers Martyn Barker and Lu Edmonds joining what was now Andrews' vehicle. Indeed, Allen left the band after the followup, 'Big Night Music', came about, and Shriekback remained a collaborative around Andrews.
Dave Allen would go on to play in King Swamp, The Elastic Purejoy, and most recently in the reformed Gang of Four. Carl Marsh went on to serve in the band Happyhead. Both Allen and Marsh did return to the studio to contribute to the recording of Shriekback's 2003 release, titled 'Having a Moment'. Shriekback's material has essentially been an outlet for Andrews' personal work for many years now, also including collaborations with alternative music artists such as Wendy & Sarah Partridge (formerly of Electric Guitars) and Finn Andrews (Barry's son who is also of The Veils).
The band's best-known song is "Nemesis", which has received wide airplay on the indie/college circuit. The new wave song was notable among the rock tracks of its day for its use of unusual imagery and lyrics, including the use of the word "parthenogenesis" in the chorus. Shriekback is also known for having their dark, dramatic songs used in the Hannibal Lecter film 'Manhunter', their work being influenced by previous horror soundtrack music.
God
Shriekback Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where are the shrines to the local gods?
They never write now or ring us
Whatever happened to the local gods?
What are their names? Where do they live now?
Where do we go to light a candle to them now?
They held the soul of the city
The days were sweet with their meanings
The nights were vivid with the local gods
The day they left we never saw their going
We woke one morning and the world was less than it had been
In the canals and the wastelands
Up in the spires, under the flyovers
Still you can see, with the right eyes,
The shining presence of the local gods
Stand in the silence you can hear them whisper
Hearing their laughter echo in the steel and stone
So leave a fire in the window
Pour the wine under the underpass
Let's all go down to the river
We'll go swimming with the local gods
They never died we only lost their number
All you can find here worship and more will appear
Shriekback's song, "Hymn to the Local Gods," is a nostalgic tribute to the forgotten deities of the city. The song raises questions about the disappearance of local gods from urban landscapes and wonders, "Whatever happened to the local gods?" The lyrics lament how the soul of the city that was once so connected to the local gods has vanished. The song also asks for their whereabouts, pondering what happened to them, and asks where they live now.
The song is a reminder of the way things used to be, and how the loss of the local gods has changed the city's very essence. The local gods once made the streets bright with their presence, and gave meaning to the days while making the nights vivid. However, one day they were gone without a trace, and everything changed. Their absence left the world less than it was before. The song tells listeners to stand in the silence and listen for whispers and laughter echoing in their steel and stone surroundings—signs of the local gods' lingering presence.
In conclusion, "Hymn to the Local Gods" is a beautiful tribute to the deities of the city that have been long forgotten. The song invites listeners to reconnect with the local gods and acknowledges that they never completely vanished, but rather lost their number. The song reminds us of the importance of honoring the deities of the place we call home, and how their presence can give meaning and context to our surroundings.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are the bones and the flowers?
Where have the relics and symbols of the local gods gone?
Where are the shrines to the local gods?
What happened to the places of worship for the local gods?
They never write now or ring us
The local gods no longer communicate with us.
Whatever happened to the local gods?
What caused the disappearance of the local gods?
What are their names? Where do they live now?
What were the identities of the local gods and where did they relocate to?
Where do we go to light a candle to them now?
Is there any place left where we can offer prayers and sacrifices to the local gods?
They held the soul of the city
The local gods were deeply connected to the city's essence.
The streets were bright with the local gods
The streets were full of life and energy due to the local gods' presence.
The days were sweet with their meanings
The daily life had a deeper, more meaningful significance with the local gods.
The nights were vivid with the local gods
The nights were rich with experiences and visions of the local gods.
The day they left we never saw their going
Their disappearance was sudden and happened without any warning.
We woke one morning and the world was less than it had been
The disappearance of the local gods had a profound impact on the world, leaving it with a lesser quality of life.
In the canals and the wastelands
The local gods still exist in some hidden, forgotten places like canals and wastelands.
Up in the spires, under the flyovers
The local gods could be residing in the high towers and the shadows of the flyovers.
Still you can see, with the right eyes,
The presence of the local gods is still perceivable but only to those with special vision.
The shining presence of the local gods
The local gods emit a bright, radiant aura that can be felt by some.
Stand in the silence you can hear them whisper
If you stand still and listen, you will hear the faint voices of the local gods.
Hearing their laughter echo in the steel and stone
The laughter of the local gods can still be heard reverberating through the city's steel and stone structures.
So leave a fire in the window
Light a fire in your window as a symbol of your devotion to the local gods.
Pour the wine under the underpass
Offer wine as a libation by pouring it under the underpass to honor the local gods.
Let's all go down to the river
Let's take a dip in the river with the local gods.
We'll go swimming with the local gods
We can have a spiritual, transformative experience with the local gods.
They never died we only lost their number
The local gods didn't vanish or cease to exist, but we forgot their identities and fell out of practice.
All you can find here worship and more will appear
If you start showing respect and devotion to the local gods, they may reveal themselves more prominently and offer more blessings.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARRY WILLIAM ANDREWS, DAVE ALLEN, MARTYN BARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FrankieRockett
Shriekback are like an old apothacaries sideboard. A wall of tiny drawers, each a dark teak box concealing some potion, arcane or esoteric, narcotic or hypnotic, all dangerous, addictive and utterly intoxicating. This one definitely belongs in the 'special prescription' drawer, edged in gold, and reserved for those in need of something extra. To be taken aurally as often as possible!
@jamilsalloumjr.8398
Your definition is PERFECT! Long live Shriekback!
@user-hx4kv4be3g
Wow! It's great. Best band.👍
@Tinhuviel
Sonic Alchemists they are indeed. Stay tuned for more songs. In the meantime, you may want to check out the Illuminati songs here. It is a BA project developed after Shriekback's first dissolvment. Lyrics are provided for each.
@anonm5898
Amazing. Where can I buy this EP? Either hard copy or mp3, preferably legal:) Tips appreciated.
@happyhead64
Hello Tinhuviel!! XO