From the start, they have incorporated a diverse range of influences from British folk music to German Thrash Metal which has fed their constantly evolving sound. They are widely considered the inventors of Folk Metal.
The lineup remained stable for the recording of 2000's Folkémon, but founding member Walkyier left the band in 2001, citing various reasons, such as financial difficulties or the bands unwillingness to tour in South America owing to security concerns as the final straw, though other band members have commented that his somewhat pessimist personality was one of the major contributing factors to the groups lineup instability. Walkyier went on to form The Clan Destined. For many fans, Walkyiers lyrics and delivery style were one of the bands central attractions, and there were fears that his departure spelled the end of the band. After replacing drummer Jay Graham (who left shortly after Walkyier) and moving Kevin Ridley onto vocals, the group sprang into action to remedy these fears with 2002's No Daylights...Nor Heel Taps which featured studio recordings of "Irish Pub versions" of Skyclad classics by the new line-up, proceeded by a single, 2001's "Swords of a Thousand Men". The single's title track, a cover tune (originally recorded by Tenpole Tudor), also appeared on Folkémon as a bonus track, although in a different version. The single featured two recordings of the track, one of them with Ridley on vocals and one with Ridley sharing the microphone with Ten Pole Tudor's vocalist Edward Tudor-Pole. The single/album release was accompanied by the 'The Same...But Different' tour, the largest Skyclad had undertaken for many years. Also in 2001 the band released Another Fine Mess, which featured live recordings from 1995 and the contents of the Outrageous Fourtunes EP.
2004's A Semblance of Normality marks the bands first new material from the post-Walkyier era (there had been some unpleasantness between Walkyier and the other band members over copyrights and royalties for his lyrics, as well as the release of tracks featuring him), keeps very much in the vein of previous releases, with Ridley's lyrics making an obvious effort to follow similar themes and styles to Walkyiers whilst retaining an individual identity. The album has probably been the most widely received of their releases, probably due to better distribution and word-of-mouth advertising, and has received much critical acclaim, especially in the English-speaking world, where, ironically (given the use of inventive wordplay in their titles and lyrics, much of it aimed at native English speakers), the band is almost unknown. However, in South America and mainland Europe they have been extremely popular for many years, especially in Germany and Greece.
Skyclad's current release is an EP, Jig-a-Jig, self-released by the Band. A new album was recorded in summer 2008, it is to be released in late 2008 or 2009.
Four songs from the band's latest releases are available for both streaming and download at the Skyclad page at MySpace.
Single Phial
Skyclad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Today is only yesterday's tomorrow.
And as a Gardner in Eden it was i who sowed the seed then
I've come to reclaim this life you borrow.
Singing 'ring a ring o' rosies' for your final lullabye,
Have you any prayers to make before you wave your last goodbye ?
I bring 'a pocket full o' posies' - lay a wreath to ease my guilt,
[Chorus:]
As yet unwritten history -
Once more i stride the lightning road
Identity a mystery -
My burden is Pandora's load.
Traversing endless centuries -
Disguised behind Death's lipless smile,
I hide that my intention is to pour this single phial.
I'd have rather seen your face almost any other place
Still here we meet - always the way in this profession
And as i gaze into your eyes - i see the glimer within dies,
From ther moment i first make my dark confession.
How could i swear i would be there for you, until your dying day,
Certain in the knowledge that it's not that far away?
So you leave me sitting here bewildered as a new dead ghost,
While i try to justify destroying that which i love most.
As yet unwritten history -
Once more i stride the lightning road
Identity a mystery -
My burden is Pandora's load.
Traversing endless centuries -
Disguised behind Death's lipless smile,
I hide that my intention is to pour this single phial.
The dark millennium is ending - final daze of the decayed
And a reign of tears is falling - it's the judgement eve parade.
Though I wash my hands a thousand times - still the guilt remains,
She stole my heart - I took her life ...
(And yet i never knew her name).
As yet unwritten history -
Once more i stride the lightning road
Identity a mystery -
My burden is Pandora's load.
Traversing endless centuries -
Disguised behind Death's lipless smile,
I hide that my intention is to pour this single phial.
Out with a whimper - not with a bang.
And they all gathered round while the church bell rang.
Singing 'bring out your dead' they 'll stretch for miles,
To be bourne to their graves in single files.
[Chorus:]
As yet unwritten history -
Once more i stride the lightning road
Identity a mystery -
My burden is Pandora's load.
Traversing endless centuries -
Disguised behind Death's lipless smile,
I hide that my intention is to pour this single phial.
The song "Single Phial" by Skyclad tells the story of an immortal being who has been wandering the earth for centuries, and speaks of his paradoxical existence. The opening lines reveal the being's timeless nature and he lays claim to a role in the creation of humanity. The lyrics suggest that he is reaching the end of his own immortal existence and is searching for a way to end his cursed life. The singer of the story feels guilt to have taken away what he loves but seems to have had no choice, possibly being a duty forced upon him.
As the song progresses, the chorus becomes more poignant, underscoring the fact that the singer is alone, and bears the burden of a life that never ends. It is revealed that he has taken someone's life, someone he loved but whose name he never knew. He is filled with grief and guilt and, despite washing his hands a thousand times, the guilt for this deed remains with him. The song ends on a somber note with the chorus echoing the immortality's burden and the intention behind his single phial.
The song's lyrics are open to interpretation, and it is possible to read the lyrics as a metaphor for death, the circle of life, and the conflicting emotions that come with it. Overall, "Single Phial" is a song about mortality and humanity, and the futility of trying to hold onto something that is ultimately fleeting.
Line by Line Meaning
I have walked the earth so many times before your birth,
I am a immortal being who has lived for centuries, long before you were born.
Today is only yesterday's tomorrow.
Every day is a continuation of the past and a prelude to the future.
And as a Gardner in Eden it was i who sowed the seed then
I played a role in the creation of the world, as a gardener who planted seeds in the Garden of Eden.
I've come to reclaim this life you borrow.
I am here to take back the life that mortals borrow temporarily, as they are not meant to live forever.
Singing 'ring a ring o' rosies' for your final lullabye,
I am singing a nursery rhyme as a last lullaby for the dying.
Have you any prayers to make before you wave your last goodbye ?
I am asking if the dying person has any last prayers or wishes before they pass on.
I bring 'a pocket full o' posies' - lay a wreath to ease my guilt,
I bring flowers as a way to lessen my guilt for taking someone's life.
As the light's go out forever not one drop of blood was spilt.
The person died naturally and peacefully, without any violence or harm.
[Chorus:] As yet unwritten history - Once more i stride the lightning road Identity a mystery - My burden is Pandora's load. Traversing endless centuries - Disguised behind Death's lipless smile, I hide that my intention is to pour this single phial.
I am a mysterious immortal being, carrying the burden of my actions throughout history. I am disguised as death, with the intention of pouring a single phial, but my true purpose is unknown.
I'd have rather seen your face almost any other place Still here we meet - always the way in this profession
As someone who takes lives, I would prefer to not encounter those I have to kill, but it is still a part of my duty and profession.
And as i gaze into your eyes - i see the glimer within dies, From ther moment i first make my dark confession.
As I confess to the person I have to kill, I see the light in their eyes fade away, revealing the realization of their coming death.
How could i swear i would be there for you, until your dying day, Certain in the knowledge that it's not that far away?
As someone who takes lives, I would never be able to live up to the promise of being there until someone's dying day, as death is unpredictable and can come at any moment.
So you leave me sitting here bewildered as a new dead ghost, While i try to justify destroying that which i love most.
As the person dies, I am left feeling lost and confused, struggling to justify the act of taking someone's life, even though it may have been done out of love.
The dark millennium is ending - final daze of the decayed And a reign of tears is falling - it's the judgement eve parade.
The end of the millennium is upon us, with a sense of decay and sadness, as if there is a parade of judgement and reckoning for our actions.
Though I wash my hands a thousand times - still the guilt remains, She stole my heart - I took her life ... (And yet i never knew her name).
Despite trying to wash away my guilt, I still feel the weight of my actions. I took a life of someone I loved, without even knowing their name.
Out with a whimper - not with a bang. And they all gathered round while the church bell rang. Singing 'bring out your dead' they 'll stretch for miles, To be bourne to their graves in single files.
The person passed away quietly, without any commotion or noise. People gathered to mourn and carry the body to its final resting place, singing a mournful song while doing so.
[Chorus:] As yet unwritten history - Once more i stride the lightning road Identity a mystery - My burden is Pandora's load. Traversing endless centuries - Disguised behind Death's lipless smile, I hide that my intention is to pour this single phial.
I am a mysterious immortal being, carrying the burden of my actions throughout history. I am disguised as death, with the intention of pouring a single phial, but my true purpose is unknown.
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: MARTIN WALKYIER, STEPHEN RAMSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind