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.
The Thread Of Evermore
Skyclad Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Next time round you'll be the slain)
Refuse the dying man your water
(Thirst when you come back again).
Don't spare the rod don't spoil the child
(I hope you like to take a beating)
Feed your face while others starve
(You'd better learn to not miss eating.)
Shining beaty fair and wise,
Has served it's time as dim an sallow
An honest judge seeks truth through eyes
Which once gazed lifeless from the gallows.
Hands that heal the sick and lame,
Long since held tools of inquisition.
Tongues which speak words true and sane
Have chanted sermons on perdition.
[Chorus]
Cross the bridge that spans forever
Living thread of evermore.
Without beginning ending never,
Living thread of evermore
See the footprints in the sand
Countless lifetimes gone before,
Point our path with unseen hands
The living thread of evermore.
From egg and sperm 'neath sticky sheet,
To ash and bone or maggot meat,
The way looks neither pleasant or too long
So have you stopped to wonder whether
If when weighted against a feather,
All your deeds appear so big and strong?
Cross the bridge that spans forever
Living thread of evermore.
Without beginning ending never,
Living thread of evermore
See the footprints in the sand
Countless lifetimes gone before,
Point our path with unseen hands
The living thread of evermore.
Light and dark complete the circle
Find the yang to fit the Yin
Barren desert lush green myrtle
Chase the wind to lift your wing
From egg and sperm 'neath sticky sheet,
To ash and bone or maggot meat,
The way looks neither pleasant or too long
So have you stopped to wonder whether
If when weighted against a feather,
All your deeds appear so big and strong?
Cross the bridge that spans forever
Living thread of evermore.
Without beginning ending never,
Living thread of evermore
The lyrics to Skyclad's song "The Thread Of Evermore" are filled with contrasting themes of life and death, light and dark, good and evil, and the cyclical nature of existence. The first stanza speaks to the inevitability of death and the consequences of actions taken in life. The "harbinger of death and slaughter" warns that one day, the roles may be reversed, and the person who refused a dying man water may be in need themselves. The lyrics suggest that there are consequences for our actions and that we should not spare the rod, as it were, in disciplining ourselves and others for the greater good.
The second stanza contrasts the idea of beauty and wisdom with the darker elements of truth-seeking and punishment. The idea of a "judge seeks truth through eyes which once gazed lifeless from the gallows" speaks to the idea that those who have brought punishment in the past can still be a force for good in the present. The chorus, "Cross the bridge that spans forever, Living thread of evermore. Without beginning, ending never, Living thread of evermore," speaks to the cyclical nature of life and death and the idea that our deeds are woven into the fabric of existence.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Thread Of Evermore" remind us that life is a journey, with a beginning and an end, but that we should not shy away from the hard truths of the world or the consequences of our actions. We should strive to do good and make our mark on the world while recognizing that we are all part of a greater whole.
Line by Line Meaning
Harbinger of death and slaughter
Someone who brings death and destruction.
(Next time round you'll be the slain)
What goes around comes around.
Refuse the dying man your water
Don't help those who won't appreciate it.
(Thirst when you come back again).
Those who refuse to help others will eventually need help themselves.
Don't spare the rod don't spoil the child
Punish those who need it.
(I hope you like to take a beating)
Those who don't learn from punishment will continue to suffer.
Feed your face while others starve
Don't be selfish.
(You'd better learn to not miss eating.)
If you don't learn to share, others won't share with you either.
Shining beauty fair and wise,
Beauty that is both attractive and intelligent.
Has served it's time as dim and sallow
Beauty fades over time.
An honest judge seeks truth through eyes
Honesty is necessary for justice.
Which once gazed lifeless from the gallows.
The same eyes that saw death can see truth.
Hands that heal the sick and lame,
Healing is important work.
Long since held tools of inquisition.
The same hands that heal can also hurt.
Tongues which speak words true and sane
Speaking truth is important.
Have chanted sermons on perdition.
The same tongue that speaks truth can also spread fear.
[Chorus]
Repeating the refrain.
Cross the bridge that spans forever
Move on from the past.
Living thread of evermore.
Life is a continuous journey.
Without beginning ending never,
Life has no defined beginning or end.
See the footprints in the sand
Look to the past for guidance.
Countless lifetimes gone before,
People have been living for a long time.
Point our path with unseen hands
We are guided by forces beyond our control.
The living thread of evermore.
Life is a journey that continues endlessly.
Light and dark complete the circle
Good and evil balance each other out.
Find the yang to fit the Yin
Strive for balance.
Barren desert lush green myrtle
Life can grow in unexpected places.
Chase the wind to lift your wing
Take risks and embrace change.
(Repeating previous verses)
Re-emphasizing the main themes.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARTIN WALKYIER, STEPHEN RAMSEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind