Wakeford founded Sol Invictus in order to pursue his own musical ideas. He was an original member of Crisis and Death In June with Douglas P.. He formed Sol Invictus in 1987, working with Ian Read and Karl Blake. He has been the sole constant of the group, as it continues to bring forth new forms and conceptions.
Wakeford has described Sol Invictus as a "cabaret band from Hell for the fin-de-siècle" and has referred to his work as folk noir. He has said the name "comes from a pre-Christian Rome-based cult. Many of its trappings were taken over by the church. The name means 'the unconquered (or victorious) sun', and it was brought back by the legionnaires returning from Persia. The sun has always been an important symbol and as the cult of Sol Invictus nearly defeated Christianity at one point it seemed a good name to use. I also love the sound of Latin. "
Sol Invictus' imagery and lyrical content, especially initially, was strongly influenced by an antipathy for the modern world and materialism. The band also had considerable interest in Heathen and Mithraist themes, often reflecting an explicit antipathy to Christianity. Wakeford has written from a melancholic position of doomed Romanticism, which laments the loss of beauty, love, and Culture. He sees Americanism as a scourge upon Europe, as expressed with pitch-black humour in his song, "Death of the West" from the album of the same name.
In 2007 Tony Wakeford started working with Israeli producer and musician 'M'. The German label Prophecy will release a new Sol Invictus studio album, 'The Cruelest Month' in 2010.
Do not mix it up with the German band Soul_Invictus!
Looking for Europe
Sol Invictus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With eyes of sunlight, like burning sand
Went to the west, rode to the east
Heard of life and honour, looked into the eyes of the beast
Stood in a city, in the gold house of whores
Said: ''I'm looking for Europe'', then you're looking for war
Sat on the throne of Arthur, held Boudica's sword
Kissed the flags of the great, beneath the towers so tall
Said: ''I'm looking for Europe'', well be ready to cry
He walked to the forest, to the lair of the wolf
Said: ''I'm looking for Europe, I'll tell you truth.''
Some find it in a flag, some in the beat of a drum
Some with a book, and some with a gun
Some in a kiss, and some on the march
But if you're looking for Europe, best look in your heart
The lyrics of Sol Invictus's song "Looking for Europe" depict a traveler's journey to find Europe while carrying love in his hand. The traveler sets out to find Europe, but the journey begins on a disturbing note as he travels from west to east, encountering the beast, life, and honor along the way. He arrives in a city, the "gold house of whores," and declares his intention to find Europe. However, he is warned that he is looking for war by doing so. The traveler then sits on the throne of Arthur, holds Boudica's sword, and kisses the flags of the great beneath the towers so tall. He climbs up the hillside, where the eagle still flies, but warns that if one is looking for Europe, well be ready to cry.
The traveler then walks to the forest, to the lair of the wolf, and admits that he is looking for Europe and will tell the truth. Along the way, he discovers that people find Europe in different ways. Some find it in a flag, some in the beat of a drum, some with a book, and some with a gun. The traveler warns that if one is looking for Europe, best look in their heart.
Overall, the song's lyrics are quite cryptic and interpretive. They suggest that Europe is not a mere geographical or political entity but a complex concept that people perceive and experience in different ways. The song's central message seems to be that Europe is not based on any physical or material objects but is instead something abstract and subjective that resides in every individual's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
He went looking for Europe, took love in his hand
He set out on a journey to explore Europe with a heart full of love and curiosity
With eyes of sunlight, like burning sand
He had eyes that shone like the sun and glowed with intensity
Went to the west, rode to the east
He travelled across Europe from the west to the east
Heard of life and honour, looked into the eyes of the beast
He learned about the virtues of life and honour, and faced the harsh realities of the world
Stood in a city, in the gold house of whores
He found himself standing in a city full of prostitution and decadence
Said: ''I'm looking for Europe'', then you're looking for war
He declared his intent of searching for the true essence of Europe, and was met with hostility and aggression
Sat on the throne of Arthur, held Boudica's sword
He symbolically sat on the throne of King Arthur, and wielded the sword of Queen Boudica, ancient British symbols of power and sovereignty
Kissed the flags of the great, beneath the towers so tall
He paid homage to the flags of the great nations of Europe, standing humbly in their shadow
Climbed up the hillside, where the eagle still flies
He ascended a hill where eagles still soar, seeking enlightenment and insight
Said: ''I'm looking for Europe'', well be ready to cry
He reiterated his quest for the true meaning of Europe, warning that it might be a painful and emotional journey
He walked to the forest, to the lair of the wolf
He ventured into the wilderness, to the domain of the predator
Said: ''I'm looking for Europe, I'll tell you truth.''
He asserted his sincere desire to find the authentic core of Europe
Some find it in a flag, some in the beat of a drum
Some people identify Europe through national symbols and cultural expressions
Some with a book, and some with a gun
Some associate Europe with intellectual achievements, while others perceive it as a realm of conflict and warfare
Some in a kiss, and some on the march
Some experience the spirit of Europe through romantic or social encounters, while others through political activism
But if you're looking for Europe, best look in your heart
Ultimately, the essence of Europe can only be found within oneself, through introspection and self-discovery
Contributed by Kayla G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hexstacy
He went looking for Europe, took love in his hand
With eyes of sunlight, like burning sand
Went to the west, rode to the east
Heard of life and honour, looked into the eyes of the beast
Stood in a city, in the gold house of whores
Said: "I'm looking for Europe", then you're looking for war
Sat on the throne of Arthur, held Boudica's sword
Kissed the flags of the great, beneath the towers so tall
Climbed up the hillside, where the eagle still flies
Said: "I'm looking for Europe", well be ready to cry
He walked to the forest, to the lair of the wolf
Said: "I'm looking for Europe, I'll tell you truth."
Some find it in a flag, some in the beat of a drum
Some with a book, and some with a gun
Some in a kiss, and some on the march
But if you're looking for Europe, best look in your heart
@10Ammar
These lyrics... goosebumps.
@cujemi55
Truth
@hexstacy
He went looking for Europe, took love in his hand
With eyes of sunlight, like burning sand
Went to the west, rode to the east
Heard of life and honour, looked into the eyes of the beast
Stood in a city, in the gold house of whores
Said: "I'm looking for Europe", then you're looking for war
Sat on the throne of Arthur, held Boudica's sword
Kissed the flags of the great, beneath the towers so tall
Climbed up the hillside, where the eagle still flies
Said: "I'm looking for Europe", well be ready to cry
He walked to the forest, to the lair of the wolf
Said: "I'm looking for Europe, I'll tell you truth."
Some find it in a flag, some in the beat of a drum
Some with a book, and some with a gun
Some in a kiss, and some on the march
But if you're looking for Europe, best look in your heart
@relananikova6027
GRANDIOSO !
@mihailsobolev1969
Hurts me inside the chest for some reason.
@czarinastrough5768
ty for posting this! its great!!!
@BNK2442
Why did the chicken cross the road? Because it was looking for Europe.
@prophecyBC
you're welcome
@doctorfaustxvi
This song is a perfect representation of the European spirit:
Simple and pure.
Beautiful and melancholic.
Repetitive like a Hyperborean winter where every night shines the same under the mighty influence of Aurora Borealis.
@louis-francois.deletang
The singer was Ian Read, not Ian Reed!