Formation and Early Success
Founded in 1994 by multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Peter Lawlor to showcase music he composed for the British Levi's television advertisement "Creek," Stiltskin rose to fame with their hit single "Inside," which reached the top of the UK Singles Chart. Despite this initial success, subsequent releases like "Footsteps" achieved moderate chart positions, with the band's original lineup releasing their debut album, "The Mind's Eye," which attained a silver record in the UK and garnered attention in the US music scene.
Changes and Continued Pursuits
Following the disbandment of the original lineup in 1996 during the recording of their unfinished second album, members pursued other projects. Lawlor continued his work in music production and composition, contributing to various high-profile projects and also delving into economics. Other former members, such as McFarlane and Wilson, ventured into different musical endeavors, with Wilson notably joining Genesis and later launching a solo career.
Revival and Recent Activities
In 2005, Wilson assembled a new lineup under the Stiltskin moniker and released the album "She" in 2006. The band toured extensively in Europe, culminating in the release of a live album in 2007. Subsequent albums followed, including "Unfulfillment" in 2011. Over the years, there have been lineup changes, with drummer Ashley Macmillan departing the band in 2015.
Discography
The Mind's Eye (1994)
She (2006)
Unfulfillment (2011)
Inside
Stiltskin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a dark glass hour
You turn and cower
See it turn to dust
Move on a stone dark night
We take to fight
Snowfall turns to rust
Like a nursing rhyme
Fat man starts to fall
Here in a hostile place
I hear your face start to call
And if you think
That I've been loosing my way
That's because I'm slightly blinded
And if you think
That I don't make too much sense
That's because
I'm broken minded
Don't keep it
Inside
If you believe it
Don't keep it all inside
Strong words
In a Ganges sky
I have to lie
Shadows move in Pairs
Ring out from a bruised postcard
In the shooting yard
Looking through the tears
Out of the black slate time
We move in line
But never reach an end
Fall in a long stray town
As the ice comes round
River starts to bend
And if you think
That I've been loosing my way
That's because I'm slightly blinded
And if you think
That I don't make too much sense
That's because
I'm broken minded
Don't keep it
Inside
If you believe it
Don't keep it all inside
"Inside" by Stiltskin is a song that blends alternative rock, grunge, and post-grunge styles to communicate a message about the importance of expression and being true to oneself. The lyrics of the song tell a story of hardship and struggle, urging listeners to confront and speak out about their inner demons and fears.
The first stanza sets the tone for the song with the lines "Swing low in a dark glass hour, you turn and cower, see it turn to dust." The dark imagery of this stanza suggests a sense of loneliness and despair. The second stanza depicts a scene of conflict with lines like "Here in a hostile place, I hear your face start to call" and "Fat man starts to fall." These lines are a metaphor for the struggles and challenges that the singer faces in his life.
The chorus of the song is the most memorable part of the lyrics, with lines like "Don't keep it inside if you believe it, don't keep it all inside." The message is simple but powerful: when we keep our feelings and thoughts bottled up inside, it can be detrimental to our mental and emotional health. The line "That's because I'm broken-minded" suggests that the singer is dealing with past traumas or experiences that have caused him to feel fractured and disconnected.
Overall, "Inside" is a haunting and intense song that speaks to the human experience of suffering and pain. The lyrics and music blend together to create a powerful emotional statement that urges listeners to confront their inner demons and speak out about their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Swing low
Feeling down
In a dark glass hour
In a time of great difficulty and hopelessness
You turn and cower
You feel helpless and scared
See it turn to dust
All your hopes and dreams seem to be fading away
Move on a stone dark night
You keep going in spite of the darkness and obstacles
We take to fight
You are ready to fight for what you believe in
Snowfall turns to rust
Things are not what they seem
Seam in a fusing mine
A place where things come together
Like a nursing rhyme
Comforting, but sometimes confusing
Fat man starts to fall
The powerful can still fall
Here in a hostile place
A place where you don't feel welcome or safe
I hear your face start to call
You can hear someone's voice in your head
And if you think
If you believe
That I've been loosing my way
That I have lost my way
That's because I'm slightly blinded
I am not seeing things clearly
And if you think
If you believe
That I don't make too much sense
That I am not making sense
That's because
It's because
I'm broken minded
I am not thinking clearly
Don't keep it
Don't hold it in
Inside
Bottled up
If you believe it
If you feel it's right
Don't keep it all inside
Tell someone
Strong words
Powerful emotions
In a Ganges sky
In a faraway and exotic place
I have to lie
I am not telling the truth
Shadows move in Pairs
Things are moving in a strange and mysterious way
Ring out from a bruised postcard
A reminder of past hurts
In the shooting yard
A dangerous and unpredictable place
Looking through the tears
Unable to see clearly
Out of the black slate time
From a distant and forgotten past
We move in line
We follow others
But never reach an end
We never seem to get anywhere
Fall in a long stray town
A lonely and forgotten place
As the ice comes round
As winter approaches
River starts to bend
Things are changing
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER LAWLOR, PETER JOHN LAWLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel
Swing low
In a dark glass hour
You turn and cower
See it turn to dust
Move on a stone dark night
We take to fight
Snowfall turns to rust
Seam in a fusing mine
Like a nursing rhyme
Fat man starts to fall
Here in a hostile place
I hear your face start to call
And if you think
That I've been loosing my way
That's because I'm slightly blinded
And if you think
That I don't make too much sense
That's because
I'm broken minded
Don't keep it
Inside
If you believe it
Don't keep it all inside
Strong words
In a Ganges sky
I have to lie
Shadows move in Pairs
Ring out from a bruised postcard
In the shooting yard
Looking through the tears
Out of the black slate time
We move in line
But never reach an end
Fall in a long stray town
As the ice comes round
River starts to bend
And if you think
That I've been loosing my way
That's because I'm slightly blinded
And if you think
That I don't make too much sense
That's because
I'm broken minded
Don't keep it
Inside
If you believe it
Don't keep it all inside
Punk Rider
Remember the pogo on Stiltskin music in some underground clubs while in highschool..... ohhh how time passes by.... great band ,,,great song...Kudos from Romania
Alexandru Binescu
Pogo! De când am citit cuvântul m-am gândit că mesajul trebuie să fie din România >:-)
MOOSEDOWNUNDER
Awesome times indeed mate, i remember it clearly, regards from Australia. Time does indeed.......fly!
Ion Ionescu
great days indeed my friend...
Grga Pitić
Fucking hell I need time machine.. pogo 🤘
Qaer Kyr
Salut! It been taking me forever to locate this song, I could've swear this belongs to Nirvana. Kudos reloaded from Romania
Gianni Chochlidakis
2023 and I’m still here in these same old years of being a teenager! The best years to be growing up to music that gets under your skin! ❤
Neil Urban
Literally my thoughts this morning.
Good music is timeless
Sensational_Cellar
I remember the Levi’s advert with this song. It was everywhere. Classic and heavy 🤌
Emma Heinemann
Yep! Same. I was 17 when this came out.