They are notable for being the first of the British punk bands to release a single, put out an album, and tour the United States. Their debut album, Damned Damned Damned, was released six months before The Sex Pistols' debut, Never Mind The Bollocks.
The Damned have dissolved and reformed many times, with singer Dave Vanian remaining the sole constant. They have incorporated many styles in their music, most notably garage rock, psychedelic music, the British theatrical rock of Screaming Lord Sutch and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, and New Romantic.
In addition to serving as inspiration for many of the young bands who created hardcore punk in the US, The Damned are also generally regarded as one of the founders of goth music.
Original members Dave Vanian (David Lett), Captain Sensible (Raymond Burns), and Rat Scabies (Chris Millar) were all members of the semi-legendary Masters of the Backside which included future Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde.
Original guitarist Brian James (Brian Robertson) was a member of the early punk band London SS, a unit that never played live, but whose members later found fame in bands including The Clash and Generation X. Rat Scabies was also tried as the drummer for London SS, but was rejected.
Maintaining the goth connection, between 1996 and 2004 the bass guitarist of the Damned was one-time the Sisters of Mercy / the Sisterhood / Gun Club member Patricia Morrison. Morrison married Dave Vanian in 1996 but left the band after the birth of their daughter Emily. She originally joined the band after bassist Paul Grey was injured during a concert.
Discography:
Damned, Damned, Damned – February 25, 1977 (# 36)
Music For Pleasure – November 18, 1977
Machine Gun Etiquette – November 2, 1979 (# 31)
The Black Album – October 20, 1980 (# 29)
Strawberries – October 1, 1982 (# 15)
Phantasmagoria – July 15, 1985 (# 11)
Anything – December 5, 1986 (# 40)
Not of This Earth – November 11, 1995 (Retitled I'm Alright Jack & The Beanstalk in the UK, Germany and Sweden)
Grave Disorder – August 21, 2001
So, Who's Paranoid? – October 28, 2008
Evil Spirits – April 13, 2018
Darkadelic - April 28, 2023
Absinthe
The Damned Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tramsform the way you feel
Make life a little easier
For you to face your fears
As the evening starts to crawl
Dark shadows on the walls
Are dancing and inviting you
To come and taste it all
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
Come taste this lunacy
Be blinded by the green faerie
Creeping out of your glass
Into your mind
Then you can really see
I can take all of your fears
Trandform the way you feel
Welcome to the spirit world
Where all your dreams are real
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
As the evening starts to crawl
Dark shadows on the walls
Are dancing and inviting you
To come and taste it all
I can take all of your fears
Trandform the way you feel
Welcome to the spirit world
Where all your dreams are real
And now our trip to wonderland
Has finally come to an end
And if you're not completely mad...
I will be your best friend
The lyrics to The Damned's song Absinthe are about the experience of drinking absinthe, a highly alcoholic spirit traditionally associated with hallucinations and altered states of consciousness. The song describes the sensation of taking a chance and surrendering to the seductive powers of the drink, which is personified as a "green faerie" that creeps out of the glass and into the mind of the drinker. The singer of the song claims to have the ability to transform the way the drinker feels and make life a little easier, allowing them to face their fears and enter into the "spirit world" where all their dreams are real.
The lyrics are filled with evocative imagery and metaphors, likening the effects of absinthe to dark shadows on the walls and dancing invitations. The repeated refrain of "if you want to take a chance, seduction's in a glass" emphasizes the idea of absinthe as a tempting and alluring substance that invites the drinker to let go of their inhibitions and embrace the unknown.
Overall, the song creates a mystical and slightly dangerous atmosphere that captures the allure of absinthe and its association with bohemian artists and writers. The line "and if you're not completely mad, I will be your best friend" suggests that absinthe is a drink for those who are willing to embrace the unpredictable and unconventional aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I can take all of your dreams
I have the power to change your dreams and desires
Transform the way you feel
I can alter your emotions
Make life a little easier
I can relieve you of your burdens
For you to face your fears
I will help you confront your fears
As the evening starts to crawl
At nightfall
Dark shadows on the walls
Shadows cast on the walls in the dimly lit room
Are dancing and inviting you
The shadows appear alive and draw you in
To come and taste it all
To try the absinthe and its effects
If you want to take a chance
If you're willing to try something new
Seduction's in a glass
The absinthe is alluring and tempting
Taking you to another place
It transports you to a different state of mind
Come taste this lunacy
Experience the madness of the absinthe
Be blinded by the green faerie
Be entranced by the hallucinogenic effects of absinthe
Creeping out of your glass
The absinthe comes to life
Into your mind
It alters your perception and thoughts
Then you can really see
You'll experience a heightened sense of sight
Welcome to the spirit world
You've entered a new plane of existence
Where all your dreams are real
A world where fantasies come true
And now our trip to wonderland
Our journey to an enchanted place
Has finally come to an end
Our experience has finished
And if you're not completely mad...
If you haven't lost your sanity
I will be your best friend
I'll remain your trusted companion
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tatehammontree2636
I can take all of your dreams
Transform the way you feel
Make life a little easier
For you to face your fears
As the evening starts to crawl
Dark shadows on the walls
Are dancing and inviting you
To come and taste it all
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
Come taste this lunacy
Be blinded by the green faerie
Creeping out of your glass
Into your mind
Then you can really see
I can take all of your fears
Transform the way you feel
Welcome to the spirit world
Where all your dreams are real
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
As the evening starts to crawl
Dark shadows on the walls
Are dancing and inviting you
To come and taste it all
I can take all of your fears
Transform the way you feel
Welcome to the spirit world
Where all your dreams are real
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
And now our trip to wonderland
Has finally come to an end
And if you're not completely mad...
I will be your best friend
@danielantoni4
Just because I love absinthe I found this band and it sounds gorgeous! 🖤
@davidmurray5326
The damned are an incredible band, so many levels to them!
@paulwood7798
Grave Disorder is such a great record that is full of gems. 17 years later I still find it hard to get through a week without at least listening to once a day.
@djdrack4681
It is one of my favorites. Don't get me wrong, Black Album/Strawberries was a great era, but Phantasmagoria is arguably in the top 3 for Goth albums of the 80s. SoM First and Last and Always came out in mar 85 and at that time ppl were wondering if The Damned were slowing down and done.
Then Vanian revamps it and tosses down an utter masterpiece. 15 years later Grave Disorder just picked up where it left off.
@VincentRE79
I totally missed this album when did it come out?
@freddylopez8757
Una espectacular banda incomparable ochentera con muy buenos temas
@stolasgoetia93
Who's enjoying a glass of Absinthe while listening to this song?
@DeeMolition
think I'll have one tonight!
@Brewzerr
Not me. That stuff tastes like ass. I'll stick with my Scotch. Good song though.
@tatehammontree2636
I can take all of your dreams
Transform the way you feel
Make life a little easier
For you to face your fears
As the evening starts to crawl
Dark shadows on the walls
Are dancing and inviting you
To come and taste it all
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
Come taste this lunacy
Be blinded by the green faerie
Creeping out of your glass
Into your mind
Then you can really see
I can take all of your fears
Transform the way you feel
Welcome to the spirit world
Where all your dreams are real
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
As the evening starts to crawl
Dark shadows on the walls
Are dancing and inviting you
To come and taste it all
I can take all of your fears
Transform the way you feel
Welcome to the spirit world
Where all your dreams are real
If you want to take a chance
Seduction's in a glass
Taking you to another place
And now our trip to wonderland
Has finally come to an end
And if you're not completely mad...
I will be your best friend