1. A popular hard rock ba… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least six artists with this name:
1. A popular hard rock band from the United Kingdom
2. A death metal band from Germany
3. An alternative rock band from Poland
4. A Eurodance group
5. A thrash metal band from the Czech Republic
1. The Darkness are a hard rock band which formed in Lowestoft, England in 2000. The band consists of Justin Hawkins (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Dan Hawkins (guitar, vocals), Frankie Poullain (bass) and Ed Graham (drums). According to the Nothin's Gonna Stop Us Songfacts, Ed Graham inspired the band’s name as his youthful bleak moods were known as The Darkness.
They are widely regarded as a glam rock band, but the members disputed this and saw themselves as a classic hard-rock band. Their highly retro style of music was influenced by rock bands like Queen, AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, Sparks, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, T. Rex, Def Leppard, Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy. They are best known for the soaring falsetto of their lead singer Justin Hawkins, whose departure in 2006 resulted in the dissolution of the band. In 2011, the band announced their return, with a third album, "Hot Cakes," to be released on Wind-up Records.
Dan had initially seen his brother's potential of being a frontman after Justin did an impressive recreation of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' at a New Year's Eve party in 1999, thrown by Justin and Dan's aunt in her pub The Swan at Gillingham just over the River Waveney in Norfolk, despite the fact that Justin was only miming to the original song. Playing at first only in pubs and bars, their pyrotechnic guitar solos and over the top performances soon brought them to public knowledge.
Achieving major success in the UK in 2003, The Darkness received considerable radio airplay of their singles, including I Believe in a Thing Called Love and the Christmas hit Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End). Their debut album, Permission to Land, reached number one in the UK charts and went on to sell one and a half million copies in the UK alone. The success of this album led to heavy touring for the band, which included headlining the Carling Festivals in 2004. The band won three Brit Awards in the same year, including Best Group, Best Rock Group and Best Album. They also won two Kerrang! awards for Best Live Act and Best British Band.
By late 2004 the band's huge success had led to a public backlash, and people claiming that the band were more a joke than a 'real' band became more common. The band responded to this criticism by touring the UK's top arenas on the "Winter-National Tour" tour with the Irish group Ash supporting them. One part of the show included Justin climbing upon a life-sized white tiger during "Love on the Rocks with No Ice" and being elevated around the audience whilst still playing guitar. The majority of the shows on the tour sold out.
On May 23, 2005 original bass player Frankie Poullain left the band during the recording of their second album, apparently due to "musical differences" with Justin Hawkins. Frankie has disputed this version of events, claiming he was "frozen out" and forced to leave the band by Justin and his longterm girlfriend (and the band's manager) Sue Whitehouse. On June 13 2005, The Darkness announced that Richie Edwards, formerly Dan's guitar technician, had replaced Frankie as bass player.
One Way Ticket, the first single from their second album, was released on 14 November 2005, debuting and peaking at number 8 on the UK Singles chart. The Darkness followed this with their second album One Way Ticket to Hell...And Back on November 28, 2005 to mixed reviews despite it having been produced by the well known Roy Thomas Baker whom has worked with bands such as Queen. Although it has been made platinum its sales do not come close to their debut's five-times-platinum rating and its chart peak at number eleven is a weak showing compared to Permission To Land's number one. The second single release from this album was Is It Just Me?, released on 20th February 2006 and charted at number eight. Soon afterwards Justin announced while performing live that the third single to be released from the album would be Girlfriend; and gained a mixed response. Released on 22nd May 2006, it charted at a disappointing number thirty-nine.
After having disappeared for quite some time the band announced that singer Justin Hawkins had left the band on 11th October 2006, after a battle against drugs.
On December 24, 2006, it was reported by Yahoo! News that bass player Richie Edwards would become the group's new frontman, with Toby MacFarlaine to join The Darkness and take over on bass. In blog entries on MySpace, Richie Edwards, Dan Hawkins and Ed Graham said that they had started recording a new album with Toby McFarlaine, and that they had formed a new band together.
On March 2, 2007, The Darkness' official website was changed, showing a photograph of the new, and as yet unnamed band. Links to the members individual Myspace pages were included, confirming the line-up of Richie Edwards, Dan Hawkins, Toby MacFarlaine and Ed Graham. Richie later added a message to the site, categorically confirming that the band would not continue under the name "The Darkness", saying "we are literally days away from announcing our new name".
It was announced on August 25, 2007 that the band had finished recording an album but no release dates or names, of either the band or album, had been decided. Record label and support has yet to be decided.
On November 9, 2007, it was announced on The University of East Anglia's student union website that the new band would be called Stone Gods. This name was confirmed on the official website on November 21, 2007. The line-up has been confirmed as Dan Hawkins (lead guitar), Toby MacFarlaine (bass), Ed Graham (drums) and Richie Edwards (vocals/guitar).
In March 2011, The Darkness announced on their newly updated website that they would be reforming the original line-up to play the Download Festival in Donington, Derbyshire. Songfacts reports that Nothin's Gonna Stop Us, the first new material from the band since they reconvened, was made available several months later as a free download from The Darkness’s official website.
The Darkness will be releasing "Hotcakes," their first album since reuniting, in 2012 on Wind-up Records. This album includes the singles "Every Inch of You" and Everybody Have a Good Time."
Christmas Time
The Darkness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the gifts we despise over mulled wine with you
On the twenty-fifth day
Of the twelfth month, the sleigh bells are in time, ringin' true
How we cling, each Noel, to that snowflake's hope in hell
That it won't end
Don't let the bells end
Just let them ring in peace
Well, the weather is cruel
And the season of Yule lifts the heart, but it still hurts
You've got your career
Spent the best part of last year apart and it still hurts
So that's why I pray each and every Christmas day
That it won't end
Don't let the bells end
Christmas time
Just let them ring in peace
(Christmas time)
(Don't let the bells end)
(Christmas time)
(Don't let the bells end)
Poised underneath the mistletoe leaf
And you're not here
You went away, upon Boxing Day
Now how the hell am I gonna make it into the New Year?
Christmas time (don't let it end)
Don't let the bells end
Christmas time
Don't let the bells end (don't let the bells end)
Christmas time
Don't let the bells end
Christmas time
Just let them ring in peace
Christmas time (come on, kids)
Don't let the bells end (bells end)
Christmas time
Don't let the bells end
The Darkness's song "Christmas Time" is a poignant and melancholic reflection on the bittersweet nature of the holiday season. The lyrics discuss the pressure to fake joy and delight while receiving gifts we don't actually like, and the hopelessness that comes with clinging to the idea that Christmas can miraculously fix all our problems. The mention of sleigh bells ringing true on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month emphasizes the need to keep up appearances during the festive season, while the chorus urges listeners to let the bells ring in peace, suggesting that we should allow ourselves to let go of the façade and simply enjoy the holiday without the pressure to conform.
The second verse gives a nod to the loneliness and heartache that can creep in during Christmas time, especially when loved ones are far away or have passed. This is highlighted by the reference to the mistletoe leaf and the absent lover who left on Boxing Day. The repetition of the plea not to let the bells end underscores the message that, even though Christmas can be painful, it is still a time to cherish and appreciate, and one that we do not want to see come to an end.
The song's mix of upbeat, catchy melodies and thoughtful, introspective lyrics has endeared it to fans of all ages. It embodies the happy-sad dichotomy that often characterizes the holiday season, making it an excellent soundtrack for both festive celebrations and quiet moments of reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
Feigning joy and surprise
Pretending to be happy and amazed
At the gifts we despise over mulled wine with you
Drinking mulled wine while disliking the presents we received
On the twenty-fifth day
On December 25th
Of the twelfth month, the sleigh bells are in time, ringin' true
In December, the sound of sleigh bells matches the occasion perfectly
How we cling, each Noel, to that snowflake's hope in hell
Even though it's unlikely, we hold on to the hope of a miracle
That it won't end
That Christmas won't come to an end
Don't let the bells end
Don't let the sound of the bells stop
Christmas time
The holiday season of Christmas
Just let them ring in peace
Allow the bells to ring without interruption
Well, the weather is cruel
The weather during the winter is harsh
And the season of Yule lifts the heart, but it still hurts
Christmas makes us happy, but it's still painful
You've got your career
You're focused on your job
Spent the best part of last year apart and it still hurts
Being separated for most of the year is still painful
So that's why I pray each and every Christmas day
That's why I pray on Christmas day every year
Poised underneath the mistletoe leaf
Waiting eagerly under the mistletoe
And you're not here
But you're not with me now
You went away, upon Boxing Day
You left on the day after Christmas
Now how the hell am I gonna make it into the New Year?
Now how am I going to make it to the New Year without you?
Just let them ring in peace
Allow the bells to ring without interruption
Christmas time (come on, kids)
A call to enjoy the holiday season
Don't let the bells end (bells end)
Don't let the sound of the bells stop
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Edwin James Graham, Daniel Francis Hawkins, Justin David Hawkins, Francis Gilles Poullain Patterson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@punkywozza4330
Forget Slade wishing you all a Merry Christmas.
Forget about Wizard wishing for Christmas every single day.
Forget Elton Stepping into Christmas and Paul Macartney Simply Having a Wonderful Time.
Forget Shakin Stevens wishing you a Merry Christmas sitting on top of a post box or The Pretenders 2000 Miles away somewhere......
And can someone answer me about Chris Rea Driving home for Christmas cause I think he took a wrong turn on the A303 or something.
Stuff Wham and their Last Christmas tripe and Mariah singing about something she was wants on Christmas day..... This is a Christmas Tune, A tune to be played loud and proud.
@jesusisking3814
If you die tonight, do you know where you're going? Did you know that Jesus Christ is THE Truth, the life and the only way to Heaven?
Revelation 20:15 ''Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.''
Through Jesus Christ, God offers you a FREE gift – forgiveness. All you need to do is repent, turn away from your sins and evil ways,
from now on put your faith completely in Jesus Christ and be obedient to Him.
Biblical explanation of the Gospel:
God doesn’t want anybody in hell, but you must understand why
we deserve hell and why those who refuse to live under His authority will go
there. He gave us the law (Ten Commandments) not to make us righteous, but
rather to show us our sin (Romans 3:20). God gave us free will and since Adam
sinned in the garden, sin is the nature of our flesh and we ALL have sinned. (Romans 3:23)
The law demands death to those who sin (Romans 6:23). Since we have all sinned, we all deserve hell.
Revelation 21:8 says that all liars will go to hell. Yes, even if you have lied once in your life, you are sentenced to hell - that's how
high God's standards are of moral perfection because God is holy and righteous, there is not one sin in Him.
For someone to be justified before holy God they have to be sinless, that's why everyone need Jesus Christ
- for He lived a sinless life, died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day.
None of us are good in God’s eyes, because for God good means moral perfection. We all
have broken God’s commandments, we all have sinned in our lives so none of us
are good. ‘’For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is
guilty of breaking all of it.’’ (James 2:10). Our carnal mind is hostile to God; it does not submit
to God's moral law and it never will (Romans 8:7). We hate the thought of God for the same reason a criminal
hates a policeman - we know we have sinned against God and are guilty of it and we don't want to be damned.
No good works will ever save you. You can't earn salvation by good works, because God will judge us for our sin.
Good News is that Jesus Christ lived a perfect, holy, sinless life and He died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’’ (John 3:16)
We aren’t saved by our good works, but only by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
''For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -
not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus said ‘’it is finished’’ (John 19:30) just before He died on the cross, which means He paid the fine for our sins
(past, present, future) to be forgiven only IF we repent and trust in Him.
This is how you can get saved from sin and hell - repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ. Get to know Him
by reading God's Word.
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:13)
''What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!'' (Romans 6:15)
''Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out'' (Acts 3:19)
Repentance is a turning away from sin and all evil works, and it always results in changed behavior (Luke 3:8).
Biblically, a person who repents does not continue willfully in sin.
While sorrow from sin is not equivalent to repentance, it is certainly an element of scriptural repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Do not play a hypocrite. ''God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.'' (1 John 1:5-6)
(John 3:3) Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
If you have repented and have genuine faith in Jesus Christ then you will receive the gift of Holy Spirit and be born-again spiritually.
When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)
''You will know them by their fruits'' (Matthew 7)
If you have been truly born-again with the Holy Spirit and He has regenerated your heart, you will desire righteousnes -
to do what is good and righteous in God's eyes, to seek God everyday in His Word and prayer, to strengthen your relationship with God.
You will no longer desire to willfully continue living in sin but will want to obey God out of your love for Him because of His amazing grace
revealed to us through the death and resurrection of His Son.
''Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.'' (2 Corinthians 5:17)
''For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.'' (Eph 2:10)
You will have a testimony - of what your life had been before and how has it changed now when you have surrendered it to Lord Jesus Christ.
As a declaration and affirmation of your faith in Jesus Christ, get baptised in water because He commanded us to do so.
In John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.''
''Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'' (Matthew 28:19)
''Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.'' (Acts 2:41)
''And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body,
but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,'' (1 Peter 3:21)
''We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'' (Romans 6:4)
''Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God,
who raised him from the dead.'' (Colossians 2:12)
Please get right with God and get to know Jesus Christ personally today before it’s too late, because there’s not much time left!
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’’ (Mark 13:32)
Get to know Christ through God's Word - Bible. At first I recommend reading Gospel of John and book of Romans. God bless you!
Jeremiah 29:13 - ''You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.''
@jesusisking3814
If you die tonight, do you know where you're going? Did you know that Jesus Christ is THE Truth, the life and the only way to Heaven?
Revelation 20:15 ''Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.''
Through Jesus Christ, God offers you a FREE gift – forgiveness. All you need to do is repent, turn away from your sins and evil ways,
from now on put your faith completely in Jesus Christ and be obedient to Him.
Biblical explanation of the Gospel:
God doesn’t want anybody in hell, but you must understand why
we deserve hell and why those who refuse to live under His authority will go
there. He gave us the law (Ten Commandments) not to make us righteous, but
rather to show us our sin (Romans 3:20). God gave us free will and since Adam
sinned in the garden, sin is the nature of our flesh and we ALL have sinned. (Romans 3:23)
The law demands death to those who sin (Romans 6:23). Since we have all sinned, we all deserve hell.
Revelation 21:8 says that all liars will go to hell. Yes, even if you have lied once in your life, you are sentenced to hell - that's how
high God's standards are of moral perfection because God is holy and righteous, there is not one sin in Him.
For someone to be justified before holy God they have to be sinless, that's why everyone need Jesus Christ
- for He lived a sinless life, died on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day.
None of us are good in God’s eyes, because for God good means moral perfection. We all
have broken God’s commandments, we all have sinned in our lives so none of us
are good. ‘’For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is
guilty of breaking all of it.’’ (James 2:10). Our carnal mind is hostile to God; it does not submit
to God's moral law and it never will (Romans 8:7). We hate the thought of God for the same reason a criminal
hates a policeman - we know we have sinned against God and are guilty of it and we don't want to be damned.
No good works will ever save you. You can't earn salvation by good works, because God will judge us for our sin.
Good News is that Jesus Christ lived a perfect, holy, sinless life and He died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
He was buried and He was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’’ (John 3:16)
We aren’t saved by our good works, but only by the grace of God through faith in Christ.
''For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -
not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Jesus said ‘’it is finished’’ (John 19:30) just before He died on the cross, which means He paid the fine for our sins
(past, present, future) to be forgiven only IF we repent and trust in Him.
This is how you can get saved from sin and hell - repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ. Get to know Him
by reading God's Word.
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:13)
''What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!'' (Romans 6:15)
''Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out'' (Acts 3:19)
Repentance is a turning away from sin and all evil works, and it always results in changed behavior (Luke 3:8).
Biblically, a person who repents does not continue willfully in sin.
While sorrow from sin is not equivalent to repentance, it is certainly an element of scriptural repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Do not play a hypocrite. ''God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.'' (1 John 1:5-6)
(John 3:3) Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."
If you have repented and have genuine faith in Jesus Christ then you will receive the gift of Holy Spirit and be born-again spiritually.
When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God’s possession - to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)
''You will know them by their fruits'' (Matthew 7)
If you have been truly born-again with the Holy Spirit and He has regenerated your heart, you will desire righteousnes -
to do what is good and righteous in God's eyes, to seek God everyday in His Word and prayer, to strengthen your relationship with God.
You will no longer desire to willfully continue living in sin but will want to obey God out of your love for Him because of His amazing grace
revealed to us through the death and resurrection of His Son.
''Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.'' (2 Corinthians 5:17)
''For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.'' (Eph 2:10)
You will have a testimony - of what your life had been before and how has it changed now when you have surrendered it to Lord Jesus Christ.
As a declaration and affirmation of your faith in Jesus Christ, get baptised in water because He commanded us to do so.
In John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.''
''Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit'' (Matthew 28:19)
''Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.'' (Acts 2:41)
''And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body,
but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God - through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,'' (1 Peter 3:21)
''We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.'' (Romans 6:4)
''Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God,
who raised him from the dead.'' (Colossians 2:12)
Please get right with God and get to know Jesus Christ personally today before it’s too late, because there’s not much time left!
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’’ (Mark 13:32)
Get to know Christ through God's Word - Bible. At first I recommend reading Gospel of John and book of Romans. God bless you!
Jeremiah 29:13 - ''You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.''
@rhino
Celebrate this holiday season in style with all your favorite Christmas tunes like timeless classics by Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding, and the Drifters and new holiday favorites by Michael Bublé, Sia, Coldplay and more! Listen here https://TOPSIFY.lnk.to/100GreatestXmas 🎄 🎅 🎁
@telboy1965
This song is friggin lend …..LONG LIVE THE DARKNESS 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
@reaganclifton6657
december 2023🎉
@jessieking9006
Played it at our wedding last November to walk out on 😂 air gutair and everything.
@user-zg4wo6jv5u
2023🎉 baby!
@nikp759
Mickey Bubbles? Go ring your own bells Rhino. Everyone else here? Merry Christmas, you filthy animals
@charliechalk
Probably the most underrated Christmas song, brigns a new style of a Christmas song while maintaining traditional features.
@bonkers1212
12th Nov 02:26 putting up the decorations for the kids (well me) 🎅🎅🎅
@adamnewman1740
15/11/2022
@richardwilcox2784
Amazing song totally agree, but underrated 😄