The one permanent fixture amidst the Fall's ever-changing line-up was Mark E. Smith (1957 – 2018). Smith's lyrics are free, unboxed and unpredictable, touching on an extremely wide range of subjects and places, and caring little for being tied down to easily digestible messages.
Smith's singing could put off some people, but others find it a uniquely expressive instrument. Smith was not a conventionally great vocalist, but his keen sense of rhythm, his energy and personality more than made up for this.
The Fall's music changed depending on the line-up at a given time. Always experimental, Mark E. Smith claimed to invent several musical genres, including house music; "we were doing that years ago" and even the internet. "He told me I didn't understand, that we were from the bleak industrial wastes of North England, or something, and that we didn't understand the Internet. I told him Fall fans invented the Internet. They were on there in 1982." One thing that is for sure is that The Fall (and their fans) always pushed the boundaries, and were never afraid to experiment.
The Fall were a favorite group of DJ John Peel, recording 24 sessions for his BBC1 radio program over the years.
The Fall's back catalogue consists of 29 studio albums, and is very fragmented with a seemingly endless number of compilations and semi-official live albums.
In 2006, British music-critic Dave Simpson published an entertaining account of a journalist's attempt to track down all 43 former members of The Fall in the Guardian. Many previous members have been fired, often with little or no notice. Simpson's ongoing effort was subsequently described at greater length in his book "The Fallen" (2008). His effort to track down the final unaccounted stragglers of at least 50 previous members of The Fall - including drummer Karl Burns - continues in his blog. Having decried Simpson's book as a "hatchet job" in the pages of Pseud. Mag., a Fall fan-mag, Mark E. Smith countered in short order with his autobiography "Renegade: The Lives and Tales of Mark E. Smith" (Viking, 2008/Penguin 2009).
Mark E. Smith died on 24 January 2018, aged 60.
Key Albums include:
# Live At the Witch Trials (debut)
# Dragnet
# Totale's Turns (It's Now Or Nevr)
# Grotesque (after the Gramme)
# Perverted By Language
# Hex Enduction Hour
# This Nation's Saving Grace
# Middle Class Revolt
# Bend Sinister
# Extricate
# The Infotainment Scan
# Country on the Click aka The Real New Fall LP
# Fall Heads Roll
# Reformation Post TLC (new)
Compilations/Singles/B-Sides:
# 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats
# The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004
# Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 1) and Totally Wired: The Rough Trade Anthology (disc 2)
# 458489 A-Sides
# 458489 B-Sides
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
The Fall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
The Fall's version of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" takes the traditional Christmas carol and adds a post-punk twist to it. The lyrics convey the joyous message of the birth of Jesus Christ, with a focus on the themes of peace and salvation. The first verse declares "Glory to the newborn King" and emphasizes the idea of God and sinners being reconciled. The second verse highlights the divinity of Jesus as the "incarnate Deity" and "Christ the everlasting Lord." The final verse acknowledges Jesus as the "heaven-born Prince of Peace" and "Son of Righteousness" who brings a new life and salvation.
The Fall's interpretation of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is a unique example of how traditional Christmas carols can be transformed into new musical forms. The post-punk guitar work gives the song a sense of urgency and energy, while the repeated chorus of "Glory to the newborn King" reinforces the religious message. The song also features the distinctive vocals of Mark E. Smith, whose deep, gravelly voice adds a layer of grit to the festive lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark the herald angels sing
Listen to the joyful message that the messengers from heaven are singing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Give praise and honor to the recently born ruler of all
Peace on earth and mercy mild
May there be calm and kindness among all people
God and sinners reconciled
The divine and those who have strayed have now been brought back together
Joyful, all ye nations rise
All countries should be glad and uplifted
Join the triumph of the skies
Be a part of the celebration in the heavens
With the angelic host proclaim:
Alongside the group of messengers, announce with great enthusiasm
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
The savior has been born in the city of Bethlehem
Christ by highest heaven adored
The highest heaven admires Christ
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Christ is the ruler who will last forever
Late in time behold Him come
At a later time, He came to us
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Born miraculously from a mother who had not yet known a man
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Although encased in human flesh, we can still glimpse the divine nature
Hail the incarnate Deity
Give acclaim to the divine entity who has assumed human form
Pleased as man with man to dwell
He is happy to live among people as one of them
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Jesus, the one who is with us always
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Salute the ruler born from the heavens who brings peace
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Give acclaim to the offspring who brings morality and justice
Light and life to all He brings
He brings illumination and vitality to all
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Risen up with the power to heal
Mild He lays His glory by
He modestly sets aside His grandeur
Born that man no more may die
Born to save people from death
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born so that humans could be lifted up
Born to give them second birth
Born so that people can have a new beginning
Hark! The herald angels sing
Listen to the message from the heavenly messengers
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Give praise and honor to the ruler who has recently been born
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEROY ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
anonyarena
Certainly the best version of this song ever recorded. :) "Christ! The everlasting Lord."
bobbins53
This has always been my definitive Fall moment on Youtube, I will remember you Mark E. Smith.
Phineas
Best band ever. RIP Mark E. Smith
Ian Turner
Got this played on Richard Latto's "Stereo Underground" Christmas Special in UK last year ... and trying again this year. Beautiful track.
Karl Savage
Still can't believe he's gone. Merry Xmas folks.
Lol Grant
MES will rise and live again.
pawnieking
That picture is truly awesome.
Ockham's RAZR
Glory Hallelujahhhhhhhh!
brancepethbob
Love it ... !
tsartodd
Mark E Smith -- the true Bad Santa.