The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 … Read Full Bio ↴The Legendary Pink Dots are a Netherlands-based band formed in August 1980 in the UK who, although distinctly underground, have been musically influential over the years. The band name was derived from pink dots of nail varnish on the piano in their squat, where founding members Edward and April lived. The band has as its focal point vocalist Edward Ka-Spel, who is, along with Phil "The Silverman" Knight, one of the original remaining members of the band. In the mid eighties the band resettled in the Netherlands, where they still reside today. Apart from Edward and Phil, the line-up has gone through many changes. Members such as Ryan Moore, a Canadian bass player, who joined in 1991 after the recordings of the Last Man to Fly with the Tear Garden (he joined as a session musician), went on to form their own labels and musical projects. See Twilight Circus and M Records. Their music is nothing if not original and it is difficult to categorise, but comparisons may be drawn with bands like Pink Floyd and Can.

Their sound has been described as an amalgamation of psychedelic rock, industrial, synth-pop and avant-garde. They have released over 40 records and continuously tour the world.

Members of the band have also collaborated with Nurse With Wound, The Dresden Dolls, Jarboe, HNAS, Jim O'Rourke, Skinny Puppy's cEvin Key, forming The Tear Garden. Ka Spel accompanied Skinny Puppy for a small part of their 1988 European 'Head Trauma' tour in Sweden. Key also appears on the 1994 album 9 Lives to Wonder.

Lent
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

We, the starving volunteers; the ones who go without.
The shoeless, hair-shirts, bonded, veiled; seekers of the drought now stand before your floral gate to rend these rags and shout your name.
In your name.
We came to whine, remind you that it's time for endless vigil.
On stone cold floors, on ashes or on white hot nails.
Slow motion tip-toe and vicious gales that flex then flail then punch from all directions.
In your name.
Our crosses rotting in the rain, we hang before you in your name.

We bear the bitter mark of Cain.

Overall Meaning

The Legendary Pink Dots' song "Lent" expresses the feelings of a group of dedicated yet self-punishing followers who have gathered outside a holy place, intending to spend the season of Lent in a rigorous penitence. The opening verse describes these individuals as volunteers who starve themselves both physically and spiritually, wearing ascetic clothing and rejecting worldly possessions in search of a deeper connection to the divine. They stand outside the gates of this religious establishment, eager to demonstrate their devotion and cry out the name of their deity.

The second verse presents a more intense and violent image, describing the trials and tribulations these followers endure in the name of their faith. They subject themselves to agonizing physical ordeals, whether it be by lying on cold stone floors, ashing their bodies or piercing themselves with hot nails. They also face destructive natural elements like fierce winds that assault them from all sides. Despite these hardships, they persevere in the hope of being closer to their God.

The lyrics of this song may be interpreted in various ways, but generally, it speaks to the emotional and physical toll that religious devotion can take on an individual. By choosing to embrace such profound levels of renunciation, these individuals simultaneously subject themselves to suffering and can be viewed as both admirable and deeply troubled. Nonetheless, the passion and fervor that they express in pursuit of their beliefs also serve as a profound testament to the power of faith and spiritual commitment.

Line by Line Meaning

We, the starving volunteers; the ones who go without.
We are the selfless volunteers who suffer from lack and hunger.

The shoeless, hair-shirts, bonded, veiled; seekers of the drought now stand before your floral gate to rend these rags and shout your name.
We are the ones who wear coarse and cheap clothes with no shoes, bound and blinded, in search of enlightenment. We are at your doorstep, ready to abandon our old selves and hail your divinity.

In your name.
All our actions are guided by our faith in you and your teachings.

We came to whine, remind you that it's time for endless vigil.
We are here to implore you to hear our prayers and remind you that we should never stop being vigilant in our pursuit of enlightenment.

On stone cold floors, on ashes or on white hot nails.
We are prepared to endure extreme discomfort or even pain to show our devotion to you.

Slow motion tip-toe and vicious gales that flex then flail then punch from all directions.
We are cautious yet determined in our journey towards you, facing all kinds of hardships and obstacles along the way.

In your name.
Everything we do, every step we take, is done in honor of you.

Our crosses rotting in the rain, we hang before you in your name.
Our burdens and struggles are always present, never fading away. Yet we remain steadfast in our devotion to you.

We bear the bitter mark of Cain.
We carry the wounds and sins of the past, but we strive to be better by following your teachings.

Contributed by Cole C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS