Currently Martyn Jacques, Adrian Stout, Adrian Huge (Past member Phil Butcher)
Their surreal style has been described as dark, darkly humorous, strangely humorous, Brechtian, and gypsy cabaret. They are also notorious for singing controversial songs involving bestiality, prostitution and blasphemy.
The Tiger Lillies were originally buskers, playing songs about the criminals, pimps and whores of Soho, London, England. Over time, the band became involved in several theatrical productions around the world, including the critically acclaimed Shockheaded Peter. Known for their intense, outlandish, and dark performances, they have garnered both controversy and critical acclaim.
Also "The Tiger Lillies", "The Tigerlilies" and "The Tigerlillies" may refer to Indie rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio that formed in 1989.
Bio:
Cincinnati's power pop stalwarts the Tigerlillies formed in 1989 and set out to fuse glam rock, roots rock, and post-punk into an aesthetic they called "More Pop than Jesus." Led by vocalist/guitarist Pat Hennessy, the band also included former members of the Chrome Cranks, the Candy Snatchers, and G.G. Allin & the Murder Junkies before settling on the lineup of Hennessy, guitarist/vocalist William Weber, bassist Brian Driscoll, and drummer/vocalist Steve Hennessy.
Discography:
Deep (1992)
Space Age Love Songs (1997)
Ceci N'est Ces Pop (2003)
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Know What It Means
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I’m prepared to bet you wouldn’t expect or even know what they mean
They’ll burn in the fire all your desires when you emerge you will be clean
So you contrive all the time you’re alive to effect that you know what it means
You know what it means you effect that you know what it means
Is there good is there bad or are you just mad do you have a card to redeem
You smile and you joke at desire you poke is there anyone left now to dream
The gambler bets the old men forget and nobody knows what it means
At your funeral dirge you’ll be free to expurge that it really didn’t mean a thing
The gambler bets the old men forget and nobody knows what it means
The song "Know What It Means" by The Tiger Lillies is a melancholic, introspective reflection on the illusory nature of life and the evasive nature of meaning. In the first verse, the song describes the Angel of Death asking the listener to confess their dreams, an invitation that challenges the listener's self-awareness and perception of the world. The listener is asked to examine the validity of their desires, the nature of good and evil, and the implications of their actions. In the second verse, the song laments the absence of meaning, the futility of desire, and the scarcity of true dreams. The lyrics suggest that we are unable to find true meaning in life, and that we are only able to contrive meanings in order to feel in control, with our actual dreams and desires being consumed by the flames of time. The song concludes with the idea that even in death, we are unable to find meaning, with the old forgetting and the gambler betting, leaving us all wondering about the point of it all.
The song has a clear, concise structure - each verse begins with a question that runs throughout the verse, offering the listener a momentary glimpse of clarity before descending back into the ruminative, melancholic tone that characterizes the song. Interestingly, the lyrics are full of paradoxes and ironies, suggesting that the search for meaning is in itself an exercise in futility. The song employs ominous melodies, theatrically histrionic vocals, and a sparse, haunting musical arrangement that evokes a sense of timelessness and existential despair. The song challenges our perceptions of what constitutes meaning, beckoning the listener to examine their own lives and question what exactly it is that they are questing for.
Line by Line Meaning
Just for effect the angel of death asks you to confess your dreams
The notion of death provokes people to reveal their most intimate dreams
I’m prepared to bet you wouldn’t expect or even know what they mean
People are often unaware of what their own dreams truly mean
They’ll burn in the fire all your desires when you emerge you will be clean
Confessing one's dreams can be cathartic, even if it means letting go of long-held desires
So you contrive all the time you’re alive to effect that you know what it means
People often try to interpret their dreams in a way that fits their preconceived notions or desires
You know what it means you effect that you know what it means
People like to convince themselves that they understand the meaning of their dreams, even if they don't
Is there good is there bad or are you just mad do you have a card to redeem
People often wonder if their dreams have deeper significance, or if they are just meaningless
You smile and you joke at desire you poke is there anyone left now to dream
People sometimes mock or belittle their own desires, succumbing to cynicism and losing sight of their dreams
The gambler bets the old men forget and nobody knows what it means
Life is unpredictable and uncertain, making it difficult to truly understand the meaning of one's dreams or actions
At your funeral dirge you’ll be free to expurge that it really didn’t mean a thing
In the end, people often realize that many of their preoccupations and concerns were ultimately meaningless, especially in the face of death
The gambler bets the old men forget and nobody knows what it means
Despite our best efforts, we often can't fully understand or predict the outcomes of our own lives
Contributed by Katherine H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.