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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sailors
The Tiger Lillies Lyrics
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About the sea that eats them whole.
And the sailors they sing sad songs,
Food for fishes shoals.
And the wind it blows inland,
And the death you can smell.
Smashed on rocks and smashed on boulders,
And their loved ones wait for hours,
Await the fate of the cruel sea
And if loved ones don't return,
There's no security.
Just the work-house when they grow old,
To lay their weary heads,
And the sound of the sea singing
Until they are dead.
And the sea that bears its harvest
It exacts a heavy toll,
Mothers, fathers, brothers, uncles,
With no corpses to behold.
Sailing out into the darkness,
Every day of the year.
Sailing out into the darkness,
With a prayer, and with fear
And with fear,
With a prayer, and with fear.
And with fear.
The song "Sailors" by The Tiger Lillies is a melancholic reflection on the perils of the sea and the toll it takes on the lives of sailors and their loved ones. The opening verse sets the tone for the entire song by emphasizing the sadness with which sailors sing their songs about the sea that "eats them whole" and turns them into "food for fishes shoals". The second verse explores the dangers of the sea, as the wind blows inland and the smell of death is in the air. Sailors are portrayed as being smashed against rocks and boulders in a living hell, highlighting the gruesome reality of their profession.
The sense of loss and despair is further emphasized in the third verse, where loved ones are depicted as waiting for hours to find out about the fate of their sailor kin. The absence of closure is palpable for those left behind, as there is no security in knowing whether their loved ones will ever return from the sea. The fourth verse talks about the bleak future that awaits sailors who survive their time at sea, as they retire to the work-house with weary heads. The final verse ties together the overarching theme of the song, as the sea is shown as an unforgiving force that exacts a heavy toll on those who venture into it. The absence of corpses for families to mourn further emphasizes the sense of loss and uncertainty that accompanies a life at sea.
Line by Line Meaning
And the sailors, they sing sad songs,
The sailors sing melancholy tunes, expressing the dangers of the sea that can engulf them entirely.
About the sea that eats them whole.
They sing about how the ocean takes them in and devours them entirely, leaving no trace of their existence.
Food for fishes shoals.
Their bodies serve as sustenance for the schools of fish in the ocean.
And the wind it blows inland,
The wind carries the scent of death inland, a reminder of the perilous nature of the sea.
And the death you can smell.
The smell of death is present, likely from the carcasses of sailors who met their end in the waves.
Smashed on rocks and smashed on boulders,
Many sailors are smashed against rocky outcroppings and boulders, an outcome of the tumultuous seas.
Smashed in living hell.
They are plunged into a living hell as they suffer and await their inevitable demise.
And their loved ones wait for hours,
Family members wait in hope and despair for hours, unsure of whether their loved ones will return alive or not.
Await the fate of the cruel sea
They are waiting to hear the outcome of the sailors' fateful encounter with the merciless ocean.
And if loved ones don't return,
In the event that the sailors don't return, their families are left without answers or closure.
There's no security.
There is no safety or assurance in the life of a sailor, leaving their loved ones without a sense of protection or stability.
Just the work-house when they grow old,
When they get older, sailors are limited to the work-house, worn out and exhausted from their life at sea.
To lay their weary heads,
They can only rest their fatigued bodies and minds, with the sound of the sea being the only comfort they know.
And the sea singing
The sea's melodic song serves as a reminder of their past experiences, both good and bad.
Until they are dead.
This song will continue to lull them to their final rest, well after they have passed on from this life.
And the sea that bears its harvest
The ocean yields a bountiful harvest, but at an immense cost.
It exacts a heavy toll,
The sea takes a significant toll, claiming the lives of countless sailors who dare to challenge it.
Mothers, fathers, brothers, uncles,
Families lose loved ones of all ages and relationships when sailors fall victim to the sea.
With no corpses to behold.
The sea often erases all evidence of their loved ones, leaving families without any closure or catharsis.
Sailing out into the darkness,
Every day of the year, sailors venture into the unknown, into the treacherous and unyielding darkness of the ocean.
With a prayer, and with fear
They face the dangers with a mixture of hopeful prayer and debilitating fear.
And with fear,
Their lives are defined by a constant sense of dread and danger that is ever-present on the sea.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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