Its mood is much mellower than the other tracks on the demo, and the song is characterised by an organ-based arrangement with sparse guitar parts, and vocalist Adam's spoken monologue.
Credits
Adam Ford - Lyrics, vocals
Matt Ford - Music, guitar, bass, keyboards, drum programming, mix
Guitar tuning
EADGBE
Bass tuning
EADG
Lyrics
In motionless night
Where Diana scans
The lay of the land
From her splendid height
A spectre stalks
The corridors
Of noble maws
And patriot hawks
Stirring slumber
The martyr leaps
As the unctuous sleeps
Through pounding thunder
His body stiffens
And as he shrieks
His bloodied cheeks
Become so ashen
Phantasmagoria
Torture Garden Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where Diana scans
The lay of the land
From her splendid height
A spectre stalks
The corridors
Of noble maws
And patriot hawks
Stirring slumber
The martyr leaps
As the unctuous sleeps
Through pounding thunder
His body stiffens
And as he shrieks
His bloodied cheeks
Become so ashen
The lyrics of Torture Garden's song Phantasmagoria describe a haunting and eerie picture of a night ruled by the Greek goddess Diana. In this still and quiet setting, a ghostly figure silently creeps through the hallways of the noble and patriotic, stirring their slumber and causing a martyr to awaken with a startle. As the martyr awakens, the thunderous pounding of his heart can be heard as his body stiffens and his cheeks turn ashen. The lyrics paint a picture of a frightening and supernatural world where the boundaries of reality and myth blur together, leaving behind only a world of phantasmagoria.
One interesting fact about the song Phantasmagoria is that it is featured on Torture Garden's debut album, which was released under the same name in 1991 by the record label Cleopatra. The song was written by the band's frontman, Gary Carey, who also composed the majority of the songs on the album. Another fact is that Torture Garden is often classified as a gothic rock or darkwave band, with their music being heavily influenced by the dark and moody sounds of bands like Bauhaus and Joy Division.
In addition to its haunting lyrics and eerie sound, Phantasmagoria is also known for its distinctive use of guitar chords and drum beats. The song features a driving and energetic rhythm section, with the guitars providing a melodic and atmospheric background for the vocals. Another interesting fact about the song is that it has been covered by a number of other artists, including the band Faith and the Muse, who released their own version of the song in 1998.
The chords for Phantasmagoria, as played on guitar, are as follows:
Verse:
Am - F - G - Am
Chorus:
C - G - Am - F
Bridge:
G - Am - F - G
Overall, Phantasmagoria is a haunting and captivating song that showcases the unique and talented sound of Torture Garden. With its blend of gothic rock and darkwave influences, the song stands as a classic example of the genre and remains a popular choice for fans of dark and moody music.
Line by Line Meaning
In motionless night
During a quiet night with no movement
Where Diana scans
In a place where the moon is visible
The lay of the land
The shape and characteristics of the surrounding area
From her splendid height
From the moon's elevated position in the sky
A spectre stalks
A ghost-like figure moves silently
The corridors
The connected passageways
Of noble maws
Within the magnificent mouths of the powerful
And patriot hawks
And those loyal to their country
Stirring slumber
Awakening from sleep
The martyr leaps
The person who sacrificed for their beliefs suddenly moves upwards
As the unctuous sleeps
As the insincere and deceitful rest
Through pounding thunder
Despite loud and abrupt noise
His body stiffens
His muscles become rigid
And as he shrieks
As he screams loudly
His bloodied cheeks
His injured and stained face
Become so ashen
Quickly turning pale
Contributed by Emily M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.