Native to Iran and raised in India, Azam Ali and Ellis met in 1995 and collaborated on four Vas releases. Together, along with Laxmi Shankar and Deepak Ram, can be heard in the end title track by Juno Reactor's Ben Watkins on The Matrix Revolutions score. Ali has also recorded vocal tracks for the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead (scored by Tyler Bates) and appeared on the film adaptation of Frank Miller's "300".
Ali has also worked with composer Brian Tyler, performing vocals for the original television soundtrack for the SciFi Channel's 2003 miniseries Children of Dune. Her voice can be heard singing "Inama Nushif" ("She is Eternal") in the fictitious Fremen language.
Related projects and releases:
Ali, Tyler, and Ellis are currently to release an album under the name Roseland, featuring Azam singing in English against a more rock/ambient sound.
Niyaz is yet another project Azam sings for, along with members Loga Ramin Torkian from Axiom of Choice and Carmen Rizzo from Ekova. Niyaz have released two albums on Six Degrees Records: Niyaz in 2005 and Nine Heavens in 2008.
Azam Ali has two solo recordings, Portals of Grace, also on Six Degrees Records, released in 2002, and Elysium for the Brave, released in 2006. This second album is predominantly sung in English and has been said to be Azam Ali's most ambitious album to date.
The Reaper And The Flowers
Vas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And, with his sickle keen
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath
And the flowers that grow between (2x)
"Shall I have naught that is fair?", saith he
"Have naught but the bearded grain?
Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me
He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes
He kissed their drooping leaves;
It was for the lord of paradise
He bound them in his sheaves
"My Lord has need of these flowerets gay",
The Reaper said and smiled;
"Dear tokens of the earth are they
Where he was once a child
They shall all bloom in fields of light
Transplanted by my care
And saints, upon their garments white,
These sacred blossoms wear."
And the mother gave, in tears and pain,
The flowers she most did love
She knew she would find them all again
In the fields of light above
Oh, not in cruelty, not in wrath
The Reaper came that day
'twas an angel visited the green earth
And took the flowers away
'twas an angel visited the green earth
And took the flowers away...
The song "The Reaper and the Flowers" by Vas is a poetic exploration of death and the natural cycle of life. The lyrics begin by introducing the character of the reaper, who is named Death, and who uses his sickle to reap not only the "bearded grain" but also "the flowers that grow between." Death initially seems indifferent to the beauty of the flowers, saying that he would give them all back in return for the bearded grain, which he considers more important. However, he is moved by the flowers and kisses their drooping leaves, recognizing them as "dear tokens of the earth" that remind him of when he was a child.
It's revealed that Death is not the cold and merciless figure we initially thought but rather an angel, visiting Earth to take the flowers away to a "field of light" where they will continue to bloom, and where "saints, upon their garments white, these sacred blossoms wear." The song's message is that death is not an ending but rather part of an ongoing cycle of birth, growth, and rebirth. Even as the mother gives up her beloved flowers, she knows that she will be reunited with them in the afterlife.
Overall, "The Reaper and the Flowers" is a poignant and thoughtful meditation on the cyclical nature of life and death. By depicting Death as an angel who recognizes the beauty and significance of even the smallest things – a flower's sweet scent, a mother's tears – the song offers a message of hope and reassurance in the face of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a reaper, whose name is Death
A personified Death exists and is commonly referred to as the Grim Reaper.
And, with his sickle keen
With a sharp-edged tool, Death works to collect the crops of life.
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath
Death efficiently takes the ones who have reached their natural conclusion in life.
And the flowers that grow between (2x)
In addition to reaping the ripened crops, Death also takes those whose time is not yet up, including the beautiful and innocent.
"Shall I have naught that is fair?", saith he
The Reaper questions why only death can take the things with true beauty.
"Have naught but the bearded grain?
Death questions why he can only reap the matured crop and not the younger beauties.
Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me
Death enjoys the flowers and what they offer.
I will give them all back again."
Death takes the life of the flowers but instead releases them for another purpose.
He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes
Death is remorseful that he has to take away the beautiful flowers.
He kissed their drooping leaves;
Death shows love to the flowers he is taking away.
It was for the lord of paradise
The flowers are fated for a greater purpose and worthiness.
He bound them in his sheaves
Death takes the flowers to be used in another place or time.
"My Lord has need of these flowerets gay",
Death's lord and master takes the beautiful flowers for a higher cause and purpose.
The Reaper said and smiled;
Death is content with the destiny of the flowers.
"Dear tokens of the earth are they
Death sees the flowers as beautiful and precious gifts from nature and the earth.
Where he was once a child
The flowers represent the innocence of life when he was once alive.
They shall all bloom in fields of light
The flowers will go on to further flourish and have purpose again.
Transplanted by my care
Death has made sure that the flowers are protected and nurtured in death.
And saints, upon their garments white,
Those with pureness and holiness will be wearing the beautiful flowers.
These sacred blossoms wear."
The flowers will be appreciated for their sanctity and beauty by others.
And the mother gave, in tears and pain,
The mother is heartbroken and devastated to give up that which she loves.
The flowers she most did love
The mother cherished the particular flowers that are being taken away.
She knew she would find them all again
The mother believes that the flowers will be reunited with her later.
In the fields of light above
The flowers are destined for a different, greater place in the afterlife.
Oh, not in cruelty, not in wrath
Death is not being cruel, nor is he showing anger with what he is doing.
The Reaper came that day
Death arrived at the moment designated for the end of life on earth.
'twas an angel visited the green earth
Death came not as something dark, but rather light, as an angel.
And took the flowers away
Death takes away the beautiful flowers, but not as something grim, but as something that will flower later.
'twas an angel visited the green earth
Retelling that Death was not a cruel or harsh concept.
And took the flowers away...
That even though death is final, what has been taken away may remain with us, in the sky or in our memories.
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
An
on Samaya
This is the lyrics of самая самая (samaja samaja) by Egor Kreed..