Barradale and Lockwood recorded their Geffen debut, Rites Of Passage in 1985 . It featured an impressive cast of supporting musicians, including Peter Gabriel, drummer Jerry Marotta, Chris Hughes, (percussionist for Adam Ant), guitarist Neil Hubbard, violinist Simon House and arranger Ann Dudley.
An especially integral part of the Rites Of Passage sessions was guitarist David Rhodes, perhaps best known for his work with Peter Gabriel and Blancmange. David went on to become a full-fledged member of Vitamin Z.
Produced and recorded by Ross Cullum, Rites Of Passage featured eight Barradale/Lockwood originals including their debut single "Burning Flame." After a promising first single and a tour supporting Midge Ure, the band appeared to lose momentum and the second album, "Sharp Stone Rain" was not released until 1989 - by which time the record buying public appeared to have lost interest and Vitamin Z disappeared completely off the radar.
Lead singer, Geoff Barradale has subsequently re-emerged as manager to the Arctic Monkeys, guiding them to phenomenal success.
Circus Ring
Vitamin Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with piercing knives and frightened screams,
i was the fool in the circus ring,
entertaining, my dreams.
children try to please,
their faces tell the truth,
destiny's of men untold
fear is in their eyes,
blindness in their minds,
one day they will be free,
unhappiness will be their legacy.
we scream outloud, our fear is out,
nobody here in any doubt,
and all the profits can be seen,
no strings attached, net answer.
i saw a light shining down on me,
with piercing knives and frightened screams,
i was the fool in the circus ring,
entertaining, my dreams.
whisper all your secrets,
shout out all your lies,
much to quick to criticize,
wear your mask when you go outside,
looking for a way,
a way to call your own,
the passion of your wasted years,
will be with you when you look inside.
i saw a light shining down on me,
with piercing knives and frightened screams,
i was the fool in the circus ring,
entertaining, my dreams.
we scream outloud, our fear is out,
nobody here in any doubt,
and all the profits can be seen,
no strings attached, net answer.
disciples on their knees,
calling to the gods they seem,
shouting to unknown pastures,
looking for the final answer,
marching through the streets,
claiming divine rights,
the hunger for your senile years,
will be with you when you look outside.
we scream outloud, our fear is out,
nobody here in any doubt,
and all the profits can be seen,
no strings attached, net answer.
we scream outloud, our fear is out,
nobody here in any doubt,
and all the profits can be seen,
no strings attached, net answer.
The lyrics to Vitamin Z's song "Circus Ring" seem to be about the human condition and the search for meaning in life. The opening lines suggest that the singer has had a sudden realization that illuminates their existence. However, this moment of enlightenment is not necessarily a positive one – the imagery of "piercing knives and frightened screams" suggests that the truth can sometimes be painful or uncomfortable. The singer, it is suggested, feels like a "fool" for having entertained false dreams or illusions, and is now acutely aware of how much they have been misled.
As the song progresses, the focus shifts to other people, specifically children, who are also trying to navigate the precarious world around them. The chorus, with its repeated refrain of "we scream out loud, our fear is out," echoes the sense of anxiety and unease that pervades the lyrics. The final lines encourage listeners to "look inside" and confront the "passion of your wasted years," suggesting that true fulfillment can only be found from within.
All in all, "Circus Ring" is a sharp, introspective song that deals with big issues in a thoughtful and poetic way. Its themes of disillusionment, fear, and self-discovery are universal and relatable, and the lyrics are delivered with sincerity and emotion.
Line by Line Meaning
i saw a light shining down on me,
I had a moment of clarity or enlightenment.
with piercing knives and frightened screams,
The enlightenment came at a cost and was full of pain and fear.
i was the fool in the circus ring,
I was living my life as a performer or entertainer in a meaningless and chaotic world.
entertaining, my dreams.
I was living my life in a way that distracted me from my true purpose or goals.
children try to please,
Young people are compelled to conform to societal expectations.
their faces tell the truth,
The emotions of children are genuine and unfiltered.
destiny's of men untold
The fates or destinies of individuals are unknown or uncertain.
people wait for their dreams to unfold.
People have hope that their aspirations will be realized.
fear is in their eyes,
People are scared or anxious about what the future holds.
blindness in their minds,
People are ignorant or unaware of certain truths or realities.
one day they will be free,
In the future, people will no longer be captive to their fears and doubts.
unhappiness will be their legacy.
People will be remembered for their sadness or dissatisfaction with life.
whisper all your secrets,
People keep their most personal thoughts hidden from others.
shout out all your lies,
People are willing to deceive others for personal gain.
much to quick to criticize,
People are too readily inclined to judge others.
wear your mask when you go outside,
People conceal their true selves or emotions in public settings.
looking for a way,
People seek a path forward or a solution to their problems.
a way to call your own,
People desire a unique and personal direction in life.
the passion of your wasted years,
People regret not pursuing their dreams or interests in their youth.
will be with you when you look inside.
Regret and dissatisfaction will always be with you when you reflect on your life.
disciples on their knees,
People seek guidance or direction from a higher power.
calling to the gods they seem,
People appeal to an uncertain or elusive higher authority.
shouting to unknown pastures,
People are searching for something beyond their current circumstances.
looking for the final answer,
People are seeking ultimate truth or meaning.
marching through the streets,
People are taking collective action or protesting for their rights or beliefs.
claiming divine rights,
People justify their actions or demands through religious or moral authority.
the hunger for your senile years,
People desire to leave a legacy or make an impact in their later life.
will be with you when you look outside.
You will always be aware of your unfulfilled ambitions or goals.
we scream outloud, our fear is out,
We express our anxieties and uncertainties to others.
nobody here in any doubt,
There is collective agreement or acknowledgement of the issues at hand.
and all the profits can be seen,
The negative effects of societal norms and values are apparent and observable.
no strings attached, net answer.
There is no easy solution or escape from the societal pressures and problems we face.
Contributed by Daniel J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheMmk567
i love this song!!
Mario Diaz Tercero
Great 80s vitamins!
Cristian Ramos Díaz
Sounds like Van Damme's movie
Paulo Ciarvi
BOAAAAAA
Paraguayo Guarani
Aguita de coco