Awash in drink and drugs, Wicked Lady split up in 1970, but Smith and Weaver soon regrouped with new bassist, Del "German Head" Morley. The new lineup duly set about documenting its existence, as captured on Psychotic Overkill -- whose feel is looser than Axeman Cometh. The effect is a shotgun marriage of Black Sabbath-style rifferama, supported by a less risk-taking rhythm section. Weaver's vocal style lacks charisma, but his wah-wah and fuzz-driven guitar style carries the day. The highlights include a bluesy cover of Hendrix's "Voodoo Child," the sex 'n' drugs snapshot of "Sin City," and the howling, 21-minute epic, "Ship Of Ghosts."
But Wicked Lady's erratic ways proved too difficult for clubowners, who eventually refused to let them play. (At one gig, the band reportedly played the same song over and over until an irritated management pulled the plug on them.) Wicked Lady imploded in 1972, but Weaver rebounded that same year by joining the Dark, a more psychedelic- and progressive-outfit. Their Round The Edges album became a Holy Grail for collectors -- because only a handful of copies were made for band members and their associates. (Kissing Spell reissued the album in 1991.) Weaver next teamed with classically-trained keyboardist Dave "Doc" Wadley -- who'd worked with a pre-Sabbath Tony Iommi -- in the Mind Doctors.
Kissing Spell also reissued On The Threshold Of Reality, an album of laidback instrumental "head" music.Weaver most recently surfaced on the re-formed Dark's Anonymous Days (1996), which featured material written in the 1970s and 1990s.
Life and Death
Wicked Lady Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While the spirits in my sleep
Dark is the cold night
When the flesh begins to creep
Looking for shelter
As the winds begin to blow
Turn around
Let me see your face before I go
With long knife drawn now
I begin to realize
The mask is hidden
And a voice within me cries
Face of a wounded soul
Appearing through the night
Must hold on to myself
I've no desire to fight
Now it's all over
There's a sense of great relief
Seems to be floating
There's no happiness or grief
The spirits from my past
Arrive to take me home
I feel so empty
I'm completely on my own
In "Life and Death" by Wicked Lady, the singer seems to be grappling with an inner turmoil and fear of mortality. The song opens with a tense, waiting feeling, anticipating something dark and ominous. The lyrics convey a sense of vulnerability and unease, with the singer looking for shelter as the winds begin to blow. Suddenly, the tone shifts as the singer draws a long knife, revealing an inner struggle. They seem to be coming to terms with the pain and suffering inside themselves, symbolized by the wounded soul appearing through the night. The final stanza brings a sense of resolution and acceptance, as the singer seems to let go of their fear and surrender to the spirits from their past. The end result is a sense of loneliness and emptiness, with the singer completely on their own.
Line by Line Meaning
Long I have waited
I have been patiently waiting for something to happen
While the spirits in my sleep
During my dreams, I see visions of the supernatural
Dark is the cold night
The night is sinister and uninviting
When the flesh begins to creep
I feel frightened and uncomfortable
Looking for shelter
I seek refuge from what is scaring me
As the winds begin to blow
The feeling of foreboding and danger is growing
Turn around
Please show me your face before I leave
Let me see your face before I go
Before I depart, I wish to see the one I am leaving behind
With long knife drawn now
I am armed and ready for action
I begin to realize
I am coming to an understanding of the situation
The mask is hidden
Something is being concealed
And a voice within me cries
My innermost thoughts are becoming vocalized
Face of a wounded soul
I see the image of a traumatized being
Appearing through the night
The vision is manifesting during this dark and eerie time
Must hold on to myself
I must maintain my composure and self-restraint
I've no desire to fight
I have no intention of engaging in conflict
Now it's all over
The ordeal has come to an end
There's a sense of great relief
I feel an immense weight lifted from my shoulders
Seems to be floating
I am experiencing a sensation of levitation
There's no happiness or grief
I am devoid of any emotions, be it positive or negative
The spirits from my past
My deceased loved ones are coming to take me with them
Arrive to take me home
They are here to guide me to the afterlife
I feel so empty
I am consumed by a sense of emptiness
I'm completely on my own
I am alone in this moment, without anyone to rely on
Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brickedupgranny
this album is too perfect to be a hidden gem.
@joeyjo-joshabadu9636
powerful. it's a crime that this song is so obscure.
@doctormanhattan7346
It's a crime that THIS BAND is so obscure.
@pcbeauty2696
Just loving this band...... WoW
@MosnaMan
fantastico, me lembro como se fosse ontem era 1974 e eu comprei este LP no berlim discos maravilhoso
@jekisgod
7:07 beautiful, super melancholy feeling in the soul π
@stevenfrasier5718
"Life And Death" Lyrics
Long I have waited
While the spirits in my sleep
Dark is the cold night
When the flesh begins to creep
Looking for shelter
As the wind begins to blow
Turn around
Let me see your face before I go
With long knife drawn now
I begin to realize
The mask is hidden
And a voice within me cries
Face of a wounded soul
Appearing through the night
Must hold on to myself
I've no desire to fight
Now it's all over
There's a sense of great relief
Seems to be floating
There's no happiness or grief
The spirits from my past
Arrive to take me home
I feel so empty
I'm completely on my own
@dr.spaceman958
I know this is a bit late. I love this band and facebook attacks me for the thumbnails nudity even though it is drawn art.
@stevenfrasier5718
yeah, the prudery is so effin' dumb.