Originally formed in 1984, the band released a series of demos on cassette before their 7" vinyl debut Clutching at Straws in 1988. This was swiftly followed by the Wasted But Dangerous 12" EP in the same year. They were highly regarded live performers and eventually caught the attention of Rick Rubin's Def American label, but their debut full length album (Live Fast, Die Fast in 1989) saw little commercial success, oft-attributed to Rubin's very flat production. Their later releases saw more favourable press, with their live album Massive Noise Injection being particularly well received. They split up when their singer Blaze Bayley left to join Iron Maiden in 1994.
Wolfsbane reformed in September 2007 to headline the Rock of Ages Festival in their hometown of Tamworth and followed this with a short tour in December of the same year, as special guests supporting The Wildhearts. More live dates followed in December 2010 as guests on The Quireboys' "A Little Bit of What You Fancy" 20th anniversary tour, and they also self-released a 'best of' compilation album.
It is believed that the band are now working on new material with a view to recording their 5th studio album in the second half of 2010. The as yet untitled album is likely to surface in 2011, with a possible tour and festival appearances to support it. Further updates will be posted to the band's official website, www.wolfsbanehms.com.
All or Nothing
Wolfsbane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want to be a Rock and Roll preacher,
Crunch the boards,
A regular incendiary teacher,
Tour the world and go to places I can't name,
Taste a little luxury resplendent in my fame,
Got a day job,
Just to make ends meet,
I Rock and Roll on Desperation Street.
All or nothing!
All or nothing!
If you don't like my tape,
There's an S.A.E.
It's all I could afford,
'cause it's all I want to be,
It's an uphill struggle,
On mountainous terrain,
Each show a foothold,
Getting closer to my aim,
Got a day job,
Just to make ends meet,
Nighttime,
I Rock and Roll on Desperation Street.
All or nothing!
All or nothing!
Ruthless marauder,
Tears the place apart,
Storm trooper breaks another heart,
People who destroy me,
Can't see what it means,
Searching for a song to ride out my dreams.
All or nothing!
All or nothing!
The lyrics to Wolfsbane's song, All or Nothing, describe the desire to become a successful rock and roll musician while struggling with a day job to make ends meet. The singer of the song has aspirations of being a "Rock and Roll preacher," touring the world to places he can't name, enjoying a little bit of luxury on the way. However, he is constrained by his poverty and can't afford more than a self-addressed envelope (S.A.E) to send his music out to potential fans or producers. The lyrics convey a sense of relentless ambition and dedication towards achieving his dreams, even if it demands hard work and sacrifice.
Throughout the song, the lyrics give voice to the challenges of the uphill struggle to success that the singer faces. However, he is determined to make it big despite the obstacles on "mountainous terrain." The chorus "All or nothing!" emphasizes the high stakes, the sense of risk and the need to gamble everything to achieve success or make a name in the industry because there is no alternative. The last verse of the song refers to the ruthless nature of the music industry, where people who break you down, tear you apart and destroy your spirit or talent are common. Yet, the singer persists with his hopeful drive and searches for a song to take him closer to his dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Sir,
I want to be a Rock and Roll preacher,
Crunch the boards,
A regular incendiary teacher,
Tour the world and go to places I can't name,
Taste a little luxury resplendent in my fame,
The singer addresses a respected authority figure and expresses their desire to be a successful musician, to perform all over the world, and enjoy the luxuries of fame.
Got a day job,
Just to make ends meet,
Nighttime,
I Rock and Roll on Desperation Street.
Despite their aspirations, the singer holds down a regular job to make ends meet, but spends their free time pursuing their passion for music.
All or nothing!
All or nothing!
The refrain represents the singer's determination that they must give everything or nothing at all to achieve their dreams.
If you don't like my tape,
There's an S.A.E.
It's all I could afford,
'cause it's all I want to be,
It's an uphill struggle,
On mountainous terrain,
Each show a foothold,
Getting closer to my aim,
The artist acknowledges that their demo tape may not be well-received, but music is their passion and they are willing to work hard and overcome obstacles to achieve their goal of becoming a successful musician.
Ruthless marauder,
Tears the place apart,
Storm trooper breaks another heart,
People who destroy me,
Can't see what it means,
Searching for a song to ride out my dreams.
The artist describes the challenges they face and the people who try to bring them down, but their passion for music keeps them going and searching for the right song to help them achieve their dreams.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BASTIAAN RAGAS, PETER HOFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garrymorgan2341
2 Amazing minutes... right in your face!
@bruceleroyhoffman
HMS