A chance meeting with Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance led to an invitation to support that band on a UK tour, and then a recording contract with their record label, 4AD.
Their first two full length albums, self-titled Clan of Xymox and Medusa, comfortably settled Xymox into their own niche of blooming melodics and smooth grey lyrical originality, with Ronnie's songwriting coming as a fresh and very welcome abstract to the plastic and packaged synthpop of the late 80s. In 1989, Ronnie saw a chance to evolve and left 4AD, releasing Twist of Shadows which proved to be their most complete and mature offering thusfar, and was their most successful yet.
With the next two albums, Phoenix and Metamorphosis, fans were left with something of an out of body experience - as Xymox was sounding nothing like themselves. Metamorphosis was truly that however, its failure created a catalyst for Moorings to jump to yet another label, part ways with his bandmates, and pickup Mojca Zugna on bass. Zok records re-released Metamorphosis and a new EP - Headclouds. Moorings took a four year break to introspect and write, and gave fans the wondrous gift that is Hidden Faces, admittedly the logical followup to Medusa.
The new millenium ushered in success for Creatures, Notes From the Underground, Farewell, Breaking Point, The Best Of Clan Of Xymox and the latest DVD release Visible (2008) which serve to define what Clan of Xymox has become now - a velvet lined room smelling of roses and clove, the distant chime of crystal engaging crystal, and the slow lilting line of smoke forming nameless shapes as it draws you ever in.
Current Live Lineup:
Ronny Moorings - words, guitar, piano, voice
Mojca Zugna - bass, voice
Yvonne de Ray - keyboards
Mario Usai - guitar
Discography (as Clan Of Xymox):
1985 - Clan Of Xymox
1986 - Medusa
1997 - Hidden Faces
1999 - Creatures
2000 - Live
2001 - Subsequent Pleasures (reissue only CD)
2001 - Notes From The Underground
2001 - John Peel Sessions
2002 - Remixes From The Underground
2003 - Farewell
2004 - The Best Of Clan Of Xymox
2006 - Breaking Point
2008 - Visible DVD
2009 - In Love We Trust
2011 - Darkest Hour
2012 - Live at the Castle Party (Audio CD& DVD) Special Issue
2012 - Kindred Spirits (cover versions)
2014 - Matters Of Mind, Body And Soul
2017 - Days of Black
2020 - Spider on the Wall
As Xymox:
1983 - Subsequent Pleasures (Vinyl, 12" Limited to 500 copies)
1989 - Twist Of Shadows
1991 - Phoenix
1992 - Metamorphosis
1993 - Headclouds
1994 - Remix (bootleg)
Tightrope Walker
Xymox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
IT IS AN ENDLESS CYCLE
ALL THINGS AROUND ME ARE HOLDING THEIR BREATH
IT IS SPEECHLESS, I WONDER
I BUILD UP WALLS OF THOUGHTS TO KEEP THIS PAIN OUT
IT IS SO HARD TO IMAGINE YOU ARE SOMEWHERE ELSE
YOU COULD HELP ME OUT
LIKE A TIGHTROPE WALKER, A SILENT TALKER
I STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT
A SILENT SCREAM IS CRAWLING TO GET OUT
FEEDING ON THE ANGER
FEEDING ON THE PAIN
IT IS TRAPPED WITHIN
IT IS THE STATE I AM IN
YOU COULD HELP ME OUT
YOU COULD TELL ME HOW
YOU COULD BE MY GUIDE
YOU COULD MAKE ME SEE
YOU COULD HELP ME OUT
YOU COULD TELL ME HOW
The lyrics to Xymox's song "Tightrope Walker" describe the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of slow and monotonous days. The singer feels as though everything around them is holding its breath, speechless and uncertain. To try to cope with this pain, the singer tries to build up walls of thoughts to hold it at bay. However, this only makes it harder for them to imagine that the person they love is somewhere else.
The chorus introduces the metaphor of a tightrope walker, a silent talker who has stopped believing that everything will be alright. The singer describes a silent scream of pain that is trapped within them, feeding on their anger and pain. Despite this, they ask the person they love to help them out, to be their guide and make them see a way forward.
Overall, the lyrics convey a feeling of despair and being stuck in a difficult situation, with the singer looking to the person they love for guidance and support to help them navigate the tightrope of life.
Line by Line Meaning
SLOW DAYS FALLING, ONE BY ONE
Days are passing by too slowly, each one feeling like an eternity.
IT IS AN ENDLESS CYCLE
This feeling of being stuck and in pain seems never-ending.
ALL THINGS AROUND ME ARE HOLDING THEIR BREATH
Everything around me feels quiet and still, as if waiting for something to happen.
IT IS SPEECHLESS, I WONDER
The situation is unexplainable and leaves me wondering what to do.
I BUILD UP WALLS OF THOUGHTS TO KEEP THIS PAIN OUT
I try to protect myself from the pain by constantly occupying my mind with thoughts and distractions.
IT IS SO HARD TO IMAGINE YOU ARE SOMEWHERE ELSE
It is difficult for me to accept that you are not here with me, and I am struggling to comprehend it.
LIKE A TIGHTROPE WALKER, A SILENT TALKER
Just like a tightrope walker, I am trying to keep my balance and appear composed while dealing with this inner turmoil. I silently communicate my struggles to myself.
I STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT
I lose hope and begin to doubt that everything will work out in the end.
A SILENT SCREAM IS CRAWLING TO GET OUT
I am suppressing intense emotions, and they are struggling to break free.
FEEDING ON THE ANGER
These emotions are fueled by anger.
FEEDING ON THE PAIN
The pain is exacerbating the negative emotions and making them stronger.
IT IS TRAPPED WITHIN
I am keeping these emotions bottled up inside, which only makes it worse.
IT IS THE STATE I AM IN
This is the current mental and emotional state that I am in.
YOU COULD HELP ME OUT
I need someone's support and assistance in dealing with these difficult emotions.
YOU COULD TELL ME HOW
I need guidance and advice from someone who might have experienced similar struggles.
YOU COULD BE MY GUIDE
I need someone to lead me through this difficult time.
YOU COULD MAKE ME SEE
I need someone to help me see things from a different perspective and find hope or solutions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind