motW had a consistent core membership which consisted of Jason Byron, Greg Massi, and Toby Driver. Throughout motW's career, they saw a sort of "revolving door" of members and session musicians as they were needed. In this regard, it may be more accurate to think of motW as a project rather than a typical band, akin to Chuck Schuldiner's influential death metal project/band, Death.
motW's music, lyrics, and atmosphere dealt predominantly with the subject of astral projection. The band tried to find music rather than compose it. This was attempted through practicing astral projection and lucid dreams, from which the band were purportedly able to "bring back" pre-existing music from the astral plane. This idea is similar to the common dogmatic notion that "all good things come from God", but with a new-age spin.
In late 2001, motW began working on a fourth studio album. During this time, the band lost longtime members, changed labels, and ultimately renamed themselves to Kayo Dot. This fourth motW album was released in 2003 as Kayo Dot's Choirs of the Eye.
Bath and Leaving Your Body Map were re-issued by Dark Symphonies in 2006 and the label has recently announced plans to re-release My Fruit PsychoBells...A Seed Combustible in September 2007.
On July 27, 2008, Toby Driver released a statement in his blog which confirms that a new studio album will be recorded starting February, 2009. The album, entitled Part the Second, was released in May 2009 on the band's website. The record was entirely fan-funded, and people who contributed to the funding of the record are listed on their website. A double-LP edition pressed at 45rpm was issued in November 2010 thanks to fan donations.
In 2012, the bands whole discography was re-released on CD through Blood Music, including The Secret Song single and the first CD release of Part the Second.
Stones of October's Sobbing
maudlin of the Well Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leaves burning is the peasant's legacy.
Knelling, as the cheek of Summer is kiss'd--
Shivering of the elm, she is entomb'd.
The hay wain creaks through the countryside
As poet Autumn's fires scorch all this world.
They are entranced by the turning mill wheel,
Clear and cutting with Proserpine's kiss.
Frost, and the dignity of flameless light,
The hermit's cottage, fashioned rough of stone--
Smoke rolling slow behind the orchard's bloom.
Like a cairn, the stones are aligned in silence;
Arrayed by a bloodless hand, out through veils.
Time is easily torn while pitchforks twist,
Twist as easily through her golden hair.
Seasons that kill years...
Death that mangles hearts...
Loves that lose their shine...
Tombs that are forgot...
Darkness awaits behind the suffering day.
Men that waste lives in search of Heaven.
Stones are sobbing in a vernal field.
Thoughts of spring and cascades before you die.
The song "Stones of October's Sobbing" by maudlin of the Well is a poetic depiction of the transition to autumn and the inevitability of death. The lyrics use vivid imagery, such as leaves burning as a peasant legacy and the shivering elm symbolizing the death of summer. The hay wain creaking through the countryside represents the passing of time, and the fires of poet Autumn scorching the world symbolize the end of life. The "turning mill wheel, clear and cutting with Proserpine's kiss" refers to Proserpine, the Greek goddess of the underworld who rules over death, and how her kiss cuts through life.
The second half of the song is more introspective, discussing the theme of mortality and how time can be easily torn like a pitchfork through golden hair. The seasons serve to kill years and darkness waits behind the suffering day. The mention of men wasting their lives in search of heaven reflects on the idea of living life to the fullest and not being so concerned with the afterlife. The final lines of the song, "Stones are sobbing in a vernal field. Thoughts of spring and cascades before you die," suggest that despite the sorrow and death, there is still beauty in life that can bring hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Another year dead, and the harvest moon;
Another year has ended and the harvest moon is here.
Leaves burning is the peasant's legacy.
Peasants have a tradition of burning leaves.
Knelling, as the cheek of Summer is kiss'd--
The sound of a funeral bell, as summer comes to an end.
Shivering of the elm, she is entomb'd.
The elm tree shivers like it's being buried alive.
The hay wain creaksthrough the countryside
The wagon carrying hay makes a creaking sound as it goes through the countryside.
As poet Autumn's fires scorch all this world.
The autumn fires of poet Autumn scorch everything in this world.
They are entranced by the turning mill wheel,
They are mesmerized by the turning mill wheel.
Clear and cutting with Proserpine's kiss.
The sound of the turning mill wheel is sharp and clear, like the kiss of Proserpine.
Bless the sun, decked in gorgeous array--
Bless the sun, adorned with beautiful colors.
Frost, and the dignity of flameless light,
Frost has a dignified beauty, without the warmth of firelight.
The hermit's cottage, fashioned rough of stone--
The hermit's cottage is made of rough stone.
Smoke rolling slow behind the orchard's bloom.
Smoke rolls slowly behind the orchard in bloom.
Like a cairn, the stones are aligned in silence;
The stones are aligned in silence like a cairn.
Arrayed by a bloodless hand, out through veils.
The stones were placed there by someone or something without blood, coming through veils.
Time is easily torn while pitchforks twist,
Time is easily damaged as pitchforks twist.
Twist as easily through her golden hair.
Pitchforks also twist easily through her golden hair.
Seasons that kill years...
Seasons that bring death and destruction upon years.
Death that mangles hearts...
Death that destroys and ruins hearts.
Loves that lose their shine...
Love that fades away and loses its brightness.
Tombs that are forgot...
Tombs that are forgotten over time.
Darkness awaits behind the suffering day.
Darkness is always waiting behind a day full of pain and hardship.
Men that waste lives in search of Heaven.
Men that squander their lives searching for something that might not even exist.
Stones are sobbing in a vernal field.
The stones are crying in a green, lush field.
Thoughts of spring and cascades before you die.
Thinking about spring and waterfalls before you die.
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.