Skyclad

Folk Heavy metal band from United Kingdom

Album : Answer machine? Full-length

Release date:

September 1st, 1997

Band members

Graeme English Bass, Guitars (classical, acoustic), Vocals (backing)

Paul A.T. Kinson Drums

Martin Walkyier Vocals

George Biddle Fiddle, Viola, Keyboards, Piano, Hammond Organ, Vocals (backing)

Steve Ramsey Guitars (lead, acoustic), Vocals (backing)

A clown of thorns (lyrics) ( 1:36 )

Walking my personal Calvary mile to a do-it-yourself crucifixion,

It's a kingdom of clowns wearing martyrdom's frown -

I must fight for my hammer and nails,

We're an endless procession of lost,

dispossessed unbelievers -

Whose prayers go unheard and unanswered,

(unheard and unanswered like junk mail for Jesus).

Building a Ruin (lyrics) ( 3:55 )

My life is a sentence that carries no pardon,

I can't put you out of my misery now,

So stunned by the beauty of this madhouse garden -

I've taken my chances (then lost them somehow).

This body's a temple - a shoddy construction,

I'm digging my grave - while boring the well,

I'm paving a path to my own self destruction,

I won't be content 'til I see me in Hell.

No I won't be content 'til I see me in Hell.

I've looked back on my time - the names and the faces,

A child long ago that I nearly forgot,

And felt like someone who'd just stepped on the place

where the last stair should have been - (then found it was not).

Life's just a process of delamination,

Stripping your hopes - dissecting them gently.

I've opened my heart - and to my consternation

when I peered inside it was small, dark and empty.

[Chorus:]

My friends turn to me - wonder what I am doing,

drinking and smoking like somebody died.

I said "Leave me alone I'm just building a ruin,

The spirits are sunken - so the wreckage must rise."

I'm building a ruin - I ruin a building,

My bridges are burned out - my tunnels are filled in.

It's all a game I believe - the longer you play it the harder it gets.

The most I can hope to achieve now's my breakfast,

a priest with a blindfold and last cigarette...