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The Iron Tree (1984)
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The Virgin Mary descends into Hell to see the sinners and the totures they endure. Inspired by "Khozhdenie Danilla", an ancient Russian apocryphal tale. First recorded in January of 1984.
acid rock san francisco last rites johnny c note
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An exercise in surrealist expression, also called acid rock
At its core, Last Rites is an exercise in surrealist expression. It has also been perceived as an elaborate joke. The San Francisco MusiCalendar described it best when they wrote, " ...my number one choice for scariest band, scariest songs ever" . After all, with a name like Last Rites, you really don't expect us to do a "number for the ladies in the crowd", complete with acoustic guitar, like Foghat, do you?
Song Info
Genre
Rock • Goth Rock
Charts
Peak #131
Peak in subgenre #10
Author
John C. Lind
Rights
1983, 2004
Uploaded
November 05, 2004
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.7 MB • 128 kbps • 0:00
Story behind the song
I was taking a class in classical Russian literature. One of the stories was called "Khozhdenie Danilla", or "The Descent of the Virgin", and described how the Virgin Mary descended into Hell to see the sinners and the torments they endured. In one case people were hanging from barbs on a large iron tree by their tongues for the sin of calumny. While reading this I thought, "this would make a great song" and I wrote the lyrics. Later, when I first formed my band, it was the first song I completed, and became our "signature song". Later it earned us the "scariest band ever" title from the "San Francisco MusiCalendar", which we proudly accepted and have tried to live up to ever since.
Lyrics
Hanging on the Iron Tree Fat white worms devour me Drowning in the Sea of Blood Buried in the poisoned mud I was taken to the South Serpents came from my mouth Dropped in the River of Fire And I heard the Angels’ Choir The darkness was dispersed And I became immersed In the glare of Seven Suns Cherubim and Seraphim I saw the Virgin Mary She was weeping very bitterly I asked her why are you weeping? Why did you come? And the Holy Virgin said to me I have come down here to see The torments suffered by the weak By those who turned the other cheek Ten thousand Angels began to sing A multitude of bells began to ring The divine procession turned away And took with them the light of day
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