Passionately Human

Queen of Swords II – Illustration

webmaster — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:25:43 +0000

I created this highly detailed illustration in 1997. Pen and ink on paper.
This image was further developed to create a smaller version which was used as the sleeve cover for the 7″ of Queen of Swords

Queen of Swords II - Diamond

Queen of Swords – Illustration

webmaster — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:34:59 +0000

This illustration was created by me in 1997. Pen and ink on paper.
The image was used as a chest print for a long sleeve Die Laughing t-shirt to promote the single Queen of Swords.

Queen of Swords

Venus – Pen and ink illustration

webmaster — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:14:49 +0000

This illustration was created by me in 1994. Pen and ink on paper.
The image was used as a chest print for a Die Laughing t-shirt

Venus Illustration

Die Laughing Logo – Illustration

webmaster — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:21:05 +0000

I developed the Die Laughing font and double crescent logo over a number of years from 1992 – 1997. The image below is pen and ink on paper.
The image appeared on all Die Laughing promotional material from about 1993 onwards.

Die Laughing logo

Die Laughing Lyrics – Amy – Caged (and early demos)

webmaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:44:20 +0000

Here are the lyrics to Amy, a track on our early demos and also available on the Caged album:

Amy

Shadows and silhouettes
The candle flame, dances on the breeze of time
Take me to, a wonderland
Where my love, will be with you

Amy’s smiling, Amy’s laughing, now Amy’s dancing around and around
Amy’s smiling, Amy’s laughing, now Amy’s dancing around and around
She’s dancing, she’s dancing

You can see, Amy staring into the fire
I can see, Amy staring, staring into naked flame
You can hear Amy screaming out for life
I can hear Amy screaming, screaming out for love

Amy’s smiling, Amy’s laughing, now Amy’s dancing around and around
Amy’s smiling, Amy’s laughing, now Amy’s dancing around and around
She’s dancing, she’s dancing

* One more lonely night, Amy all alone
* A frightened child in an empty home
* So much despair in one so young
* Her demented smile will always stay,
* on her doll like face as her life fades away
* Fades away

Amy’s smiling, Amy’s laughing, now Amy’s dancing around and around
Amy’s smiling, Amy’s laughing, now Amy’s dancing around and around
She’s dancing away, she’s dancing away

Lyrics by Die Laughing incarnation 1 (pre 1992) * added by Rachel 1994

Die Laughing Lyrics – Aphelion – Incarnations

webmaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:40:23 +0000

Here are the lyrics to Aphelion, a track on our third album Incarnations:

Aphelion

I heard the clock strike 13 times,
he demands I face his brocade and rhyme,
heed the shadow line
From scattered bones he demands I choose,
self sacrifice each way when heads they win,
and tails I lose

You wish to see me fall the Icarus fall,
Aphelion, Aphelion
So I travel fast from the dominion done,
to the furthest point from the sun
Aphelion, to the Aphelion

Our carousel turns ever more,
the gilt has worn but it still enchants like it did before
Disgraced in Eden so like Eve I fled,
the choice was mine to make,
and I followed where my passion led

You wish to see me fall the Icarus fall,
Aphelion, Aphelion
So I travel fast from the dominion done,
to the furthest point from the sun
Aphelion, to the Aphelion

Still beats the heart, go wish another dead
Save you shallow words for someone who cares
I don’t believe in you anymore
Still beats the heart, go wish another dead
Save your shallow words for someone who cares
I don’t believe in you anymore

I heard the clock strike 13 times,
the time had come to leave the craven kind,
cross the shadow line
The ash has scattered from the funeral pyre,
you sacrificed my faith in the bitter flames of our final fire

You wish to see me fall the Icarus fall,
Aphelion, Aphelion
So I travel fast from the dominion done,
to the furthest point from the sun
Aphelion, to the Aphelion

Lyrics by Rachel Iden (Speight)

Die Laughing Lyrics – Cascades – Heaven in Decline

webmaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:36:19 +0000

Here are the lyrics to Cascades, a track on our second album Heaven in Decline:

Cascades

Do you see the colours fade?
Nostalgia draws me to return to where our ghosts still play
Do you ever think of me?
I am haunted by winter’s chill as it breathes your memory
Do you remember whispering forever?
Regret still aches within for a love that can never be

Did you plan to cheat my heart?
Was I careless to believe the promise of a stranger?
I was trapped within your web of dark illusion
All I want is for the truth to take away this confusion
As you walked away did you think of the tears I’d cry?
How could you have cared if you never stayed to say goodbye?

Within my soul this memory burns, the future you denied
Your ghost remains whilst all else fades
the legacy left behind
Within my heart this memory burns, the future you denied
Your ghost remains whilst all else fades
Within my soul, this pain cascades

All alone in this silent room,
why does this ache remain now the story is so old?
I think you stole a part of me,
for I fear nothing with touch me now my heart is cold
Why did you leave a wish that in time you would want to return?
This lesson of my foolishness, is the last my heart will learn

Just let this fade away…

Lyrics by Rachel Iden (Speight)

Die Laughing Lyrics – Dark Half – Incarnations

webmaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:18:30 +0000

Here are the lyrics to Dark Half, a track on our third album Incarnations:

Dark Half

You hold the key but you cannot find its mystery
Hiding cloaked in mist, She weaves desire and avarice
Smouldering behind, a peacock eye, an arcane passion to satisfy
A spiral turns and burns its brand eternally

You dance upon nothing without Lunar charm,
You dance upon nothing without Solar…

You chase the light fearing shade and shadow
You see my radiance, after cast you follow
Your faith is blind to never see
The serpent within the dark half, the darker half of me

The time is lost, to dance attendance at any cost
Drawn by siren song to drown herself at Acheron
Searching desperately to join her kindred’s destiny
Poison flows within to fill the aching void

You dance upon nothing without Lunar charm,
You dance upon nothing without Solar…

You chase the light fearing shade and shadow
You see my radiance, after cast you follow
Your faith is blind to never see
The serpent within the dark half, the darker half of me

Under a violet sky she dreams of the infernal fire
That consumed all light, when the dark seed took it’s hold
Reaching for the fabled purity within, she paints and tears at her skin
To find that even her white marble soul has veins of ebony and crimson

You chase the light fearing shade and shadow
You see my radiance, after cast you follow
Your faith is blind to never see
The serpent within the dark half, the darker half of me

tsim ni dekaolc gnidih, dekaolc gnidih, dekaolc gnidih

Lyrics by Rachel Iden (Speight)

Die Laughing Lyrics – Evergreen – Heaven in Decline

webmaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:13:55 +0000

Here are the lyrics to Evergreen, a track on our second album Heaven in Decline:

Evergreen

I can’t remember when I first heard the wind whispering
In its lonely voice, such secrets lie
Behind every veil, such splendor waits to be uncovered
See the spirits all around as seasons rise and die

Take delight in Her crescent light
For soon rises Her morning Son
Silence fear and take my hand
In to the darkness we run… Evergreen

Enter an underworld where your mind walks free
If you call my name, then you will find me
I have been with you since your light embraced this place
So much vision, yet so few see me

Take delight in Her crescent light
For soon rises Her morning Son
Silence fear and take my hand
In to the darkness we run… Evergreen

Starlight falling, draws sunlight’s dawning

By candlelight the angels rise
With wishes cast before watchful eyes
As incense curls into the sky
Behold the kiss of the wise

How could I turn away, now you have offered these jewels to me
Within them sparkles, the knowledge of eternity
In this hinterland, ancient scripts wait to be found
Left by the ones, who were wise to the sacred ground

Take delight in Her crescent light
For soon rises Her morning Son
Silence fear and take my hand
In to the darkness we run… Evergreen

Starlight falling, draws sunlight’s dawning

Lyrics by Rachel Iden (Speight)

Die Laughing Lyrics – Firedance – Glamour and Suicide

webmaster — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:08:52 +0000

Here are the lyrics to Firedance, a track on our first album Glamour & Suicide:

Firedance

Gaze with crystal eyes your intuition serves you well
Will your fear be charmed by this blush of light
As shadows rise and fall I feel the spirits gathering round us
Can desire kindle the chill of your suspicious heart?

Do you see ice of a salamander heart,
or are you bewitched by the flames that are rising?

Firedance, run with me
Firedance, run circles around me

This place was hard to find and will be even harder to leave
But in the half-light, there is beauty if only you will believe
I know the lies light my past, smoulder your fragile faith
I offer you the submission of my restive nature

Do you see ice of a salamander heart,
or are you bewitched by the flames that are rising?

Firedance, run with me
Firedance, run circles around me

Fan the flames and stir the embers
Feel the seduction of this blaze

You hesitate and lay the shame,
Am I alone the one to blame
I can’t deny this history
Those clandestine days are part of me
You can’t forgive the guilt I hide,
The darkest truth destroys from inside,
So cast the stones welcome the chance,
Come with me into this firedance…

Do you see ice of a salamander heart,
or are you bewitched by the flames that are rising?

Firedance, run with me
Firedance, run circles around me