I: In Aeternum (1991)
Tearstained are the halls of my empty soul
Melancholia’s haunting call is the only one I have known
Innocence has lead me into this void
While years eroded a youth I never enjoyed
Through childhood I slept unsheltered from the scorn
Now I’ve awakened with age to love ever lorn
Forever and ever I’ll search for the solace
Which can only be found in an embrace
In throes of desolation I prayed unto divinity
I endured the emptiness and frigid pain but even god had forsaken me
I prayed to find a solace for my heart bereaved
Only to be forgotten by the god I once believed
Now I serve this punishment under the ice condemned
For my loss of faith to hell I was damned
Downfallen in iniquity, desolate I’ll be
My somber stare traverses sepulchers lonely
Eternally, my limbs sealed in place
Livid, and dead I bow my face
The only shelter from the cold
Of the ninth circle of hell
To see what awaits in forever
A lifeless gaze, my final endeavor
I looked through the blackened skies
And beheld the radiance of paradise
My eyes have frozen in false sanctity
Eternally bound, my tears have turned to ice
II: La Mort D'Amour (1992)
The once beautiful flower has withered and gone
It is memory’s charnel vast that I weepeth on
Lifeless, this lonely heart swoons ‘neath my breast
For my tears bring you back not, from silent rest
Lamentations and woe, peace never shall I know
Blood less bitter be than these tears brackish with sorrow
Every promise ever born now lay broken
False words are better left asleep on thy lips than spoken
With autumn’s dirge summer doth end
And dreams, like leaves, decay into the wind
Pallid as the breath on which they blow
Is my heart, buried ‘neath a solemn pall of snow
This ice holds not sanctum, nor reason
For thy heart’s swift change of season
With your dying, element and emotion unfold
And I, I live no longer in this cold
“Sadness, unlike love, is eternal”
III: Sorrow Of The Angels (1994)
Heaven weeps with my sorrow
Through the clouds’ veil of black lace
An infinity of angels
Share the tearstreams I pour away
Within the storms of sadness
I’ll eternally remain
Love is lost forever
You are mourned by this rain
Forever weeping
I: In Aeternum (1991)
Tearstained are the halls of my empty soul
Melancholia’s haunting call is the only one I have known
Innocence has lead me into this void
While years eroded a youth I never enjoyed
Through childhood I slept unsheltered from the scorn
Now I’ve awakened with age to love ever lorn
Forever and ever I’ll search for the solace
Which can only be found in an embrace
In throes of desolation I prayed unto divinity
I endured the emptiness and frigid pain but even god had forsaken me
I prayed to find a solace for my heart bereaved
Only to be forgotten by the god I once believed
Now I serve this punishment under the ice condemned
For my loss of faith to hell I was damned
Downfallen in iniquity, desolate I’ll be
My somber stare traverses sepulchers lonely
Eternally, my limbs sealed in place
Livid, and dead I bow my face
The only shelter from the cold
Of the ninth circle of hell
To see what awaits in forever
A lifeless gaze, my final endeavor
I looked through the blackened skies
And beheld the radiance of paradise
My eyes have frozen in false sanctity
Eternally bound, my tears have turned to ice
II: La Mort D'Amour (1992)
The once beautiful flower has withered and gone
It is memory’s charnel vast that I weepeth on
Lifeless, this lonely heart swoons ‘neath my breast
For my tears bring you back not, from silent rest
Lamentations and woe, peace never shall I know
Blood less bitter be than these tears brackish with sorrow
Every promise ever born now lay broken
False words are better left asleep on thy lips than spoken
With autumn’s dirge summer doth end
And dreams, like leaves, decay into the wind
Pallid as the breath on which they blow
Is my heart, buried ‘neath a solemn pall of snow
This ice holds not sanctum, nor reason
For thy heart’s swift change of season
With your dying, element and emotion unfold
And I, I live no longer in this cold
“Sadness, unlike love, is eternal”
III: Sorrow Of The Angels (1994)
Heaven weeps with my sorrow
Through the clouds’ veil of black lace
An infinity of angels
Share the tearstreams I pour away
Within the storms of sadness
I’ll eternally remain
Love is lost forever
You are mourned by this rain
Forever weeping
about
Original Liner Notes From The Sinistrari Records pressing:
To the listener: Contrary to the primality of the “Into The Wells Of Sorrow” 7”, which was really nothing more than an acknowledgement of our past, the “Lovesongs Of The Forsaken” mini-CD offers both greater emotional clarity and an enhanced melodic sence. Thus, this is the most accurate representation of While Heaven Wept yet.
Musically, the concept behind “Lovesongs” was to present the material in its most straight-forward form; the naked emotion, the heart of the music, rather than the elaborate orchestrations which will appear on the “Sorrow Of The Angels” album.
Additionally, the songs include here provide a cross-section of the diverse styles I’ve emulated to express myself.
Lyrically, these songs are based entirely upon a time of bereavement in my life. These are the things I never had a chance to say, and the feelings I need to express.
Due to the personal nature of the material, I won’t provide any additional insight here; some of you will understand.
In eternal grief…
“Lovesongs Of The Forsaken” is dedicated with eternal love to Donna McKendree, wherever you are now…
Forever Weeping,
Tom Phillips
February 18th, 1995
2010 Liner Notes
While the Funston/Paquin/Phillips line-up of While Heaven Wept was far from the first (considering we’d already undergone an absurd number of line-up changes since the band’s inception in 1989), it was unquestionably the first PRODUCTIVE line-up in that this collaboration yielded the first professionally recorded output of the band. Perhaps more importantly, the three of us were very much kindred spirits at this time, united emotionally and musically - having all suffered broken hearts and deep disappointments during the 1993-1995 era. Thus, the results of our recording sessions at Neptune were brimming with genuine emotion and honesty – traits that remain paramount to WHW today; if we don’t truly “feel” something, we’re not going to do it just for the sake of doing so…not then, not now, not ever.
But I digress…when we first arrived at Neptune Studios in late 1993 to begin pre-production the intent was to realize the “Sorrow Of The Angels” album straight away; the debut 7” and “Lovesongs” MCD weren’t even a figment of my imagination at the time. Diving headlong into a full-length album, without having recorded a single demo prior might’ve sounded a bit optimistic on our part were it not for the fact that WHW had been in existence for 5 years already…we took the time to develop our sound and identity, set aside material that didn’t coalesce with the rest (some of which only resurfaced on 2009’s “Vast Oceans Lachrymose”), and recorded hundreds of rehearsal tapes over the years…we were in fact, very much prepared to deliver the “Sorrow Of The Angels” album in 1994. Unfortunately, between the limited technology of the time, unforeseen technical difficulties, and a crystal clear vision that weighed heavily upon every aspect of the recordings, this album and epitaph was not to be…but as discussed in the “Sorrow Of The Angels” liner notes, perhaps there was higher power involved. Either way, rather than binning the fruits of our labor, heart and soul completely, it was decided that we should spread out the material over a series of releases, based upon what the music itself dictated…what felt right.
“Lovesongs Of The Forsaken”, once envisioned was no more random than any While Heaven Wept album; in fact, it established the blueprint we’ve remained true to through today: a smooth song-to-song flow throughout, with several twists and turns, contrasting dynamics. It was “raw” as I described it back in 1995, and that was the point: visceral emotion, unhindered by complex arrangements or extra instrumentation…we were a three-piece after all! Yet, we knew what was to come would be much more elaborate.
Originally, “Lovesongs” surfaced as a promo cassette in 1994 with only 50 copies produced (the very definition of a limited edition I’d say!) it still managed to help us establish our first international connections, most notably via the legendary REFLECTIONS OF DOOM ‘zine. This version of “Lovesongs” never resurfaced again until now; I was struggling to decide what would compliment the A side of this LP (which is the 1995 Sinistrari Records mix of), and then I discovered a box of old DAT tapes which are quite literally overflowing with hidden treasures…among them, the original promo cassette version of what I have always considered our proper debut. I thought that it would be an appropriate coupling to include both versions on this edition since they do differ ever-so-slightly; we did some additional tracking and mixing for the 1995 CD release…some vocal, bass, and guitar parts if I recall correctly. If naught else, the promo cassette is one of the rarest WHW items of all, so this is for all the diehards out there.
Previously, “Lovesongs Of The Forsaken” was included as Side 3 of the “Chapter One:1989-1999” 2LP compilation on Metal Supremacy Records, but just like the “Sorrow Of The Angels” portion on Side 2, it was marred by horrid cuts between tracks which completely destroyed the very flow we worked so hard to create. This brand new edition presented by Maniacal and High Roller Records here not only rectifies this, but also completes the series of WHW vinyl released in commemoration of our 20th Anniversary. Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way…we look forward to seeing you on the road very soon, and “Fear Of Infinity” is indeed coming sooner than later!
Cheers!
Tom Phillips
May 17th, 2010
credits
released October 18, 1994
CREDITS
Lovesongs Of The Forsaken was:
Composed And Arranged By: Tom Phillips
Performed By: Gabe Funston – Bass
Jon Paquin – Drums
Tom Phillips – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Recorded At: Neptune Recording Studios, January – August 1994 (Cassette Version), with additional recording January 1995 (CD Version)
Recorded By: Max Henkel
Produced By: Tom Phillips, Jon Paquin, and Max Henkel
Band Photography: Jenny Shrader
Original Cover Art: “Nine Days They Fell” (1866) plate from “Paradise Lost” by Gustave Doré, Out Of Copyright
Art Concept And Designs: Estelle Motsiou and Tom Phillips
Band Logo By: Tamara Abarzua
Graphics Design And Digital Treatment: Estelle Motsiou
Website Design And Maintenance: Estelle Motsiou
Published By: Vast Music Lachrymose, LLC
All Songs Copyright 1994, 2010, 2015 Vast Music Lachrymose
While Heaven Wept has existed in various forms since 1989 and co-founding guitarist/composer Tom Phillips has been the one
constant for the past 30 years. Since the beginning, there has been a wide range of influences, transcending forms, styles, and genres from epic metal to kosmiche musik, prog to neo-romanticism....more
supported by 12 fans who also own “Lovesongs Of The Forsaken”
My favorite material from Solstice! Despite their amazing discography that lay before this that completely set the foundation, this in my opinion is where it all comes to a mighty peak. What an amazing emotional and powerful picture painted in such a short amount of time. Talon Sullivan