1) Formed by guitarist Brick Williams, Hourglass is a Progressive Metal group from Utah, USA. The band's first effort was the hard-to-come-by "This Lonely Time and Place," followed up by the much more polished "The Journey Into" in 2002 and 2004's "Subconscious." The band released the double album "Oblivious to the Obvious" on February 19, 2009.
54 months is a long time to work on an album. But that is exactly how long it took Hourglass to finish their new double album "Oblivious to the Obvious." Four and a half years of writing, recording, mixing, mastering and the result is 139 minutes worth of music. Even though it is a lot of music, it is only 10 songs. Hourglass has never worried too much about the length of their songs, and epic songs have always been a part of what the band does. "Oblivious to the Obvious" is no exception. The album has a little of everything, from heavy metal riffs and screaming vocals, to laid back piano and acoustic passages, and some very tasteful groove sections. Vocal harmonies are scattered throughout the album as are many guitar, keyboard, and even bass solos. There is something for everyone on "Oblivious to the Obvious."
The band has gone through numerous personnel changes with Williams as the sole constant. Current drummer John Dunston replaced Zachary Taylor for "The Journey Into." Founding keyboardist Eric Robertson and current keyboardist Jerry Stenquist have traded seats twice, with Robertson playing on "This Lonely Time and Place" and "Subconscious," and Stenquist playing on "The Journey Into" and "Oblivious to the Obvious."
Bassist Jon Berrett played on the first two albums, then Clark Woolstenhulme played on "Subconscious," and the bass chair is currently held by one-time Hourglass vocalist Eric Blood for "Oblivious to the Obvious."
A different vocalist has performed on each album, with Jon Shumway on "This Lonely Time and Place," Chad Neth on "The Journey Into," Cody Walker on "Subconscious," and Michael Turner for "Oblivious to the Obvious."
Hourglass takes strong influences from Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Rush, and many other prog metal, prog rock, and classic rock outfits. The band enjoys a local following in the greater Salt Lake City area, and has significant fan bases in Europe and Scandinavia. All their albums have been independently released and financed by the band or individual band members.
2) 90's emo band. Their discography includes a seven inch on Immigrant Sun and a split with New Day Rising on Moo Cow .
3) Hip-Hop producer based out of Los Angeles, California.
Pawn
Hourglass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I refuse to be the king
The more that we believe is right
The more we fail to see
The queen is just a con
Your move has lost its sting
See through the squares of both our lives
At what we're meant to be
Getting through to you
Is like spitting into the wind
You always come back in my face
Been telling me so long
You play the game to win
Your losses will be your disgrace
I've been trying to play your game for years
It's brought me nothing but pain and tears
And even though I can't pretend
I'll be around to play again
It shouldn't be you versus me
You treat me much too kind
You treat me much too cruel
I know your style and patient smile
With you there are no rules
With silent words you speak
We search out our next move
Your looks can kill, my thoughts you steal
There's nothing left to prove
Looking straight through you
I'll face the wind again
I can hear it calling my name
I glance across the board
There's nothing to defend
Distance made you lose your aim
I've been trying to play your game for years
It's brought me nothing but pain and tears
And even though I can't pretend
I'll be around to play again
Why should it be you versus me?
In "Pawn," Hourglass addresses the dynamics of a relationship in which one person seems to hold all the power. The title itself suggests a sense of being used, of being a mere instrument in someone else's game. The opening lines characterize this dynamic with a simple but powerful metaphor: "You treat me like a pawn / I refuse to be the king." The singer is saying in effect that they will not be played by the other person, will not be manipulated or moved around like a pawn on a chessboard.
The next lines suggest that a disagreement or conflict has arisen between the two, and that they have been unable to resolve it. "The more that we believe is right / The more we fail to see" implies that each person is so convinced of their own perspective that they are blinded to the other's. The queen "is just a con," meaning that even the idea of victory or dominance is illusory. The gameplay itself has "lost its sting," and they are left only with the realization that they are not fulfilling their potential, not becoming what they are "meant to be."
The following stanza is even more confrontational. "Getting through to you / Is like spitting into the wind" suggests a sense of futility, that communication is impossible or at least pointless. The other person's strategy is to "play the game to win" regardless of the cost. This is a classic example of a "zero-sum game" in which one person's success necessarily means the other's failure. The singer warns that the other person's "losses will be your disgrace," meaning that the very tactics they use to try and gain the upper hand will ultimately undermine their success.
The third and final stanza continues the theme of frustration and impasse. The singer has been in this situation for "years," trying to play the other person's game, but it has brought them "nothing but pain and tears." Even though they cannot "pretend" to enjoy the game any longer, they will still "be around to play again." Whether this is out of a sense of duty or out of a desire to try and change the rules is left unsaid. The final lines reiterate the question posed earlier: "Why should it be you versus me?" In other words, why do they have to be adversaries? Why can't they find a way to work together, to succeed together, in order to achieve what they are both meant to be?
Overall, "Pawn" is a song of frustration, a plea for understanding and cooperation, and a warning about the dangers of zero-sum games in relationships. The use of powerful metaphors and clear, straightforward language gives the lyrics a universality that is easy to relate to, whether one is experiencing such a dynamic in a romantic relationship, a friendship, or even in the workplace.
Line by Line Meaning
You treat me like a pawn
You manipulate and control me as if I am a mere object in your game
I refuse to be the king
I resist the position of power you try to offer me, as I do not want to perpetuate this cycle of control
The more that we believe is right
The stronger our convictions become, the more narrow-minded we become in our perspective
The more we fail to see
As we become more focused on winning at all costs, we become blind to the potential damage we inflict on each other
The queen is just a con
Your use of the queen as a tool for manipulation is not lost on me, and I will not fall for it
Your move has lost its sting
You are no longer effective in your attempts to control me, as I have grown wise to your tactics
See through the squares of both our lives
We must look beyond the surface-level aspects of our interactions and examine the deeper meaning behind our actions
At what we're meant to be
We should reflect on what our true intentions are in this twisted game we play
Getting through to you
Trying to make you understand my perspective
Is like spitting into the wind
My efforts are futile and will be met with resistance
You always come back in my face
You refuse to hear me out and instead retaliate with your own agenda
Been telling me so long
I have endured your manipulation for far too long
You play the game to win
You prioritize victory over any other consideration, even if it means exploiting those around you
Your losses will be your disgrace
Your inability to recognize the harm you have caused will ultimately lead to your downfall
I've been trying to play your game for years
I have been a passive participant in this game instead of taking control of my own life
It's brought me nothing but pain and tears
This game has caused me significant emotional damage
And even though I can't pretend
Despite the difficulties, I cannot deny the truth of my circumstances
I'll be around to play again
I acknowledge my own complicity and tendency to fall back into the same manipulative patterns
It shouldn't be you versus me
This conflict and power struggle is ultimately destructive and unnecessary
You treat me much too kind
Your kindness is not genuine and is merely part of your manipulation strategy
You treat me much too cruel
You exploit and harm me without any regard for my well-being
I know your style and patient smile
I have come to recognize your tactics and facade of kindness
With you there are no rules
You do not play fair or have any consideration for ethical boundaries
With silent words you speak
Your manipulation is often subtle and difficult to detect
We search out our next move
We are always planning and strategizing, rather than focusing on genuine connection and communication
Your looks can kill, my thoughts you steal
Your glare and manipulation have a significant impact on my emotional state and thoughts
There's nothing left to prove
This constant competition and struggle for power is ultimately pointless and damaging
Looking straight through you
I am no longer fooled by your facade
I'll face the wind again
I am prepared to endure the difficulties and push forward despite the challenges
I can hear it calling my name
The winds of change are stirring and I must take action to move forward
I glance across the board
I take a step back and examine the bigger picture of this power struggle
There's nothing to defend
I realize that this game is ultimately not worth fighting for
Distance made you lose your aim
Our distance has made you realize the futility of this ongoing conflict
Why should it be you versus me?
This power struggle is senseless and we should seek to end it.
Contributed by Aria T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.