311 mix rock, rap, reggae and funk into their own unique sound. After years of consistent touring, 311 have developed a reputation as one of the hardest working, most influential and most entertaining live bands in the U.S.
311 have released ten studio albums, one live album, one greatest hits album and three dvd's - and have sold over 8.5 million albums in the U.S. Seven of their albums have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Top 200 Sales Chart...and 9 of their singles have reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Alternative Rock Radio Chart (including the #1 singles Down, Love Song & Don't Tread On Me. Along with Amber, All Mixed Up, Come Original, Creatures For Awhile, Hey You, and Sunset in July).
311’s newest album, Universal Pulse, released in Summer 2011, was produced by Bob Rock, mixed by Chad Sexton and debuted at #7 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart.
The band's celebratory live shows & incessant touring schedule have earned them a massive grassroots following nationwide. Since its inception in 2004, 311’s annual summer headlining amphitheatre run, Unity Tour, has become one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer. Support acts on previous Unity Tours have included Sublime with Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu, and Ziggy Marley. Unity Tour 2012 will feature support from Slightly Stoopid.
311 BIO/HIGHLIGHTS:
* 311 was formed in 1990 in Omaha, Nebraska by vocalist/guitarist Nick Hexum, vocalist/dj SA Martinez, lead guitarist Tim Mahoney, drummer Chad Sexton and bassist P-Nut. The band now resides in Los Angeles.
* 311 has sold over 8.5 million units in the U.S.
* 311 has had 8 albums reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Top 200 Sales Chart
* 311 has had 9 singles reach the Top 10 on Billboard’s U.S. Alternative Chart (including the #1 singles “Down”, “Love Song” & “Don’t Tread On Me” along with “Amber”, “All Mixed Up”, “Come Original”, “Creatures (For a While)”, “Hey You” and "Sunset in July")
* 311’s new album, Universal Pulse, debuted at #7 in July 2011 and was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).
* 311’s new album, due summer of 2011, was produced by Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith).
* 311’s sound is a unique hybrid of rock, reggae, hip-hop & funk. A balance of hard rocking anthems and melodic reggae grooves - with an underlying message of unity & positivity.
* After years of incessant touring, 311 has developed a reputation as one of the most influential & most entertaining live bands in the U.S.
* With their celebratory live shows, 311 has earned a massive grassroots following. For the past nine years, 311 has headlined their summer “Unity Tour” in ampitheatres across the U.S.- drawing crowds of 10,000 to 18,000 people in Atlanta, Boston, DC, New Jersey, Los Angeles, St. Louis, West Palm, Charlotte, VA Beach, Denver, etc. The tour is consistently one of the largest modern rock concerts of the summer in the U.S.
* Past 311 tours have included an impressive array of opening acts. Bands such as No Doubt, Korn & Incubus all supported 311 on U.S. tours before they became headliners.
* Support acts on 311’s Unity Tour have included :
Sublime With Rome, The Offspring, Snoop Dogg, The Roots, Papa Roach, The Wailers, O.A.R., Matisyahu and Ziggy Marley.
* 311 has always stayed true to their own approach and their underlying message of unity and positivity. That message still rings true for them today…in their lyrics and at their celebratory live shows. Singer Nick Hexum typically ends each show with the words, “Stay Positive and Love Your Life.”
• Every other year on March 11th (“3-11 Day”), 311 holds a special concert event that attracts thousands of 311 fans from around the world. The show includes an extended setlist (5 hours / 60+ songs) and state of the art production. Last year the band sold-out the Mandalay Bay Arena and tickets were sold to fans in all 50 U.S. states and 13 different countries. 311 fans traveled from around the globe to meet each other and to celebrate 311 Day together.
The Great Divide
311 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think you know what I mean
A reality break to a place unseen things
Come alive stupefied mind quarantined
From sleeping then awaken to somewhere in between
Ay, I'm on a cloud parfait
I jump into the valley of the far from mundane
My knees buckle a chuckle chuckle
Strange like a tale from Brothers Grimm
They're watching you we can't look at them
Living life out here like on a limb
One or the other sink or swim
Maximum velocity yet speeding up so rapidly
There's no where else I'd rather be, for me
They keep you high, they won't let you come down
Distract the facts ma'am, that's the plan now
Where you work, where you lurk, what you search
Climb too much get off of that perch
Virtual reality your nightmare
On the grid, kid, getting nowhere
Get ahead, leave behind lose your mind
Find in time a nowhere rhyme
Chemicals up in the atmosphere
Another meteor is falling near
Buried in the headlines disappear
I'm not the type to live in fear
You dream but I know you're awake
Explaining a nightmare you couldn't shake
Maybe the Kool-aid that you drank today
We're breaking away from the past
Reaching a new plane at last
Regardless of what cards get played
No one can keep you afraid
Unless you wanna be
You make that choice indubitably
They wanna play my emotions
But I'm like the ocean
Too calm to get upset by somebody's notion
Future makers, organ takers
A non-human intelligence is guiding
Worlds colliding, far away star system
I string DNA where I need 'em
What we gonna get with a zero field
Gotta have the one to make it real
I tell ya that more will be revealed
The mystery don't bother me
Everyday masquerade
There's always too many plans we laid
Keep going faster down the grade we made
We're breaking away from the past
Reaching a new plane at last
Regardless of what cards get played
No one can keep you afraid
We're always beginning
As sure as we're spinning
For it's never ending from here
After all this time
I am sorry I'm not sorry
Hate me later
There's something greater
From the petty here and now
Venture on
The sketch is not completely drawn
Travel wide
It's not hiding inside
Venture on
The sketch is not completely drawn
Travel wide
It's out beyond the great divide
The lyrics of 311's song, "The Great Divide," present the theme of breaking away from the past, venturing into the unknown, and embracing change. The song starts with the singer's reflection of how he feels like he has stepped into a dream of somewhere in between where things come alive, and his mind is free to roam. The singer recognizes that the world isn't always what it seems, and that reality can quickly turn into a nightmare. The song is an invitation to break free of these constraints and find something greater.
"Living life out here like on a limb" suggests that taking risks and being vulnerable is necessary to grow and evolve as a person. This idea is echoed in the lines "We're breaking away from the past, reaching a new plane at last." The chorus further reinforces the message, stating that no one can keep you afraid unless you choose to be. The song ends with the invitation to venture beyond the "great divide," which could represent a metaphorical divide between the past and the future or symbolize the unknown territories that await.
Overall, "The Great Divide" is a song that celebrates the journey of self-discovery and encourages listeners to embrace change and step out of their comfort zones.
Line by Line Meaning
It's like I stepped into a dream
The experience feels surreal and unlike reality.
I think you know what I mean
The listener can relate to and understand the feeling.
A reality break to a place unseen things
The experience is like a break from real life to a new, undiscovered place.
Come alive stupefied mind quarantined
The mind is both overwhelmed by the new experience and isolated from reality.
From sleeping then awaken to somewhere in between
The transition from sleep to the new experience feels like a new world in between reality and dreams.
Ay, I'm on a cloud parfait
The singer feels like they're on top of the world.
I jump into the valley of the far from mundane
The singer takes a leap into a new experience far from ordinary.
My knees buckle a chuckle chuckle
The artist is momentarily thrown off-kilter but laughs it off.
Muthafucka I get back up like there never was a scuffle
The artist is quick to recover from the moment of unease and resumes their confidence.
Strange like a tale from Brothers Grimm
The experience feels like a dark and twisted fairy tale.
They're watching you we can't look at them
The singer feels like they're being observed by an unknown entity.
Living life out here like on a limb
The artist feels like they're precariously living on the edge.
One or the other sink or swim
The singer feels like they must succeed or fail based on their own willpower alone.
Maximum velocity yet speeding up so rapidly
The situation is rapidly gaining momentum and moving quickly.
There's no where else I'd rather be, for me
Despite the unknowns, the singer is excited to be where they are.
They keep you high, they won't let you come down
The new experience seems addictive and never-ending.
Distract the facts ma'am, that's the plan now
The artist feels like they're being manipulated and distracted.
Where you work, where you lurk, what you search
The singer feels like all aspects of their life are being monitored and scrutinized.
Climb too much get off of that perch
The singer advises not to get too caught up and need to take a break.
Virtual reality your nightmare
The artist feels like the new experience is like living in a never-ending, inescapable dream.
On the grid, kid, getting nowhere
The artist feels trapped in the system and unable to progress.
Get ahead, leave behind lose your mind
The artist fears that in order to progress, they may have to compromise their own sanity.
Find in time a nowhere rhyme
The experience may seem directionless and meaningless at first, but over time will reveal itself.
Chemicals up in the atmosphere
The environment around the artist is changing.
Another meteor is falling near
There's a new or sudden danger approaching.
Buried in the headlines disappear
The danger or issue is hidden and not getting attention.
I'm not the type to live in fear
The singer is not going to let fear rule their life.
You dream but I know you're awake
The artist acknowledges that others may not believe in the experience they're having.
Explaining a nightmare you couldn't shake
The experience may be scary or disturbing to others.
Maybe the Kool-aid that you drank today
Others' disbelief may come from skepticism or ignorance.
We're breaking away from the past
The singer is moving forward from past experiences.
Reaching a new plane at last
The artist is achieving a new level or state in their life.
Regardless of what cards get played
Regardless of any obstacles or setbacks.
No one can keep you afraid
The artist is not letting others control their emotions or thoughts.
Unless you wanna be
It is up to the individual to choose their own emotions and reactions.
You make that choice indubitably
It is a fact that the individual has control over their own choices.
They wanna play my emotions
The singer feels like others are trying to manipulate them.
But I'm like the ocean
The singer is calm and steadfast in the face of external influence.
Too calm to get upset by somebody's notion
The singer is not going to let others' opinions or desires affect them.
Future makers, organ takers
There are powerful people or entities controlling the future and taking from others.
A non-human intelligence is guiding
There is a force greater than humanity that is directing events.
Worlds colliding, far away star system
The experience feels like multiple realities are coming together.
I string DNA where I need 'em
The singer has control over their own life and destiny.
What we gonna get with a zero field
The artist questions what can be achieved with nothing.
Gotta have the one to make it real
The artist believes that something must be present to make a change or achieve something.
I tell ya that more will be revealed
The artist believes that there is more to come and learn from the experience.
The mystery don't bother me
The singer is not disturbed by the unknowns and mysteries surrounding the experience.
Everyday masquerade
Everyday life can feel like a facade or performance.
There's always too many plans we laid
Life seems to be overly planned and structured.
Keep going faster down the grade we made
Society is moving faster and faster down a predetermined path.
We're always beginning
Life is constantly evolving and starting anew.
As sure as we're spinning
Just as the earth continues to rotate.
For it's never ending from here
Life and the future are full of abundant possibilities.
After all this time
Despite everything, time continues to move forward.
I am sorry I'm not sorry
The singer is unapologetic for the choices they've made.
Hate me later
Others may not approve now, but that is not a concern for the artist.
There's something greater
The artist believes there is a higher purpose or goal.
From the petty here and now
The mundane concerns of the present are not important in the grand scheme of things.
Venture on
Continue to move forward and explore.
The sketch is not completely drawn
There is still unknown possibility and opportunity.
Travel wide
Explore and discover new things.
It's not hiding inside
The singer believes there is something to be found and it's not impossible to find.
Venture on
Continue to move forward and explore.
The sketch is not completely drawn
There is still unknown possibility and opportunity.
Travel wide
Explore and discover new things.
It's out beyond the great divide
The singer believes there is a world of infinite possibilities to discover outside of the current reality.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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