Absynthe Minded originally formed in 1999 as a one man band. Singer/guitarist Bert Ostyn recorded the first demos solo in his bedroom in Ghent. In 2002 Ostyn recruited Renaud Ghilbert (violin, trumpet, percussion), Sergej Van Bouwel (bass, contrabass) and Jan Duthoy (Hammond, piano) to form the Absynthe Minded Quartet, shortly Absynthe Minded. The History Makes Science Fiction EP (2003) was their first release on the independent Keremos label.
One year later the band finished second the infamous Belgian rock contest Humo's Rock Rally, which gathered them a serious amount of media coverage. After the addition of drummer Jakob Nachtergaele to its line-up, Absynthe Minded released their first full length Acquired Taste later that year to much critical acclaim.
Their sophomore album New Day was released only a year later. With the succes of hit-single My Heroics, Part One, Absynthe Minded start touring Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany. They also supported dEUS on their European tour.
For the release of their next albums There Is Nothing (2007) and the self-titled Absynthe Minded (2009), the band signed with Universal.
In february 2015 Absynthe Minded announced their split, due to solo ambitions of Ostyn.
Clock Is Ticking
Absynthe Minded Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I burned them of the wall and had a fit
I ran into an old friend of mine
All we could say was it's been a while
I wanna dig up the memories
I wanna go to the black-out fields
We're anticipating to the nothingness
And amply rewarded for an arty mess
Clock is ticking, and we know it
Time is money, so hit it quick
Try to mend all the broken hearts
The healing of soul is about to start
I wanna dig up the memories
I wanna go to the black-out fields
We're anticipating to the nothingness
And amply rewarded for an arty mess
The Absynthe Minded's "Clock Is Ticking" is a song that seemingly speaks about someone who is struggling with time passing by quickly and the fleeting nature of memories. The first verse describes the singer burning bugs off the wall, symbolizing a desire to control something, but ultimately having a fit when realizing they cannot. They then run into an old friend and acknowledge that it has been a while since they have seen each other. The chorus reveals that the singer wants to dig up memories and go back to a time in their life, particularly to the black-out fields, where they could disconnect from the world around them. They are eager to find contentment in what may seem like nothingness and are even willing to make a mess if it means finding art.
The second verse emphasizes the importance of time and the need to make the most of it. The phrase "time is money, so hit it quick" suggests the urgency to fully live in the present moment and to mend any broken hearts in the process. The healing of the soul is imminent, and memories are seen as a way to get there. The chorus repeats the desire to go back in time and find artistic fulfillment in the midst of chaos.
Overall, the song presents a dichotomy between the desire to control one's surroundings and the need to embrace the present moment, even if it means confronting the messiness of life. It also highlights the importance of memories and how they can be used as a way to find meaning and satisfaction in the face of the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Clock is ticking, the bugs are dead
Time is running out and the problems are resolved
I burned them of the wall and had a fit
I fixed the issues and expressed my emotions
I ran into an old friend of mine
I unexpectedly met a friend from the past
All we could say was it's been a while
We acknowledged that it's been a long time since we last saw each other
I wanna dig up the memories
I want to reminiscence and remember old times
I wanna go to the black-out fields
I want to return to the places of my youth
We're anticipating to the nothingness
We're looking forward to a blank slate, a new beginning
And amply rewarded for an arty mess
And we'll be satisfied with the creative chaos we've made
Time is money, so hit it quick
Time is valuable, so act fast
Try to mend all the broken hearts
Attempt to fix all the hurt feelings
The healing of soul is about to start
The process of emotional recovery is beginning
Contributed by Maya M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.