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.
Mercury
Absynthe Minded Lyrics
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He's living up to a promise
He made to himself
Now he won't break it
His reason's like a drunken fit
He makes you go and change your hair
There's broken glass everywhere
Spit it up
What will you do?
(Don't you know what you want?)
But if it all falls true
(Don't you know what you want?)
You still don't have a clue
(Don't you know what you want?)
It's coming down on you
(Don't you know what you want?)
I'm here to meet mercury
He's gonna put everything back in its right place
I'm sure he will
His breath smells like gasoline
His eyes are red, his hair is green
He's the ugliest man you've ever seen
Spit it up
What will you do?
(Don't you know what you want?)
But if it all falls true
(Don't you know what you want?)
You still don't have a clue
(Don't you know what you want?)
It's coming down on you
(Don't you know what you want?)
The old man
Sitting out shy
On a bench
In the shadow
The little girl
With her bike
Boys don't play movies
I'm on the sidewalks
Smoking my pipe
Reading the paper
Oh
Standing tall...
The old man
Sitting out shy
On a bench
In the shadow
The little girl
With her bike
Boys don't play movies
I'm on the sidewalks
Smoking my pipe
Reading the paper
Standing tall...
The lyrics to the Absynthe Minded song Mercury seemingly describe an encounter with the element mercury, personified as a drunken, ugly, and unpleasant man. The singer of the song seems to have some sort of confrontation with mercury, as he declares his intention to "beat" or "meet" him. The lyrics also mention broken glass and the smell of gasoline, further emphasizing the unruly and destructive nature of mercury. Throughout the song, the lyrics repeat the question "don't you know what you want?" suggesting a sense of confusion and uncertainty in the singer's mind.
The final verse of the song describes the singer's surroundings - an old man on a bench, a little girl with a bike, and the singer himself smoking a pipe and reading the paper. Perhaps this final verse is meant to contrast with the chaotic and unpredictable nature of mercury, and emphasize the peaceful and mundane moments in everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm here to beat mercury
I'm here to defeat my own inner demons and overcome my obstacles
He's living up to a promise
Mercury is fulfilling what he promised to himself and accomplishing his goals
He made to himself
The promise was self-made and reflective of his own desires
Now he won't break it
Mercury is determined to keep his promise and succeed in his endeavors
His reason's like a drunken fit
Mercury's actions and decisions are irrational, like those of a drunk person
He makes you go and change your hair
Mercury has a strong influence on others and can cause them to make drastic changes in their lives
There's broken glass everywhere
Mercury leaves a trail of destruction and chaos wherever he goes
Spit it up
What will you do?
(Don't you know what you want?)
But if it all falls true
(Don't you know what you want?)
You still don't have a clue
(Don't you know what you want?)
It's coming down on you
(Don't you know what you want?)
The chorus is a reminder to stay focused, determined, and true to your desires, even when facing obstacles or uncertainty
I'm here to meet mercury
The artist is ready to face their own inner demons and challenges
He's gonna put everything back in its right place
Mercury's triumph will result in everything falling into place and life moving in the right direction
I'm sure he will
The singer is confident in their own abilities to overcome obstacles and succeed
His breath smells like gasoline
Mercury's presence feels intoxicating and dangerous
His eyes are red, his hair is green
Mercury is depicted as having an unconventional and unsettling appearance
He's the ugliest man you've ever seen
Mercury's inner qualities are reflected in his unattractive appearance
The old man
Sitting out shy
On a bench
In the shadow
This verse paints a picture of a lonely, introverted elder figure
The little girl
With her bike
Boys don't play movies
This verse contrasts the innocence of childhood with the harsh reality of the world, where things don't always go as planned
I'm on the sidewalks
Smoking my pipe
Reading the paper
The artist is taking a moment to relax and reflect on life
Standing tall...
The final line could indicate a sense of confidence or triumph, or simply symbolize the end of the song
Contributed by Max A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.