Although the glory days of the Industrial music scene in Chicago had faded by this point, through constant touring and sheer hard work on a number of different projects the duo have since established themselves as favorites in the US underground scene.
In 1997, the band were forced to change their name due to a legal dispute with a Bluegrass band also called Acumen. Duffy and Novak split their project into two halves - the drum and bass influenced DJ? Acucrack, and the more traditional rock format of Acumen Nation.
Discography
Transmissions from Eville (Demo) (as Acumen; 1994; Robot Records), (as Acumen; 1994; Fifth Colvmn Records)
Territory=Universe (as Acumen; 1996; Fifth Colvmn)
Unkind (Unkind + Revelations Per Minute) (EP) (1997; Conscience Records)
More Human Heart (1997; Conscience)
If You Were (If You Were / Bleed for You) (EP) (1998; Conscience)
Transmissions from Eville (Remastered) (1998; Conscience)
Territory=Universe (Territory = Universe) (Universe) (Remastered) (1998; Conscience)
Strike 4 (EP) (2000)
Live Farewell 2001 (2001)
The 5ifth Column (Fifth Column) (5th Column) (The Fifth Column) (2002; Invisible Records)
Coming Down: The Bastard Remix Album (Coming Down (The Bastard Remix Album)) (Coming Down) (2002; Invisible)
Lord of the Cynics (2003; Cracknation Records)
Artifacts: 1990-1993 Volume 1 (Artifacts: 1990 - 1993 - Volume 1) (2004; Cracknation Records)
Acumen Nation Live at Double Door 08/06/2004 (Cracknation Records)
What the Fuck (What the F**k) (2005; Cracknation Records)
Anticore (2006; Cracknation Records)
Psycho the Rapist (2007; Cracknation Records)
Unbound Saga: Official Game Soundtrack (23, November 2010; Cracknation Records)
See also Cracknation Records, Cracknation Records
Official Site
http://www.cracknation.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cracknation/285988987668
Father in the Wall
Acumen Nation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What I was never supposed to hear about
The cracking shocking pain I had exposed
And the time I allowed this to get to me?
I froze up in the flame that I believed
Was sent to kill me...
On a bed of a thousand nails I slit my eyes
When all and all is nothing
Well speaking of my past, did I mention the family?
The ones who never tolerated me to scream
And the last time I spoke aloud his name?
It drove me quite insane with the knowledge
And the feeling that I was no one...
Have you heard the one about the Father in the Wall?
It's got the truth, it's got it all in under a minute
And it's scary as hell, and I swear to God
You'll never forget it.
What, that one about me? Lies! A fucking lie!
Goddamn anyone who believes her silly little stories
About no one in particular
Pn a bed of a thousand nails I slit my eyes
One million times (It's the way to go!)
When all and all is nothing
The lyrics of Acumen Nation's "Father in the Wall" are a haunting and emotional expression of pain, confusion, and trauma. The song starts with the singer talking about discovering something they were never meant to hear about and the pain that revelation has brought them. The next stanza delves into the singer's history, specifically the family who never allowed them to speak up and the last time they spoke the father's name drove them quite insane with the feeling of being a no one. The song then mentions someone telling a story about the father in the wall which the singer dismisses as lies but finds scary regardless. The song ends with a repetition of the line "On a bed of a thousand nails I slit my eyes/One million times (It's the way to go!)/When all and all is nothing" which could be interpreted as the singer's way of coping with the pain and hurt they have experienced.
The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they suggest themes of alienation, abuse, and the search for identity. The song's title, "Father in the Wall," could be taken to mean the father as an omnipresent and inescapable figure, or a reference to a traumatic event involving the father. The imagery of the singer on a bed of nails and slitting their eyes could represent self-harm, a desire for numbness, or a willingness to face any pain to escape the feelings of nothingness and insignificance.
Line by Line Meaning
Well anyway, I found out yesterday
I recently discovered something I was not supposed to know
What I was never supposed to hear about
I learned something that I was intentionally kept in the dark about
The cracking shocking pain I had exposed
The anguish and torment that was inadvertently revealed through my actions
And the time I allowed this to get to me?
And the moment I let this situation negatively affect me
I froze up in the flame that I believed
I became paralyzed with fear in the fiery situation I thought would destroy me
Was sent to kill me...
As if it was purposefully designed to harm me
On a bed of a thousand nails I slit my eyes
I metaphorically tortured myself until it was unbearable
One million times (It's the way to go!)
Repeatedly self-inflicting pain seemed like the correct thing to do in that moment
When all and all is nothing
When everything adds up to nothing in the end
Well speaking of my past, did I mention the family?
By the way, let me discuss something else from my history: my family
The ones who never tolerated me to scream
The individuals who would not allow me to express my emotions and frustrations vocally
And the last time I spoke aloud his name?
And the most recent occasion where I uttered his identity out loud
It drove me quite insane with the knowledge
This action caused me to feel extremely disturbed by the information and understanding it brought to light
And the feeling that I was no one...
Which led me to experience a sense of worthlessness
Have you heard the one about the Father in the Wall?
Have you listened to the story regarding the Father who was trapped within the wall?
It's got the truth, it's got it all in under a minute
This tale is truthful and provides all of the necessary information in less than a minute
And it's scary as hell, and I swear to God
Plus, it is frightening and I honestly affirm that
You'll never forget it.
It is a story that will always linger in your mind
What, that one about me? Lies! A fucking lie!
Wait, are you referring to the story about me? It's lies! Completely false!
Goddamn anyone who believes her silly little stories
I curse anyone who trusts her trivial tales
About no one in particular
Regarding a person who is not of importance
On a bed of a thousand nails I slit my eyes
Once again, I figuratively tortured myself relentlessly
One million times (It's the way to go!)
Because it appeared to be the only course of action to take
When all and all is nothing
When the end result is still worth nothing
Contributed by Jasmine M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
on F.W.M.
Thanks Malachai, We have corrected this fact above [reference: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/acumen-nation-mn0000493878/biography]
Malachai
on F.W.M.
They started off as Acumen, but another band had rights to the name. I have the tour T to prove it