By being one of the first bands to blend anarcho-punk and heavy metal music, Amebix are often cited as one of the key bands that helped to create the crust punk style, and are considered as a proto-thrash metal band. Such notable bands as Sepultura, Neurosis, and Deviated Instinct have paid homage.
Sunshine Ward
Amebix Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And glue
People say that we're twisted, you know it's not true, we just get so bad
When there's fuck all to do
Life in this building is freezing and wet, if I once had a brain then I
Seem to forget
'Cause just when I caught it, it slipped through the net, now we sedate
Sunshine wards laughing, the inmates are here, filling our lives full of
Sulphate and beer
We've tried every way to make "real life" less clear as stupidity sets in
The truth disappears
Sunshine wards screaming, we crawl to the door
Reality creeps back, I can't take no more
There is no more stairway we're stuck on this floor
And fear digs in deep, as the patients hands claw
The happy dream shatters and falls to the floor
The doubt crawling in that we can't just ignore
Should we carry this farce on just as before?
Or start living for life's sake, away from the ward?
The opening lines of Amebix's 'Sunshine Ward' use a contrasting metaphor to describe the band's struggle with addiction and their incarceration in a mental health institution. Although roses are usually associated with love and violets with elegance, here they are only an afterthought to the constant consumption of cider and glue. Furthermore, the song's opening lines are a rejection of the external judgment placed upon them by people considering them as "twisted." Amebix's message is clear, that their actions are a result of their surroundings and a lack of stimulation.
The state of the mental hospital is described as "freezing and wet," giving a sense of desolation and confinement to the reader. The lyricist recalls the times when they might have found a semblance of hope, but it slips away. They describe the effects of long-term sedation, which they use to keep their sanity in check in a world where hope seems almost non-existent. The latter half of the song depicts a screaming ward, full of patients all trying to crawl towards an escape. Finally, the singer begins to question if they should continue living life in a lie, or if there is another way out.
Line by Line Meaning
Roses are red. sometimes violets are blue but we're always puking on cider
We're constantly sick and wasted due to our reliance on cheap alcohol and drugs despite any temporary moments of happiness.
People say that we're twisted, you know it's not true, we just get so bad When there's fuck all to do
Others may judge us for our behavior, but we're just acting out due to the tedious, hopeless environment we're stuck in.
Life in this building is freezing and wet, if I once had a brain then I Seem to forget Cause just when I caught it, it slipped through the net, now we sedate Ourselves slowly no time for regret
Our living conditions are miserable and depressing, and our constant drug use has left us feeling numb and disconnected from reality.
Sunshine wards laughing, the inmates are here, filling our lives full of Sulphate and beer We've tried every way to make "real life" less clear as stupidity sets in The truth disappears
Despite our miserable existence, we still try to find ways to escape from reality, even if it means indulging in dangerous substances that cloud our judgement and awareness.
Sunshine wards screaming, we crawl to the door Reality creeps back, I can't take no more There is no more stairway we're stuck on this floor And fear digs in deep, as the patients hands claw
Our attempts to escape reality eventually fail, and we're left feeling trapped and terrified as the truth of our situation becomes clear.
The happy dream shatters and falls to the floor The doubt crawling in that we can't just ignore Should we carry this farce on just as before? Or start living for life's sake, away from the ward?
The illusion that life could be better outside the ward is shattered, and we're left with a sense of uncertainty about what to do next - continue our self-destructive cycle or try to pursue a healthier, happier lifestyle.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind