Amplifier is a British alternative rock/progressive rock band from Manchest… Read Full Bio ↴Amplifier is a British alternative rock/progressive rock band from Manchester, United Kingdom. The band has released four albums and four EPs since its inception in 1999. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2004 by Music for Nations. Their second album, Insider was released in Europe in 2006 on the SPV label. Their third album, The Octopus, was released to fans in December 2010 ahead of a full release in January 2011.

The band's sound has been described as "Soundgarden, Tool, Black Sabbath, Oceansize and Pink Floyd taking copious amounts of mind-altering substances and venturing on a trip through time and space (to another dimension), and back again." Their music is characterised by guitarist Sel Balamir's effects pedals, extended heavy sections, atmospheric compositions and philosophical lyrics.

https://www.amplifierband.com/

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Amplifier Lyrics

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Flicker television
Like something that is breathing
I'm dead in bubblegum
And wishing you were here
You're where the rain never pours
It just floods down
In the places where the insects die
In the blinking of an eye

We'll be switching on/off

Watching all the ash fall
Well it's just like cigarette snow
And when I'm stoned
I'm missing you my dear
And the light is telling me that I'm alive

And you know that we'll be
Switching on/off

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Amplifier's song "Onoff" reflect a sense of detachment and longing for someone who is not present. The first stanza compares the flickering of a television to breathing, which hints at the idea of stagnation and repetition of life. The second line about being dead in bubblegum could be interpreted as feeling stuck or trapped, unable to move or progress. The singer then expresses a desire for their loved one to be present and shares a contrast between their experience of rain and flooding versus the insects that die in the same circumstances. This could be a metaphor for the idea of how different people experience the same things in different ways.

The second stanza continues with a vivid description of ash falling and how it appears to be like cigarette snow. The singer mentions being stoned, which adds to the theme of detachment and a sense of disconnect from reality. The line about missing the loved one indicates that their thoughts constantly revolve around this person. The light being the only thing that reassures the singer of their existence implies a deep sense of loneliness or alienation. The last two lines repeat the phrase "switching on/off," which may be interpreted as a reflection of the cyclical nature of life and how we are always "on" and "off."

Line by Line Meaning

Flicker television
The television screen flickers like someone is breathing, creating a surreal atmosphere.

Like something that is breathing
The flickering of the television screen creates a pulsating effect, as if the machine is alive.

I'm dead in bubblegum
The singer is in a state of numbness or apathy, as if stuck in bubblegum.

And wishing you were here
Despite this sense of ennui, the artist longs for another person's presence.

You're where the rain never pours
The person the artist misses is in a place where life is easy and nothing seems to go wrong.

It just floods down
The world around the person the singer misses is unchanging and uncomplicated, with no variations in the weather.

In the places where the insects die
The emptiness and sameness of this person's location is so extreme, it is almost like a dead zone.

In the blinking of an eye
Though circumstances seem unchanging, things can suddenly shift or vanish.

We'll be switching on/off
Life is unpredictable and full of changes, like a light switch being turned on and off.

Watching all the ash fall
The world around the artist is breaking down or decaying, as evidenced by falling ash.

Well it's just like cigarette snow
The ash falling resembles snowflakes but is created by something destructive and harmful (cigarettes).

And when I'm stoned
In a state of altered consciousness, the artist feels even more disconnected from the world around them.

I'm missing you my dear
Despite feeling out-of-sync with the world, the singer still wishes for the presence of the person they miss.

And the light is telling me that I'm alive
The singer finds comfort and validation in the presence of light, which feels like proof of their existence.

And you know that we'll be
The singer is confident that change and transition will still occur, despite their feelings of stagnation.

Switching on/off
The song's title phrase is repeated to drive home the idea of change and unpredictability.

Contributed by Jayce W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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