Garrett Schwarz was working as a business consultant for IBM when he'd fina… Read Full Bio ↴Garrett Schwarz was working as a business consultant for IBM when he'd finally had enough. He was no longer interested in corporate business, since the repetitive routine wasn't creative enough for this musician in the making. He had a hidden agenda and Balligomingo was it.

Schwarz grew up in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville, later moving to Minneapolis during his senior year of high school. He was already fond of the electronic sounds of Jean Michel Jarre and Pink Floyd thanks to his father's interests. Still, music wasn't a tangible idea, let alone a sensible career move. He graduated from Arizona State University with a business degree, later earning additional graduate credits in business. Having a typical nine-to-five job in Los Angeles was secure for awhile, but Schwarz wasn't satisfied. He was too enthralled by the musical beauty of Enya, Massive Attack, Sunscreem, and mesmerized by the intensity of Nine Inch Nails and the Prodigy. By the late '90s, he threw caution to the wind and began making music on his computer. After talking with Delerium's Kristy Thirsk, he left for Vancouver, BC, to work with programmer Vic Levak. There, the exotic sounds of Balligomingo were born.

In 1999, Schwarz scored a deal with RCA Victor. He, Levak, and Delerium's Bill Leeb and Chris Peterson honed Balligomingo's atmospheric instrumentals for the next year.

Seven female vocalists from the U.S. and Canada were also brought in to capture Balligomingo's artistic expression and emotion. He made his first introduction with "Lost" being included on the ambient techno compilation Elevation, Vol. 3, while "Heat" appeared on Under Water, Vol. 1. Balligomingo's lush soundscapes were finally spooled into a daydream trip for a debut album. In June 2002, Beneath the Surface was released worldwide.

Beyond
Balligomingo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Spread your wings and fly
So you can't deny what's there for you
On your own set yourself free

Go beyond the limit
You place on yourself
You'll find the power's all yours

Fly away
Take control
Beyond the edge will make you whole

Reach your highest high
Feel your full desire
Drawing you
To be stronger than you've been before
Go beyond the limit you place on yourself
You'll find the power's all yours

Fly away

Take control
Beyond the edge will make you whole

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Balligomingo's "Beyond" capture a powerful message of self-discovery and empowerment. The song encourages listeners to let go of self-imposed limitations and embrace their true potential. The opening lines, "Spread your wings and fly, so you can't deny what's there for you," set the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics urge the listener to take control of their life and find their own path to fulfillment.

The chorus of the song reinforces this message, encouraging the listener to "go beyond the limit you place on yourself" and to discover that "the power's all yours." The repetition of the phrase "fly away, take control, beyond the edge will make you whole" reinforces the idea that by letting go of self-imposed limitations, the listener can find true freedom and a sense of completeness.

The final verse of the song provides a call to action, urging listeners to "reach your highest high" and to "be stronger than you've been before." Through these lyrics, Balligomingo encourages the listener to take concrete steps towards achieving their goals and overcoming their fears.

Line by Line Meaning

Spread your wings and fly
Take a leap of faith and embrace new opportunities

So you can't deny what's there for you
Be open to possibilities and don't let fear hold you back

On your own set yourself free
Take responsibility for your own life and break free from limitations

Go beyond the limit
Push yourself to achieve greatness

You place on yourself
Limitations are often self-imposed

You'll find the power's all yours
Realize that you have the strength to overcome any obstacle

Fly away
Embrace new experiences and opportunities

Take control
Take responsibility for your own life and decisions

Beyond the edge will make you whole
Stepping out of your comfort zone can help you find fulfillment and completeness

Reach your highest high
Strive to achieve your greatest potential

Feel your full desire
Acknowledge your passions and desires