Biffy, as they are often referred to, utilise a quiet/loud dynamic, constructing songs that can range from a whisper-quiet pick on the guitar, to huge walls of noise with massive distortion and crashing drums. Their sound has simplified somewhat in recent times yet still occasionally contains complex time signatures and heavy riffs. While Simon Neil sings lead, all three members provide vocals. "'Mon the Biffy!" is a well known chant amongst Biffy fans; it is usually shouted in between songs at gigs, or before the band come on stage. Some fans have reacted poorly to the band's recent output.
The first incarnation of what would eventually become Biffy Clyro was formed in 1995 by fifteen-year-old Irvine-born, Ayr-raised guitarist Simon Neil, who recruited Kilmarnock-born Ben Johnston and someone known only as Barry on drums and bass respectively, calling themselves Screwfish. Barry was soon replaced by James Johnston, Ben's twin brother, and the three spent the next two years rehearsing, writing and covering songs. In 1997, they played their first gig as the support for a band called Pink Kross at a local youth centre. The trio then moved to Glasgow, where Neil went to the University of Glasgow and the Johnston twins went to Stow College, studying Electronics with Music and Audio Engineering respectively.They then progressed onto the bigger stage
After playing gigs around Glasgow and receiving positive and enthusiastic reactions from the audiences, the band were spotted by Dee Bahl, who soon became their manager. Bahl offered them a chance to release an independent single on Aereogramme's Babi Yaga record label. "Iname" was released on 28 June 1999, and led to the band being chosen by Stow College's Electric Honey record label to release a record. thekidswhopoptodaywillrocktomorrow... was released on 13 June 2000, and after hearing it, BBC Radio Scotland DJ Vic Galloway gave the band airplay. A few days prior to the release of thekidswho..., the band were spotted at the Unsigned Bands stage at T in the Park 2000 by a Beggars Banquet representative. Soon after, the band was signed to the independent Beggar's Banquet, and on 30 October 2000, they re-recorded and released the single, "27", which became Kerrang!'s Single Of The Week.
On 1 October 2001, one of the songs from thekidswho... was re-recorded and released as a single, "Justboy". This was repeated on 4 February 2002, when the song "57" was released. On 11 March, the band's debut album, Blackened Sky, was released to generally positive reviews. It was around this time that the band began touring extensively, including being the support for Weezer on 20 March at the Barrowlands in Glasgow. On 15 July, the fourth single from the album, "Joy.Discovery.Invention" was released as a double A-side with a newly recorded song, entitled "Toys, Toys, Toys, Choke, Toys, Toys, Toys", which later appeared on The Vertigo of Bliss.
In 2003, the band retreated to the Linford Manor recording studio in Great Linford, Milton Keynes, England to record the follow-up to Blackened Sky. On 24 March, a new single was released entitled, "The Ideal Height", followed by another new single entitled "Questions and Answers" on 28 May. The band's second album, The Vertigo of Bliss was released on 16 June, to positive reviews, which focused on the more experimental style of the album in comparison to Blackened Sky, as well as the introduction of string sections.
In 2004, after touring relentlessly for The Vertigo of Bliss, the band retreated to Monnow Valley Studios in Monmouth, Wales to record a follow-up. As with the previous album, two singles were released before the actual album; "Glitter and Trauma" and "My Recovery Injection" on 9 August and 20 September, respectively. A digital download was also released; "There's No Such Thing As A Jaggy Snake", on 31 May. On 4 October, the band's third album, Infinity Land was released, and on 14 February 2005, the last single from the album, "Only One Word Comes To Mind" was released. On 16 February, the band performed a cover of Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" live from Maida Vale on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show. Simon Neil's side project, Marmaduke Duke, also released an album in 2005, The Magnificent Duke, and toured the UK, along with the Johnston twins accompanying on bass and drums, for it.
In 2006, Biffy Clyro left Beggars Banquet and signed a deal with 14th Floor, an offshoot of Warner Bros. In June, the band contributed a cover of Weezer's "Buddy Holly" to Kerrang!'s High Voltage!: A Brief History of Rock, which came free with Issue #1110 of the magazine. In September, the band moved temporarily to Canada to record their fourth album at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, and The Farm Studio in Gibsons, which they finished doing in November. The song "Semi-Mental" was released as a digital download on 25 December. In 2007, the song "Saturday Superhouse" was released on 14 May, where it reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart; the band's highest single chart position to date. On 14 May, the song "Living is a Problem Because Everything Dies" was released, reaching #19 on the UK Singles Charts. On 21 May, Biffy were confirmed for T in the Park 2007, as well as being announced as one of the support bands for the 17 June gig at the new Wembley Stadium for Muse. On 1 June, Biffy were confirmed for Glastonbury 2007. On 4 June, Puzzle was released to critical acclaim, and eventually helped the band to reach their highest UK Albums Chart position ever, reaching #2 in the first week of release. On 6 June it was announced that Biffy were to support The Who at Marlay Park in Ireland. On 12 June, it was announced that "Folding Stars" was released as a single on July 16. On the 23rd of August 2007, Biffy Clyro were announced as the support act for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow, for the Stadium Arcadium tour.
GOD
Biffy Clyro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Does that make me cynical
There are no miracles
And this is no miraculous life
I savour hate as much as I crave love because
I'm just a twisted guy
Is this pinnacle, is this the pinnacle, the pinnacle of being alive
Well I look up to god and I see trouble 'cause this ain't a miracle
I just want to take my chance to live through a miracle
Ooahh
Ooahh
I know for certain that someone is watching but, is it from up or down
I make you miserable you stick with me although
You know I'm going to ruin your life
I talk to God as much as I talk to Satan 'cause I want to hear both sides
Does that make me cynical
There are no miracles
And this is no miraculous life
We walk into the ride
Well I look up to God and I see trouble 'cause this ain't a miracle
I just want to take my chance to live through a miracle
When the see-saw snaps and splinters your hand don't come crying to me
I'll only see your good side
And believe it's a miracle
A miracle
I slap the water and watch
The fish dance to the ripples of us
We're the dull blue duds
Blinking eyes encased in rust
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
Ooahh
Ooahh
The lyrics of "God & Satan" by Biffy Clyro explore the duality of human nature and the conflict between good and evil. The singer of the song talks to both God and Satan, representing the opposing forces within himself, in an attempt to understand the world and his place in it. He confesses that he savours hate as much as he craves love and that he is a twisted guy, but he also acknowledges that he wants to live through a miracle. The song questions the existence of miracles, concluding that this is no miraculous life.
The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling with his identity and trying to make sense of the world around him. He sees both God and Satan as different sides of the same coin and wants to hear both perspectives to gain a better understanding. The line "We walk into the ride" probably refers to the roller coaster of life, indicating that the singer is aware of the ups and downs of existence.
The chorus repeats the line "Well I look up to God and I see trouble 'cause this ain't a miracle" emphasizing the singer's desire for a miracle and his disappointment with what he sees as a lack of miraculous occurrences in his life.
Overall, the song presents a complex and introspective view of human nature and the search for meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
I talk to God as much as I talk to Satan 'cause I want to hear both sides
The singer is not biased towards any one worldview and wants to understand both perspectives.
Does that make me cynical
The singer is questioning whether their desire for balanced understanding comes across as cynical.
There are no miracles
The singer does not believe in divine interventions or supernatural events.
And this is no miraculous life
The artist believes that their life is ordinary and devoid of miracles.
I savour hate as much as I crave love because
I'm just a twisted guy
The artist has a complicated relationship with emotions and acknowledges their darker side.
Is this pinnacle, is this the pinnacle, the pinnacle of being alive
Now I see the light
The singer is questioning whether their current state of being (balancing both love and hate) is the ultimate expression of human experience.
Well I look up to god and I see trouble 'cause this ain't a miracle
I just want to take my chance to live through a miracle
The singer is disillusioned with their belief in God and wants to experience something miraculous before they die.
I know for certain that someone is watching but, is it from up or down
The artist believes in some form of higher power but questions its location and nature.
I make you miserable you stick with me although
You know I'm going to ruin your life
The artist acknowledges that their actions may harm others yet they are still willing to maintain relationships.
We walk into the ride
The artist is metaphorically describing life as a rollercoaster and is prepared for the ups and downs.
When the see-saw snaps and splinters your hand don't come crying to me
I'll only see your good side
And believe it's a miracle
A miracle
The singer warns that they will not be held responsible for the negative consequences of their actions and asks that others do not rely on them when things go wrong.
I slap the water and watch
The fish dance to the ripples of us
We're the dull blue duds
Blinking eyes encased in rust
The artist is observing the beauty in the natural world and contrasting it with the mundanity of human existence.
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
The singer emphasizes again that they do not believe in miracles and that life is not extraordinary.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SIMON ALEXANDER NEIL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Quentin Janicot
I talk to God as much as,
I talk to Satan
'Cause I want to hear both sides
Does that make me cynical,
There are no miracles and
This is no miraculous life
I savor hate as much as I crave love
Because I'm just a twisted guy
Is this the pinnacle, Is this the pinnacle
The pinnacle of being alive?
Now I see the light
Well I look up to God
But I see trouble
'Cause this ain't a miracle
I just want to take my chance
To live through a miracle
Aaahhh, Aaahhh
I know for certain that someone
Is watching but is it from up or down?
I make you miserable you stick with me
Although you know I'm gonna
Ruin your life
I talk to God as much as,
I talk to Satan
'Cause I want to hear both sides
Does that make me cynical,
There are no miracles and
This is no miraculous life
We walk into the tide
Well I look up to God
But I see trouble
'Cause this ain't a miracle
I just want to take my chance
To live through a miracle
When the see-saw snaps and splinters your hand
Don't come crying to me
I'll only see your good side
And believe it's a miracle, a miracle
I slap the water and watch, the fish dance
To the ripples of us
We're just dull blue duds
Blinking eyes encased in rust
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
This ain't a miracle
Aaahhh, Aaahhh
Antonia970
This was the very first song I heard of Biffy Clyro, I was so amazed at the lyrics that I had to know who it was. Three years later it's still among the favorites
Andy Beck Music
I really like the orchestral score the band have added to this song. It makes it different from the version on Only Revolutions (obviously), although that version's brilliant as well. I hope this song climbs the UK chart - Biffy aren't all about getting in the Top 10, but this song should be in the Top 10. Anyone who listens to this song and doesn't feel touched by it has got no soul. Mon The Biffy.
scott mcglacken
Thanks Biffy for this song it's been a week since my mum passed away and this song has been in my head since I woke up
Backcombed
I can see why Scott respect to your mother
avocado_frodo
biffy are definitely one of the best bands around!
Madscot
Two words: just amazing.
A
Love it ❤
St3v3z
Only Revolutions = One of the best albums ever made.
Kieran Ng
One of the most well written songs ever...! And for those who added their piece about religion, sometimes religion is interwoven deeply into ones culture so there isn't always a choice to choose
Orly Zeelon
this song is brilliant- I never heard of this band before. I do not like their other songs as much maybe 'Many of horror' . never the less this one is a masterpiece. period.