Joining lyrics dealing with loss, disappointment and regret with anatomically correct indie pop melodies, the music reflects some of Chesser's influences, who include Robyn Hitchcock, Pixies, Sebadoh, the Beach Boys, Superchunk and the Boo Radleys. Early feedback is that the sound is not unlike REM in some parallel universe, so band members have been told. It's Plain is receiving rave reviews ("...The guitar work and harmonies are beautifully composed and performed..." - Powerpopaholic.com), and is getting airplay as well (93.7 WSTW, Wilmington, DE; XM Radio, and others).
As of early 2009, Chesser has composed material for a second release with the help of his new bandmates and is currently shopping for a studio for the project. The band expects the release to hit store shelves by the end of this year.
Instrumentation
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Steve Chesser, guitar, vocals.
Shawn O'Neill, lead guitar.
Tim Gove, bass backing vocals.
Phil Young, drums, backing vocals.
Discography
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Album: It's Plain, released in summer 2008.
Dead Inside
Bos Taurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh I’m dead inside,
Guess I could have lied to you, but I didn’t
You should know.
I’ve been tried for treason
Now so many times a season
I’ve a judge inside of me and a jury.
But most days I think they’re wrong
When the verdicts come along.
I can’t see how
This ruling came about.
If I may try at this time
To defend my life on a hard line
I’d like to state that my court hearing here has been rigged
In the vote.
And when I stand down and am wrist bound
And take a look around, hear my last sound
I’m sure to see your face grinning in the crowd.
And all this living seemed so fitting until tonight,
tonight, tonight…
And all this living seemed so fitting until tonight…
You know…
I just realized my appeal died…
My last trick right of the mark.
Just like you hoped, you hoped, you hoped…
The song "Dead Inside" by Bos Taurus is about feeling emotionally disconnected from oneself and others. The singer describes feeling empty inside and acknowledging that they may have deceived others about their true feelings. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been falsely accused of a crime and is being judged by the inner critic they have cultivated within themselves. They protest their innocence, but ultimately feel that their sentence has been predetermined and that they will be punished regardless of their true guilt or innocence. In the end, the singer realizes that their chance for appeal has been lost and that they have been defeated by the system.
The song uses vivid imagery and metaphor to convey the singer's sense of isolation and disconnection. They describe feeling like a prisoner, with a judge and jury inside of them, but also feel that their own thoughts and emotions have been corrupted by this inner tribunal. The lyrics also suggest that the singer once felt more alive and connected to the world around them, but that this feeling has been lost over time. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer may have been betrayed by someone they trusted and that this person may be responsible for their current predicament.
Overall, "Dead Inside" is a powerful and introspective song about the experience of feeling emotionally disconnected and betrayed. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling to come to terms with their own feelings and that they may be facing an uncertain future.
Line by Line Meaning
Dead inside,
I feel emotionally numb and disconnected from the world.
Oh I’m dead inside,
I am completely consumed by my lack of feeling and emptiness.
Guess I could have lied to you, but I didn’t
I am being honest about my emotional state, even though I could have pretended everything was okay.
You should know.
I want you to be aware of my true feelings.
I’ve been tried for treason
I have been judged harshly and unfairly for something I may or may not have done.
Now so many times a season
I face constant scrutiny and judgment from others.
I’ve a judge inside of me and a jury.
I am my own harshest critic and am constantly second-guessing myself.
But most days I think they’re wrong
Most of the time, I disagree with my own negative thoughts and feelings about myself.
When the verdicts come along.
When I make a decision or judgment about myself or others, I often don't agree with it later on.
I can’t see how
I don't understand or agree with the negative opinions I have of myself.
This ruling came about.
I don't know how or why I developed such a negative self-image.
If I may try at this time
If I can, I want to try to defend myself and my emotional state.
To defend my life on a hard line
To make a strong case for why I feel the way I do, even though it may be difficult to articulate.
I’d like to state that my court hearing here has been rigged
I feel like my negative thoughts and feelings are unjustified and have been unfairly imposed upon me.
In the vote.
In the end, I feel like I have been judged and found wanting by those around me.
And when I stand down and am wrist bound
When I am finally forced to confront my negative emotions and feelings, I feel trapped and helpless.
And take a look around, hear my last sound
As I face my own inner turmoil, I am acutely aware of the world around me and the people in it.
I’m sure to see your face grinning in the crowd.
I feel like others take pleasure in my suffering and see my pain as a spectacle.
And all this living seemed so fitting until tonight, tonight, tonight…
Until now, I thought I was doing okay and living a fulfilling life, but tonight I am confronted with my own emotional emptiness.
You know…
I want to let you in on something important.
I just realized my appeal died…
I have come to the painful realization that I can no longer fight against my negative emotions and feelings.
My last trick right of the mark.
My last hope of finding happiness or fulfillment has fallen short.
Just like you hoped, you hoped, you hoped…
I feel like others have been waiting for me to fail and feel like they have succeeded in bringing me down.
Contributed by Charlotte D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.