Nick Cave's first band.
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Nick Cave's first band.
The nucleus of the band first met at the private boys school Caulfield Grammar School (in suburban Melbourne) in the early seventies. A rock group was formed in 1973 with Nick Cave (vocals), Mick Harvey (guitar), and Phill Calvert (drums), with other students on guitar, bass and saxophone. Most were also members of the school choir. The band played under various names at parties and school functions with a mixed pre-punk repertoire of David Bowie, Lou Reed, Roxy Music, Alice Cooper and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, among others.
After their final school year in 1975 the band decided to continue with friend Tracy Pew picking up the bass. Greatly affected by the punk explosion of 1976 which saw Australian bands The Saints and Radio Birdman making their first recordings and tours, The Boys Next Door, as they were now called, began performing fast original New Wave material in 1977.
Rowland S. Howard joined in 1978, and about this time, the group's sound changed dramatically. The addition of Howard's guitar was certainly a catalyst (his later use of audio feedback being a hallmark of the group) but there were other changes, as well: their sound drew upon punk, rockabilly, free jazz and the rawest blues, but transcended concise categorisation. Many songs were driven by prominent, repetitive basslines and drumwork that sounded like an angry Gene Krupa. Though the band was tightly rehearsed, the instrumentalists often sounded as if they were on the verge of collapse, this quality only emphasising the newfound mania of Cave's singing, and his expressionist lyrics. In producer/engineer Tony Cohen they found a willing accomplice to their experimentation and their refusal to repeat themselves; and in manager Keith Glass they found an enthusiastic financial backer. Glass' label Missing Link Records released all of the early Birthday Party records.
The Voice
Boys Next Door Lyrics
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For there is no one there at all
You have a choice you can be black or white
You are not trapped, you can rise or you can fall
It's not up to me
I've been cauterized
I am no Houdini
By sights and sounds
The voice, the voice
It's calling you
Calling you
I feel a spy he's in my house
I see his prints upon my door
I hang my paintings up so high
That I don't appear so tall
It's up to you
Your lips taste of wine
And they cut me closer
I got to touch your mind
Oh, could this be true
The voice, the voice
It's calling you
It's not that I feel insecure
There's not a spa tread in my room
Oh no, no, no
It's just that I need to be reassured
Like any other fool
Oh no, no, no
Sunday is here, let's make the break
Let's pretend, put down your books
Pick up your friends
There's no time to lose
There's no time at all
There's no time to lose
There's no time
Could this be you?
The voice, the voice
It's calling you (x4)
The Boys Next Door's song "The Voice" is a thought-provoking and introspective piece that delves into a deep and powerful internal conflict. The song's lyrics are a call to action, urging listeners to reject the fears and insecurities that hold them back and rise to their full potential. The voice that troubles the singer is an internal one, a manifestation of their own doubts and fears, rather than an external one. The lyrics suggest that these doubts and fears are not insurmountable obstacles but rather choices that the individuals can make to either rise or fall. The voice is the singer's own conflicted thoughts, which they have to confront and overcome in order to reach their full potential.
The second verse of the song describes the singer's sense of isolation and vulnerability. The presence of an unseen spy in their house symbolizes the feeling of being watched or scrutinized, while the paintings that are hung up high suggest that the singer is trying to hide their true self. The use of the word "mesmerized" further reinforces the sense of being trapped or controlled by external forces. However, the song suggests that it is up to the individual to break free from these constraints and achieve their goals.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "The voice, the voice, it's calling you", emphasizing the importance of overcoming one's doubts and fears in order to fulfill one's potential. The singer is told that there is no time to lose, and that they must take action now in order to achieve their goals.
Line by Line Meaning
The voice, the voice it troubles you
You feel troubled by the voice that you hear
For there is no one there at all
Nobody else can hear the voice that's troubling you
You have a choice you can be black or white
You have the decision to make between right and wrong
You are not trapped, you can rise or you can fall
You have the freedom to either succeed or fail
It's not up to me
I don't have any control over this situation
I've been cauterized
I've been cut off from something important
I am no Houdini
I'm not a genius who can easily solve difficult problems
I've been mesmerized
I've been hypnotized or fascinated by something
By sights and sounds
Influenced by what I see and hear
The voice, the voice
Referring to the voice that's troubling them
It's calling you
The voice is trying to get their attention
I feel a spy he's in my house
I suspect that I have an unwelcome visitor in my house
I see his prints upon my door
I can see evidence of their presence
I hang my paintings up so high
I try to disguise the height difference between us
That I don't appear so tall
So that the visitor won't feel intimidated by me
It's up to you
You are the one who has to make the decision
Your lips taste of wine
You've been drinking alcohol
And they cut me closer
Your actions are making me feel more involved than before
I got to touch your mind
I want to understand your thoughts and motivations
Oh, could this be true
I'm surprised by what's happening
It's not that I feel insecure
I'm not lacking in self-confidence
There's not a spa tread in my room
I'm not paranoid about strangers invading my personal space
Oh no, no, no
Expressing disbelief
It's just that I need to be reassured
I need someone to provide me with a sense of security
Like any other fool
I'm feeling vulnerable and foolish
Sunday is here, let's make the break
Let's take advantage of this opportunity to change our lives
Let's pretend, put down your books
Let's forget about our problems and have some fun
Pick up your friends
Go out and spend time with your friends
There's no time to lose
We need to act quickly
There's no time at all
Our time is running out
Could this be you?
Are you feeling the same way?
The voice, the voice
Referring to the voice that's troubling them
It's calling you (x4)
The voice wants you to take action
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.