1) An five piece Alternat… Read Full Bio ↴Several artists are known under this name:
1) An five piece Alternative rock band from the Southeast Michigan/ Northwest Ohio area. The band consists of three permanent members: Mat Kerekes (vocals), Nick Hamm (guitars) & Eric Hamm (bass). They are currently signed to Run For Cover Records (http://facebook.com/citizentheband) (http://citizenmi.bandcamp.com/)
2) A brocore band from Denver, Colorado. Loud, fast, douchey and rather boring to say the least. (http://citizenhardcore.bandcamp.com)
3) A hardstyle duo, consisting of Cristiano Giusberti (technoboy), Riccardo Tesini;
4) A US guerilla extremist grindcore band (which features members of Exhumed and Cretin);
5) A fastcore band from the Sunshine Coast, Australia;
6) A progressive psy-trance project;
7) An underground house/techno/uk bass producer from London (real name Claudio Lillo);
8) A short-lived and unfortunately unsigned post-punk/britpop group from east London active throughout the 1990s and during some time in 2006.
Medicine
Citizen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ethereal to your memory
How many dives into
The water until you′re feeling clean
Have you waited long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Through me I've become wishful
The people dance around the riverbank
The way they stare reminds you to bleed
Through me I′ve become simple
The shadows crowd around to tell you
That the heaven you live for is nothing
How many voices are around
That drown your own melody
A family for hire, we are never where
We thought we would be
Have you waited long enough?
Swallow a pill for your loss
Have you waited long enough?
Medicine pulls me from your love
Have you waited long enough?
Through me I've become wishful
The people dance around the riverbank
The way they stare reminds you to bleed
Through me I've become simple
The shadows crowd around to tell you
That the heaven you live for is nothing
Through me I′ve become wishful
The people dance around the riverbank
The way they stare reminds you to bleed
Through me I′ve become simple
The shadows crowd around to tell you
That the heaven you live for is nothing
Have you waited long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
The opening lines of Citizen's song Medicine pose two questions: "How many lights can you count / Ethereal to your memory." The first line asks how many things we typically take for granted can actually be counted on to persist. The second line brings memory into the mix, indicating that there may be a difference between things that have stuck in our memories versus things that are tangible and lasting. The next few lines shift to the idea of cleansing and renewal, asking how many times we need to dive into the water before we feel truly clean. The repetition of the questions "Have you waited long enough?" shows that the singer is impatient for some sort of resolution or answer.
The second verse begins with "Through me I've become wishful," indicating that the singer is projecting their desires or longing onto something outside of themselves (citizen can refer to a civilian, a person without special or privileged rank). The description of people dancing around the riverbank is accompanied by the suggestion that their staring eyes are a reminder "to bleed" - possibly meaning that the singer feels exposed and vulnerable in their wishfulness. The line "The shadows crowd around to tell you / That the heaven you live for is nothing" enforces a sense of despair or disillusionment. The final verses repeat the previous ones, suggesting that while the singer may feel stuck or trapped, they are still searching for some kind of answer or resolution.
Line by Line Meaning
How many lights can you count
How many good things can you remember?
Ethereal to your memory
They may seem ghostly or unreal in your memory
How many dives into The water until you′re feeling clean
How many times do you need to cleanse yourself before feeling truly pure?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Through me I've become wishful
Because of me, I long for something more
The people dance around the riverbank
Others seem happy while you're stuck in one place
The way they stare reminds you to bleed
Their eyes seem to pierce you and make you feel raw
Through me I′ve become simple
Because of me, I feel basic or unimportant
The shadows crowd around to tell you That the heaven you live for is nothing
Darkness and doubt lurk around to remind you that your dreams may never come true
How many voices are around That drown your own melody
How many negative opinions or distractions overpower your own voice?
A family for hire, we are never where We thought we would be
Our relationships or support systems may not be what we expected
Swallow a pill for your loss
Take medicine to try to alleviate your pain
Medicine pulls me from your love
Taking medicine separates me from the love I once knew
Through me I've become wishful
Because of me, I long for something more
The people dance around the riverbank
Others seem happy while you're stuck in one place
The way they stare reminds you to bleed
Their eyes seem to pierce you and make you feel raw
Through me I've become simple
Because of me, I feel basic or unimportant
The shadows crowd around to tell you That the heaven you live for is nothing
Darkness and doubt lurk around to remind you that your dreams may never come true
Through me I've become wishful
Because of me, I long for something more
The people dance around the riverbank
Others seem happy while you're stuck in one place
The way they stare reminds you to bleed
Their eyes seem to pierce you and make you feel raw
Through me I've become simple
Because of me, I feel basic or unimportant
The shadows crowd around to tell you That the heaven you live for is nothing
Darkness and doubt lurk around to remind you that your dreams may never come true
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Have you waited long enough?
Have you been patient for long enough?
Writer(s): Nicholas Ryan Hamm, Mathew James Keith Kerekes, Ryland Lee Oehlers, Eric William Hamm, Jake Anthony Duhaime
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-ib2bt4ck7y
I feel like he's talking about all the things we fill ourselves with, in order to satiate our emptiness. But, rather counter-intuitively ... when one faces their empty, they find that it contains within it the all. "Have you waited long enough?"
@whoatemybrain6641
I've been waiting long enough
@patburke8478
This is an absolute banger
@shashwat1882
I am studying medicine and this is my go to song. You guys are making great music and please continue to do so.
@GamerDann
Favourite track of the new album!
@leancrame3500
TY, Citizen.
@jamiemack1013
My fav off the new one for sure
@franciscoafonso4992
I can't believe they never play it live
@mm2mm0
They developed so well!
@Jun.e99
Have you waited long enough? - I'm sick of waiting.