In 1999, Clarknova released their first LP entitled Host. It was produced by Paul Northfield & Brad Nelson, and recorded at Great Big Music in Toronto, Studio Morin Heights in Quebec, as well as Newmarket Multimedia. The album included a re-make of their previous single "Stain" retitled "Re-Stain," this track had additional production by Mike Kerwin and was the only Tribal Stomp track that remained in Clarknova's setlist. The album was well received in the Toronto area, due to extensive self-promotion at concerts by the band. This in turn, caused 102.1 The Edge in Toronto to be overwhelmed with requests from fans to play the single "Johnny Under," causing the song to be inserted into high rotation. The band toured regularly throughout this time acquiring a growing fanbase.
In 2002, the band recorded their follow-up album Annexia with Jagori Tanna from I Mother Earth as producer. Plans were set to release the disc, when guitarist Scott Wilson left the band due to personal reasons. Later, while touring the record, the band lost their second guitarist, Greg Caines, to similar circumstances. Scott was soon replaced by Dan Preston, who had performed engineering duties on both Clarknova records, and played guitar on the track "Exile At Home," and Greg was replaced by Pat Davies. The first single "Drown," followed by "Please Them," the video for which was played regularly on MuchLOUD. The band also released a third single entitled "Start Again (Velocity)." After a nationwide tour with I Mother Earth and Scratching Post, the band eventually broke up.
The names Clarknova and Annexia are taken from William S. Burroughs' novel Naked Lunch.
The original line up of Kulba, Wilson, Caines, Ferguson and Lord reunited after seven years to perform one show only in Newmarket on December 18, 2010 as a part of York Aid at Glenway Country Club. A guest appearance from Dan Preston, who was in version 2.0, joined the band for the last song of the night "Johnny Under".
Bedbugs
Clarknova Lyrics
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Biting on my nails only hoping that it can absorb
I think about the time that I lit my first cigarette
Funny how it seems that we turn it all around
Dizzied up with regret
Falling on my head like an apple trying to feel the ground
Staring at the sun only wishing it could make
Higher fashions and higher souls
Tired pilots with no control
Buy your feelings with change for lunch
Higher cielings we've never touched
Brother is in the bedroom trying on his uniform
Like water color thoughts that are only drying on the floor
I wanna go to bed but I never seem to sleep at all
I lie around for days cause they say I never mean it
Say I've never seen it all
Higher fashions and higher souls
Tired pilots with no control
Buy your feelings with change for lunch
Higher cielings we've never touched
Lying on my back only wishing I could feel the ground
Biting on my tongue only wishing it could make a sound
I wanna go to bed but i never seem to sleep at all
I lie around for days cause they say i never mean it
Say I've never seen it at all
Higher fashions and higher souls
Tired pilots with no control
Buy your feelings with change for lunch
Higher cielings we've never touched
The song "Bedbugs" by Clarknova explores the theme of feeling stuck in a state of stagnation, through the lens of a person lying on their back, reading magazines, and biting their nails. The first verse describes the physical position of the singer, but also suggests a sense of anxiety and hopelessness. They are hoping that their bodily rhythms can absorb some sense of meaning, but instead, they are left reflecting on the past and the first time they smoked a cigarette. The use of the word "funny" perhaps underscores the irony and absurdity of how we can rationalize our actions or how our memories can play tricks on us.
The chorus talks about "higher fashions and higher souls," perhaps suggesting an unattainable ideal, or the pressure to constantly strive for something better. The image of "tired pilots with no control" reinforces the idea of feeling helpless or powerless. The line "buy your feelings with change for lunch" could refer to the idea of using money or material possessions to try and fill an emotional void. The final line of the chorus, "higher ceilings we've never touched," could be seen as a metaphor for the limits of our aspirations, or the unreachable heights of our ambitions.
The second verse introduces the character of the singer's brother, who is "trying on his uniform." This could refer to a literal uniform, like a military uniform, or a metaphorical uniform, like conforming to societal expectations. The simile "like watercolor thoughts that are only drying on the floor" suggests something fragile and fleeting, which reinforces the themes of disillusionment and transience. The final lines of the verse reflect a sense of frustration and exhaustion, as the singer cannot seem to find any rest, and is accused of never really meaning or seeing anything.
Overall, "Bedbugs" is a reflective and introspective song that explores the emotional and psychological struggles of feeling stuck and restless. The imagery and metaphors used throughout the song paint a vivid picture of the singer's state of mind, and the chorus provides a sense of universal resonance, as we all feel the pressure to constantly strive for something better, and the frustration of feeling like we're never quite reaching it.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying on my back reading magazines on the floor
I am lying down and reading magazines on the floor
Biting on my nails only hoping that it can absorb
I am biting on my nails with the hope that they can absorb my anxiety
I think about the time that I lit my first cigarette
I am reminiscing about the time I lit my first cigarette
Funny how it seems that we turn it all around
It's strange how everything has turned around
Dizzied up with regret
I am feeling dizzy from all the regret I have
Falling on my head like an apple trying to feel the ground
I feel like I am falling like an apple from a tree, trying to feel the ground
Staring at the sun only wishing it could make
I am intensely staring at the sun and wishing that it could make something happen
Wishing it could make a sound
I am wishing that the sun can make a sound
Higher fashions and higher souls
We are getting caught up in superficial things and forgetting about deeper issues
Tired pilots with no control
We are like pilots with no control over our destiny
Buy your feelings with change for lunch
We are substituting our emotions with material possessions
Higher cielings we've never touched
We have aspirations that we have never reached
Brother is in the bedroom trying on his uniform
My brother is in his room trying on his uniform
Like water color thoughts that are only drying on the floor
Our thoughts and ideas are like watercolors that are drying up and fading away
I wanna go to bed but I never seem to sleep at all
I want to go to bed but I can't seem to fall asleep
I lie around for days cause they say I never mean it
I am idle for days because people accuse me of not being sincere
Say I've never seen it all
People think I haven't experienced everything yet
Lying on my back only wishing I could feel the ground
I am lying down and wishing I could feel the ground
Biting on my tongue only wishing it could make a sound
I am biting my tongue and wishing that it could make a sound
Contributed by Ava V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.