Line-up
Peter te Bos: vocals
John Cameron: guitar
Marcus Bruystens: bass
Marc Lamb: drums
Other musicians
Allard Jolles drums
Arno Kooy bass guitar
Bobbie Rossini bass guitar
Geert de Groot bass guitar
Lya Spykstra bass guitar
Marius Schrader drums
BIOGRAPHY
1983 - Punk rock group Suspenders splits up in 1981 and several members form rock group L'Attentat. In the spring of 1983 L'Attentat guitarist/singer Allard Jolles, forms a second band: Claw Boys Claw. Other members of the band are ex-Suspenders singer Bobbie Rossini on bass, and on guitar (Jolles plays the drums) John Cameron (ex-Odorex). Shortly afterwards singer/graphic designer Peter te Bos joins Claw Boys Claw. The band plays garage rock with influences of psychedelics, acid punk and rock 'n' roll.
1984 - Shocking Shades Of Claw Boys Claw is recorded and released on the band's own Hipcat label.
1985 - In May 1985 Jolles leaves Claw Boys Claw in favour of his other band L'Attentat. He is replaced by Pilots drummer Marius Schrader.
1986 - Claw Boys Claw signs to Polydor. The band makes its first appearance at the Pinkpop festival. During this show frontman Te Bos throws apples, oranges, beer cans, his shoes and his socks into the crowd. In June the album With Love From The Boys, produced by Vic Maille, comes out. The band plays at the Roskilde festival in Denmark.
1987 - Claw Boys Claw records the album Crack My Nut. Shocking Shades is re-released on Polydor. Additionally, the album Claw Boys Claw comes out, a compilation of the band's self-released material (the mini album Now!, the single So Mean and the 12" Indian Wallpaper). Also released is the Christmas single Blue Bells.
1988 - Claw Boys Claw performs at the New Music Seminar in New York where they meet John Cale who promises to produce the band's next album. They sign to Megadisc and release the new album Hitkillers, a collection of covers of Dutch rock classics.
1989 - Bobbie Rossini and Marius Schrader leave the band. Rumours about a new album (produced by John Cale) are again surfacing.
1990 - The album Angelbite comes out. It is not produced by John Cale, but by Steve Parker (engineer with The Fall and Dutch vocalist Mathilde Santing). The band goes on - another - successful tour.
1991 - Late June the band plays the Parkpop festival in The Hague. In the meantime, Kooy joins La La Heaven and Geert de Groot (ex-Fatal Flowers) takes over on bass.
1992 - Late 1992 the album Sugar, a highlight in the band's career so far, comes out. The change in musical direction, that was already apparent on Angelbite, has now become permanent: The garage punk style has had to make way for the more melodic and sultry swamp rock. This has much to do with the fact that the album is produced by Urban Dance Squad drummer Michel Schoots, alias Magic Stick. The subdued single Rosie is the band's first Top 40 hit.
1993 - For the second time Claw Boys Claw is on the bill of the Pinkpop festival. Former bass player Rossini turns up in girl group Chicas del Rock that releases the album Neverneverland.
1994 - The new album Nipple, produced by Luc Suèr, largely follows the line of Sugar, but is less successful.
1995 - Marc Lamb plays the drums on Get Well Soon the second album of Soft Parade.
1997 - Claw Boys Claw release the new album Will-O-The-Wisp. The band also tours the Netherlands (by boat) with Scram C Baby and other bands.
1999 - All band members occupy themselves with various other projects: Te Bos concentrates on his career as graphic designer. Together with Henk Hofstede from Nits he designs the Media Centre of the Dutch Rock & Pop Institute. Drummer Marc Lamb wins the X3M remix award for his work with dance project Patriot Hills. Bassist Geert de Groot plays with Solex.
2002 - Peter te Bos en John Cameron work on a new album.
2005 - Former Claw Boys Claw drummer Marius Schrader alias Mars Radar independently releases an electro/synth album under the Wat moniker.
2006 - Te Bos and Cameron have written about 60 songs. Together with drummer Marc Lamb they start working on the new material. Lya Spykstra (ex-Bitchcock) is the new bass player. With Lamb she's also part of the trio Tomix.
2007 - After an initial session in 2006 in February and March Claw Boys Claw start recording the new album at Amsterdam's Eiland Studio's.
2008 - January 30th the release of Pajama Day is celebrated with a showcase at the DeSmet studios in Amsterdam, in presence of members of Johan, Moke and Hallo Venray.
Sleepwalking
Claw Boys Claw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You may ask yourself again
Are your eyes right here - or down at sea
Just wailing on a breeze
Looking frantic to get real
In a one way daily dream
By the end you've done your citywalk
Everyone is sleeping
While the lights are shining bright
Everyone is sleeping - so am I
Did it ever cross your mind
Why you love a lullaby
You can sway and sway - go up and down
You'll never hit the ground
Pull the plug out of this place
Have a sweet pajama day
Before it is too late
Everyone is sleeping
While the lights are shining bright
Girl you got me weeping - never mind
The lyrics to Claw Boys Claw's song "Sleepwalking" address the feeling of disconnect between one's conscious mind and the subconscious realm of dreams. The singer asks if the dream wants to enter into the waking world and if it has left traces in the waking mind, creating a sense of disorientation. The lyrics suggest that the waking mind is searching for a sense of reality, yet finds itself trapped in the surreal realm of the dream world. The lines "Looking frantic to get real / In a one way daily dream / By the end you've done your citywalk / You wonder where you've been" convey the exhaustion of trying to make sense of reality while being trapped in the dream state.
The chorus of "Everyone is sleeping / While the lights are shining bright / Everyone is sleeping - so am I" highlights the idea that although those around us appear to be awake, they may also be sleepwalking through life without fully engaging with their environment. The song suggests that this state of sleepwalking is a common human experience, and that we must learn to wake up and fully engage with the present moment before it is too late.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of finding comfort in the dream world; the line "Why you love a lullaby / You can sway and sway - go up and down / You'll never hit the ground" implies that dreams offer a sense of security and escape from the harsh realities of life. However, the song ultimately suggests that true engagement with the present moment is necessary for personal growth and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Does it want you in your hair?
Do you feel the irresistible lure of sleep that seems to draw you toward slumber?
You may ask yourself again
It's possible that you've pondered this same question before
Are your eyes right here - or down at sea
Are you feeling alert and present or are you in a dazed state of sleepwalking?
Just wailing on a breeze
You feel like you're floating through life, lacking a purpose or direction
Looking frantic to get real
You're yearning for something authentic and genuine
In a one way daily dream
You feel stuck in a monotonous routine, like you're living in a dream world that lacks spontaneity or novelty
By the end you've done your citywalk
At the conclusion of your daily routine, you feel like you've gone on a walk through your city or town
You wonder where you've been
You question the value and purpose of how you spend your days
Everyone is sleeping
The people around you seem to be going through life on autopilot, not fully awake or aware
While the lights are shining bright
The world is illuminated and bustling with activity, even though so many people seem to be sleepwalking through it
Did it ever cross your mind
Have you ever considered?
Why you love a lullaby
Why you find comfort and solace in a soothing melody that lulls you to sleep
You can sway and sway - go up and down
You can be swept away by the hypnotic rhythm of a lullaby, feeling like you're on a rollercoaster ride
You'll never hit the ground
You feel safe and protected, shielded from the harsh realities of the world
Pull the plug out of this place
Escape from this life of automaticity and repetition
Have a sweet pajama day
Take a day off to recharge and nurture yourself, without worrying about the demands of the outside world
Before it is too late
Take action before you become too entrenched in this cycle of sleepwalking and routine
Girl you got me weeping - never mind
You feel emotionally overwhelmed, but don't worry about it - you'll get through it
Contributed by Hunter V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.