Converge have enjoyed a relatively high level of recognition. According to AllMusic, they are "regarded as one of the most original and innovative bands to emerge from the punk underground." Their popularity rose with the release of Jane Doe, which was ranked as the best album of 2001 by Terrorizer and later as the 61st Best Metal Album of All Time by Rolling Stone. Subsequently, Converge moved from Equal Vision Records to the considerably larger label Epitaph Records and their records gradually became more elaborate and expensive to produce. Special releases have traditionally been handled by Deathwish Inc., established by Bannon in 1999. The band's ninth studio album, The Dusk in Us, was released in November 2017 through Deathwish and Epitaph.
VERSUS
Converge Lyrics
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Just us versus them
Jaws are biting at your heels
We hunt you in bad dreams
We know just what you are
And the secrets that you keep
Faster than your heart
Strength in desperation
And the sting of loss
Time to cut them down
It's us versus them
Time to take a stand
It's us versus them
Jaws are biting at your heels
We hunt you in bad dreams
We know just what you are
And the secrets that you keep
Cloven hoof is pounding
Faster than your heart
Strength in desperation
And the sting of loss
Time to cut them down
It's us versus them
Time to take a stand
It's us versus them
It's us versus them
Just us versus them
The lyrics to Converge's "Versus" appear to depict a confrontation, or perhaps even a battle or war, between two opposing sides. The repetition of "us versus them" throughout the song emphasizes this idea of conflicting forces. The second and third stanzas in particular seem to describe one side (the "us") pursuing and attacking the other (the "them"), who are described as having secrets and being hunted in bad dreams. The imagery of a cloven hoof pounding faster than your heart suggests a sense of urgency and adrenaline, as if both sides are in a state of panic or intense focus.
The final stanzas, however, introduce a call to action and a sense of unity among the "us" side. It's time to take a stand and cut down the other side. It's no longer just about defeating the enemy - it's also about standing together as a team and facing them head-on. The repetition of "just us versus them" at the end drives home this point, as if to say that it's not just a matter of defeating the opponent, but also of believing in the strength of the team and the cause.
Overall, the lyrics to "Versus" paint a picture of a conflict that is fierce, urgent, and fueled by a combination of adrenaline, desperation, and a sense of purpose. It's not just about defeating the opponent, but also about standing together as a team and fighting for a greater cause.
Line by Line Meaning
It's us versus them
We are in an oppositional situation with another group
Just us versus them
It is only us against them, no one else
Jaws are biting at your heels
We are in pursuit of you and will catch you
We hunt you in bad dreams
Even in your nightmares, we are after you
We know just what you are
We understand who you really are, despite what you present to the world
And the secrets that you keep
We are privy to the things you try to hide from us
Cloven hoof is pounding
We are relentless in our pursuit, like a hoof against the ground
Faster than your heart
We move more quickly and with more determination than you can handle
Strength in desperation
Even though we are in desperate circumstances, we are still strong
And the sting of loss
We feel the pain of defeat and refuse to let that happen
Time to cut them down
We must defeat the opposing group
It's us versus them
We are in an oppositional situation with another group
Time to take a stand
We must hold our ground and not back down
Just us versus them
It is only us against them, no one else
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.