Song topics were initially of a more political and environmental stance (the name Course of Empire having come from a 5 piece series by 19th Century painter Thomas Cole). Later, the lyrical content would take on topics related to conspiracy theories and the personal quest of spirituality.
They released a total of three albums over their ten year existence: one on the Dallas label Carpe Diem, one with Zoo Entertainment, and one with TVT Records. They also toured with industrially-edged groups such as Prong, Sister Machine Gun, Stabbing Westward, Young Gods and many others.
Producer John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails, Gravity Kills) was tapped to produce their third record, Telepathic Last Words, as it featured more electronic-edged material. Soon after, the band found support in Dallas radio icon Redbeard who promoted the album weeks ahead of release on Dallas radio station Q102. Unfortunately, Zoo folded in July 1996, just one month before the album was due to be released.
TVT Records signed the band by December 1996 after working out the licensing terms with BMG for the rights to Telepathic Last Words and the previous Initiation record. At TVT's request, the band recorded additional tracks with drummer Chad Lovell as producer. The new tracks were mixed in Hollywood at Larrabee Studios North with Dave Bianco at the helm. Some previous tracks had also been remixed by Bianco. Telepathic, originally mastered by Bob Ludwig for the Zoo release, was re-mastered by Howie Weinberg in September 1997 and was finally released January 1998, almost two years after its original completion.
One track from the album, The Information, was included on the soundtrack for the film Dark City. A video was also produced featuring scenes from the movie and was aired on MTV at the time of the movie's premiere. The band toured with Rob Halford's ill-fated "Two" project along with John Lowery of Marilyn Manson fame, and also opened for The Sisters of Mercy in Los Angeles that spring.
The band disbanded after ten years together over frustration with management, booking, and lack of a proper AR rep.
Drummer Michael Jerome and guitarist Mike Graff collaborated with Van Eric Martin to form the group Halls of the Machine who released their debut album, Atmospheres for Lovers and Sleepers in 2001.
In 2004, Mike Graff and Martin Baird at Verge Music Works recording studio mixed the still existing 24 tracks of the final performance at Trees in Dallas, Texas from 1998 and personally financed and self released the tracks, entitled Phone Calls From the Dead.
FREAKS
Course Of Empire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Call me a lunatic
Call me from everywhere
Call me beyond the death
Call me a conduit
Freaks, follow me
They say nothing is new and they're all board
Twisting their heads to see who's looking
Always looking and being seen
Freaks, you're all freaks
You're all freaks
You're all freaks
The sky is open wide within
A razor thin divide,
As big as mountains or your eyes
The purest hides behind your jugular vein
Freaks, we're all freaks
We're all freaks
We're all freaks
The song "Freaks" by Course of Empire is a reflection on society and the way we label and judge people who don't fit into the norm. The first verse, "Freaks, talk to me, call me a lunatic," is an invitation to those who are considered "freaks" to speak up and tell their stories. The singer acknowledges that they may be called crazy or strange, but wants to hear from them anyway. The next line, "Call me from everywhere, call me beyond the death, call me a conduit," suggests that the singer is open to hearing from those who have passed away, as well as those who are living in different parts of the world. They see themselves as a mediator of sorts, someone who can connect different types of people.
In the second verse, the singer addresses the idea that some people are bored with their lives and are just going through the motions. They are constantly looking for something new and exciting. The line, "Twisting their heads to see who's looking, always looking and being seen," suggests that these people are more concerned with appearances than they are with substance. The chorus, "Freaks, you're all freaks," is a reminder that we are all different in some way or another, and that our uniqueness should be celebrated. The final verse, "The sky is open wide within, a razor-thin divide, as big as mountains or your eyes, the purest hides behind your jugular vein," is a metaphor for the vastness of the human experience. The singer suggests that we all have a deep well of emotions and experiences inside of us, and that our true selves are often hidden from others.
Line by Line Meaning
Freaks, talk to me
I'm inviting all the misfits and outcasts of society to open up and communicate with me without fear of judgment or ridicule.
Call me a lunatic
You can insult me and question my sanity, but I won't be deterred from being true to myself and standing up for the truth.
Call me from everywhere
No matter where you come from, what background or ethnicity you are, you are welcome to join me and express yourself openly with the rest of us weirdos.
Call me beyond the death
Even beyond death, there's a place for all of us in this world where we truly belong and our differences are celebrated rather than shunned.
Call me a conduit
I'm here to channel and amplify the voice of everyone who's ever been silenced or oppressed, and to help create a world where diversity and individuality are valued and respected.
Freaks, follow me
I'm urging all the outsiders and oddballs to come along and follow my lead, to become a part of something greater and more meaningful than the conformity of society.
They say nothing is new and they're all board
The mainstream culture and media are stagnant and repetitive, lacking in creativity and originality. They're stuck doing the same old things, unable to embrace change or take risks.
Bored with watching and doing nothing
The people who conform to what society considers 'normal' are bored with the mundane and lack of excitement in their lives. They are only spectators, lacking the courage to make a difference.
Twisting their heads to see who's looking
The conformists always look for approval from others, experiencing fear of judgment if they are different. They refuse to let their true selves shine out in fear of disapproving eyes.
Always looking and being seen
The conformists are constantly looking for attention without actually doing anything that is attention-worthy. They like to look at others, to stay within boundaries, and to stay within their comfort zone.
Freaks, you're all freaks
Regardless of our individual differences, we are all the same kind of weirdos who are brave enough to challenge societal norms and stand up for ourselves and each other.
The sky is open wide within
The limits of what seems possible and real are not set in stone, and true freedom of self is a state of mind that needs to be embraced. We can be whatever we want to be.
A razor thin divide
The difference between being accepted and being rejected by the society is small and easily stepped over. We could either be with the conformist or join the counterculture.
As big as mountains or your eyes
The power of an individual to make an impact and defy the odds is as vast as the universe itself. We can achieve anything we set out mind to do.
The purest hides behind your jugular vein
The truth is often hidden in plain sight or in the darkest corners of ourselves. The darkness that we fear can actually shed light on the truth and expose our innermost selves to the world.
Freaks, we're all freaks
We are all in this together, standing up for ourselves and one another to make a difference and to help create a society where individuality is celebrated and where we can all be free to be who we truly are.
Contributed by Savannah V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.