… Read Full Bio ↴The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts (vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone voice. The band members have fluctuated over the years, but its best known line-up consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid (co-vocals, keyboards), Brad's brother Dan Roberts (bass guitar, backing vocals), Benjamin Darvill (harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge (drums, percussion). The band is best known internationally for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" and best known in Canada for the 1991 single "Superman's Song".
After a multi-year hiatus, the band returned in 2015 with a tour and the new charity single "Promised Land" which was a collaboration with Marc Mysterio[1] following up his remix of "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm".
The origin of the Crash Test Dummies is tied to the history of two Winnipeg nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Cafe, owned by Curtis Riddell.
In the mid-1980s, Riddell joined with Brad Roberts to form the decidedly less-than-serious bar band Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. Over time, the band evolved into the Crash Test Dummies, a name suggested by a friend of the band who was in medical school. The diagnostic mannequin, known colloquially as a crash test dummy, was known to the public already by this time. Ellen Reid and Benjamin Darvill became permanent additions. George West, the original bass player, quit and was replaced by Dan Roberts, Brad's brother. Riddell was replaced by Vince Lambert, who was fired and replaced by Mitch Dorge just before the release of The Ghosts That Haunt Me.
After signing with BMG Records in 1991, the band signed with manager Jeff Rogers (Swell).
In the summer of 2017, the full band, except Benjamin Darvill, reunited for a show in Winnipeg and Brad Roberts went on a tour of South Africa in early 2018.
In July 2018, a reunited photo of Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge was posted on the official Crash Test Dummies Facebook page, along with the announcement of Canadian Tour Dates for the fall.
Throughout their career, Crash Test Dummies have experimented with many different styles and genres of music. These styles include the acoustic folk rock of The Ghosts That Haunt Me, the electric alternative rock of A Worm's Life, the urban influences of Give Yourself a Hand, and the optigan-based compositions of Oooh La La!.
Crash Test Dummies recorded as a full five piece band from their debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me until Give Yourself a Hand. At this time, the most notable instrumentation of the band's music included Brad Roberts' lead guitar, Ellen Reid's keyboards, and Benjamin Darvill's harmonica. Another notable element of Crash Test Dummies' music are the contrasting harmonies between Brad Roberts' deep lead vocals and Ellen Reid's backing vocals in the higher register.
Beginning with I Don't Care That You Don't Mind in 2001, the band's albums were recorded primarily by Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, and a rotating roster of session musicians.
One of the biggest influences for Brad Roberts was the band XTC and Andy Partridge in particular. The band even went on to cover two of XTC's songs: "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber, and "All You Pretty Girls" for the XTC tribute album A Testimonial Dinner.
The Psychic
Crash Test Dummies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She knows your past like the lay of the land
The first time she met me she saw right through me
Some cards and a cane in her hand, and she said:
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
She said her visions were a bane in her life
She could not control them, they kept her up nights
I know what you're thinking, I haven't been drinking
She knew things that cut like a knife, and she said:
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
Will there be earthquakes and great tidal waves?
Can she see back to the dinosaur days?
How can she foresee just by squinting at me and
Can she see me naked in her mind's eye?
What does she think when she foretells a disease?
Would she keep it a secret if death stood before me?
What could some cards hold, where is her foothold
Can I escape what she sees? And she said:
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
I see here before me
In "The Psychic," the Crash Test Dummies sing about a woman who supposedly has the ability to predict the future and know people's pasts with remarkable accuracy. The singer reflects on his first encounter with her, where she saw straight through him with the help of her cards and cane. They then move on to her abilities and how she struggles with them, feeling like a curse on her life. The song ends with the singer questioning her powers and asking if she could see diseases and even see him naked in her mind. The overall message of the song seems to be about the human desire to know the unknown and the powerlessness we feel when faced with predictions, questions, and insinuations that we have no control over.
Musically, "The Psychic" is a haunting and slow ballad that sets the mood for the lyrics. The vocals of Brad Roberts are deep and thoughtful, perfectly capturing the mood of the song. The accordion and keyboard riffs add to the eerie atmosphere of the track, evoking the mysticism that surrounds the idea of fortune-telling.
Line by Line Meaning
She knows the future like the palm in your hand
The psychic has the ability to predict the future with great accuracy.
She knows your past like the lay of the land
The psychic has knowledge of a person's past, as if it is easily accessible to her.
The first time she met me she saw right through me
The psychic was able to understand the true nature of the singer from the very beginning.
Some cards and a cane in her hand, and she said:
The psychic demonstrated her tools of divination and began to speak about the future.
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
The psychic claims to have the ability to see both the past and future with ease, as if it is all laid out before her.
She said her visions were a bane in her life
She could not control them, they kept her up nights
The psychic has visions that are out of her control and can be distressing to her.
I know what you're thinking, I haven't been drinking
She knew things that cut like a knife, and she said:
The psychic is aware of the skepticism of others but has knowledge that can be difficult for others to accept.
Will there be earthquakes and great tidal waves?
Can she see back to the dinosaur days?
The artist wonders about the limits of the psychic's ability to see into the future and past.
How can she foresee just by squinting at me and
Can she see me naked in her mind's eye?
The artist is curious about how the psychic is able to gather information about them and wonders if there are any limits to her vision.
What does she think when she foretells a disease?
Would she keep it a secret if death stood before me?
What could some cards hold, where is her foothold
Can I escape what she sees? And she said:
The artist has many questions about the psychic's abilities and fears what she may see in the future.
I see here before me
The psychic reiterates her vision of being able to see both past and future with ease.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRAD ROBERTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sérgio Ferreira de Souza
[Verse 1]
She knows the future like the palm of your hand
She knows your past like the lay of the land
The first time she met me she saw right through me
Some cards and a cane in her hand--and she said:
[Chorus]
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
[Verse 2]
She said her visions were a bane in her life
She could not control them, they kept her up nights
I know what you're thinking, I haven't been drinking
She knew things that cut like a knife--and she said:
[Chorus]
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
[Bridge]
Will there be earthquakes and great tidal waves?
Can she see back to the dinosaur days?
How can she foresee just by squinting at me and
Can she see me naked in her minds eye?
Glenn Hooper
How is there not 50k likes? An absolutely amazing alblum, and certainly one of my all time favorites
Zen11:11 Tarot
Amen love him. Saw them live love them
Terrianne Harrison
Agreed! Love God shuffled his feet ... Afternoons and Coffeespoons ... Swimming in your ocean ... love it all.
Crabtree FPV
This whole album is absolutely amazing
Rob
Thanks CTD for expressing healthy skepticism once again.
GM Freeman
You know, seeing all the history repeat it'self around the world. I can't help but feel like a psychic.
Psychics Irony
This song has helped me to reconcile my clairvoyance with my relationships, since the late 80's. Thank you for so many of your songs! I pretty much love them all! Blessed Be! ☮️💞☯️
GM Freeman
I also have connections that transcend space and time. Good to not be alone.
Rudolf Vizi
Really ...one of my favourite songs ever....
I imagine miself being in a king s court surrounded by a lot of crazy people acting strange ....i know it s funny ,but this is what comes in my mind ...❤❤❤😊
Sérgio Ferreira de Souza
[Verse 1]
She knows the future like the palm of your hand
She knows your past like the lay of the land
The first time she met me she saw right through me
Some cards and a cane in her hand--and she said:
[Chorus]
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
[Verse 2]
She said her visions were a bane in her life
She could not control them, they kept her up nights
I know what you're thinking, I haven't been drinking
She knew things that cut like a knife--and she said:
[Chorus]
All the years that have come to pass
And all the years that shall be
I see here right before me
[Bridge]
Will there be earthquakes and great tidal waves?
Can she see back to the dinosaur days?
How can she foresee just by squinting at me and
Can she see me naked in her minds eye?