David Usher (born on April 24, 1966) is a British-born rock singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴David Usher (born on April 24, 1966) is a British-born rock singer-songwriter, and renowned humanist, who lived for a number of years in Montreal, but then moved to the East Village in Manhattan, New York City. In 2007 David and family moved back to Montreal permanently after having a holiday there. Formerly the frontman of the Canadian band Moist, he more recently embarked on a solo career.

David Usher was born in Oxford to an ethnic Thai Buddhist, artist Samphan Usher and a Jewish Montrealer, Dan Usher, who is an economist at Queen's University.[1] He has relocated to Malaysia, New York, California and Thailand since early childhood before his family settled in Kingston, Ontario. He attended high school at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute.

Attending university at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Usher joined Moist in 1993 and their 1994 debut release, Silver, went quadruple platinum in Canada. As the lead singer of the band, he shot to stardom with his soulful voice and vaguely exotic good looks.

After Moist's multi-platinum follow-up, Creature, was released in 1996, David took some time during the band's hiatus to record his debut solo album, Little Songs, released in 1998. That same year he married photographer and actress Sabrina Reeves, with whom he is still living. Together they have a daughter, Coco, who was born on January 12, 2003.

After recording the album Mercedes 5 and Dime with Moist, he revived his solo career again, releasing the highly successful Morning Orbit in the summer 2001. It contains the hit single "Black Black Heart". In 2003, he released another solo album entitled Hallucinations, which matched the amount of major label albums he had recorded with Moist.

In 2005, he surpassed that number with the release of If God Had Curves. The album had a resemblance to his first solo effort Little Songs, as it is dominantly an acoustic album. This album also featured a collaboration with Tegan Quin, on the track "Hey Kids".

2007 David and family have moved back to Montreal, Canada and David's embarking on a tour in September/October and November 2007.

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Hallucinations
David Usher Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Breathe
Hallucinations start to fade
All the colours are back to grey
I never understood these things I hated,
But now, as we all disappear
The world becomes quiet clearly
Something I can live in
If I could just get through tonight

The poison's in my head
And I can't feel my legs
I'm not feeling anything

I'm standing at the top looking down
Thought I'd be so free
Float in outerspace, take a breath
Don't you breathe too deep
I'm standing at the top looking down,
Thought it'd be so damn easy
I thought it would be easier

Wait, hallucinations back in place
I said I'd call if I can't face
Another day of normal
That's what they gave me
But now the telephone's on fire
And I can't seem to dial
Even though I know
You're there to save my soul tonight

The poison's in my head
And I can't feel my legs
I'm not feeling anything
I can't feel anything

I'm standing at the top looking down
Thought I'd be so free
Float in outerspace, take a breath
Don't you breathe too deep
Stepping off the top, feel the wind
Underneath my feet

Standing at the top looking down
Float in outerspace; there's no sound

The poison's in my head
And I can't feel my legs
I'm not feeling anything

I'm standing at the top looking down
Thought I'd be so free
Float in outerspace, take a breath
Don't you breathe too deep
Stepping off the top, feel the wind
Underneath my feet

Standing at the top looking down
Float in outerspace; there's no sound

I feel alive

I feel alive
I feel alive...

Overall Meaning

The song "Hallucinations" by David Usher is a tale of someone who is struggling with their emotions, and ultimately with the prospect of taking their own life. The beginning of the song speaks of the fading of hallucinations, and how the world comes back into focus with all of its colors, but they are still unable to understand the things they have hated in the past. They are waiting for the night to pass so they can find something to live for. However, the singer is drawn back into a suicidal mindset as their hallucinations return and they can't seem to call for help.

In the second verse, the singer is standing at the top, likely of a tall building, looking down on life. They thought they would feel free, but instead, they are numb, unable to feel anything. They talk about stepping off the top and feeling the wind underneath their feet. The final chorus speaks of feeling alive, but it's unclear whether this is meant in a physical or metaphysical sense. The song is a somber account of the pain and suffering that can come with depression and suicidal ideation.

Overall, "Hallucinations" is a sobering reminder of the very real struggle that those with depression and suicidal tendencies face. It speaks to the importance of reaching out for help when one's mental state deteriorates to such a degree.

Line by Line Meaning

Breathe
Take a deep breath

Hallucinations start to fade
The illusionary perceptions are starting to disappear

All the colours are back to grey
Everything has lost its vibrancy

I never understood these things I hated,
I could never comprehend the things I despised

But now, as we all disappear
As everyone vanishes

The world becomes quiet clearly
The world seems clear and quiet

Something I can live in
Something that is comfortable to exist in

If I could just get through tonight
If I could just make it through this night

The poison's in my head
The harmful thoughts are in my mind

And I can't feel my legs
I have no sensation in my legs

I'm not feeling anything
I am emotionally numb