After performing in a number of metal bands in high school, Townsend was discovered by a record label in 1993 and was asked to perform lead vocals on Steve Vai's album Sex & Religion. After recording and touring with Vai, Townsend was discouraged by what he found in the music industry, and vented his anger on a solo album released under the pseudonym Strapping Young Lad. He soon assembled a band under the name, and released the critically acclaimed City in 1997. Since then, he has released three more studio albums with Strapping Young Lad, along with solo material released under his own independent record label, HevyDevy Records. Townsend's solo albums, a diverse mix of hard rock and progressive metal, have featured a varying lineup of supporting musicians. In 2002 he formed The Devin Townsend Band, a dedicated lineup which recorded and toured for two of his solo releases.
In 2007, Townsend disbanded both Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band, taking a break from touring to spend more time with his family. After a two-year hiatus, he began work on a four-album series called The Devin Townsend Project, with each album written in a different style. The first two entries in the series, Ki and Addicted, were released in 2009. Townsend scheduled tours throughout Australia and North America in 2010 in support of the albums, and released the next two, Deconstruction and Ghost, in 2011.
Townsend's trademark production style, featuring a heavily multitracked wall of sound, has been compared to the styles of Phil Spector and Frank Zappa. His versatile vocal delivery ranges from screaming to an opera-esque singing, and his songwriting is similarly diverse. Townsend's musical style is rooted in metal, and his albums are written to express different aspects of his personality.
Ants
Devin Townsend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Alive, but so alone...
Live, so alive...
All we need is money just a little bit of money, and that's all
that we've been searching for
(Make the money! Do the laundry!)
Just a little bit of money makes the world go round
In Devin Townsend's song Ants, he explores the idea of human beings being alive yet feeling alone. He expresses this duality through the lyrics "Alive, but so alone... Live, so alive...". The song then delves into society's obsession with money and the idea that all we need is just a little bit of it to make the world go round. The lyrics "All we need is money just a little bit of money, and that's all that we've been searching for (Make the money! Do the laundry!)" highlight how we prioritize material wealth over human connection and fulfillment.
Overall, Ants is a critique of modern society's values and the negative impact that these values have on our well-being. The lyrics suggest that our endless pursuit of money and success has left us feeling isolated and unfulfilled. This message is reinforced through the song's haunting and atmospheric sound, which creates a sense of unease and introspection.
Line by Line Meaning
Alive, but so alone...
Existing, but feeling isolated and disconnected from others...
Live, so alive...
Being fully present in the moment and experiencing life to the fullest...
All we need is money just a little bit of money, and that's all that we've been searching for
We believe that money is the solution to all our problems and that it's the only thing worth pursuing...
(Make the money! Do the laundry!)
Urging ourselves to focus solely on making money and completing mundane tasks instead of finding true meaning and purpose...
Just a little bit of money makes the world go round
Suggesting that society revolves around the acquisition and use of money, whether for good or bad purposes...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DEVIN GARRETT TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind