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.
Hide Nowhere
Devin Townsend Lyrics
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Cold dead sky
See in the sea what I need to be
Cold blue waves
Cold blue mind... (hear them talk about)
Cold dead mind
Every dream I have wants me to stay
Every night I try to find a way
I hide nowhere
They hide in my world
I have nowhere to go
Dreams come as they...
Sleep comes as it...
Dreams come as they do
The lyrics to Devin Townsend's "Hide Nowhere" express a feeling of being lost and searching for one's place in the world. The repetition of "cold blue waves" and "cold dead sky" creates a sense of loneliness and isolation, as if the singer is surrounded by a barren, uncaring environment. The line "see in the sea what I need to be" suggests that the singer is looking to nature to guide them and provide a sense of purpose.
The second verse, with its repetition of "cold blue mind" and "cold dead mind," adds to the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape one's own thoughts. The line "see in the sea what is and what will be" suggests a sense of predestination, as if the singer is resigned to their fate.
The chorus reinforces the idea that the singer is stuck and unable to move forward. They have "nowhere to go" and must simply accept the dreams and sleep that come to them. The line "they hide in my world" suggests that the singer feels like an outsider, excluded from the world around them.
Overall, "Hide Nowhere" is a powerful meditation on the struggle to find meaning in life and the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape one's own thoughts and circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold blue waves
The ocean surrounding the singer is deep, cold and indifferent to his struggle.
Cold dead sky
The sky above the singer is bleak, lifeless and offers no hope for a better future.
See in the sea what I need to be
The singer identifies with the vastness and unpredictability of the ocean as it reflects his own desire for purpose and direction in life.
Cold blue mind... (hear them talk about)
The artist's mind is consumed by feelings of isolation and anxiety, which are reinforced by the negative comments and criticism from others.
Cold dead mind
The artist's mind is stagnant and unresponsive as he struggles to find a sense of identity and meaning in his life.
See in the sea what is and what will be
The singer seeks clarity and foresight from the ocean, hoping to find a way to overcome his current state of despair and uncertainty.
Every dream I have wants me to stay
The singer is trapped in a cycle of recurring dreams that prevent him from moving forward and finding a better life.
Every night I try to find a way
Despite his struggles, the artist refuses to give up and continues to seek a way out of his current situation.
I hide nowhere
The artist cannot escape his inner turmoil and must confront his problems head-on.
They hide in my world
The people around the artist are blinded to his struggles and do not fully understand the depth of his pain.
I have nowhere to go
The singer feels lost and hopeless, with no sense of direction or purpose in his life.
Dreams come as they...
The artist is haunted by his recurring dreams, which provide no clear answers or solutions to his problems.
Sleep comes as it...
Despite his inner turmoil, the singer is eventually overtaken by sleep each night, offering a temporary respite from his problems.
Dreams come as they do
The singer realizes that he cannot force or control his dreams, and must accept whatever insight they may offer him.
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