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.
Thing Beyond Things
Devin Townsend Lyrics
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In "Thing Beyond Things," Devin Townsend reflects on the power of dreams and the complexity of his internal world. The song begins with a nostalgic tone, as he recalls his youthful imagination and how he used to envision a bigger world beyond his own. He dreams of a valley, a place of beauty and serenity where he can be with his loved one. The act of laying roses in her hair and kissing her gently represents his deep affection and connection with her.
However, the song takes a darker turn as Townsend acknowledges the internal struggles within himself. He describes a "worm inside," which symbolizes a deep emotional wound that he has carried with him for a long time. This wound represents his pain, vulnerability, and unresolved issues. He acknowledges that these inner demons are wrong but he cannot escape or understand them fully.
The lyrics also describe a nauseating and repulsive presence that has invaded his space. This presence, represented as a sick and rotten entity, reminds him of a familiar smell from his dreams, albeit one that was previously sweeter. This disturbing scent mirrors the corruption that has crept into the room where he used to lock away his secrets. The reference to a friend suggests that this presence may be someone he once trusted, but who has now betrayed him.
As the rain falls, he sits and contemplates his situation, acknowledging the darkness within himself. There is a realization that the woman inside him represents another deep-seated wound, perhaps related to past relationships or personal trauma. He insists that others should not attempt to understand or delve into these internal struggles, as they are complex and deeply personal.
Overall, "Thing Beyond Things" explores the duality of dreams and darkness, love and pain. It invites listeners to contemplate the multidimensionality of human experiences and the myriad complexities that reside within each of us.
Line by Line Meaning
Once when I was young I used to dream for hours and hours I'd dream a world that wasn't small...
In my youth, I had vivid and expansive dreams, envisioning a world beyond limitations...
And I'd travel to a valley where under trees and earth I'd set my girl...
In my imagination, I would journey to a serene valley and create a perfect representation of my significant other...
...And I knelt down by her head And lay roses in her hair and I kissed her gently...
I would express my love and admiration for her by tenderly kneeling beside her, adorning her with roses, and kissing her softly...
But this is what you are As the sun sets in my eyes I know... I know I know I know I know I know
However, in reality, this is your true nature. As the sun sets and darkness engulfs my sight, deep within me, I am aware...
And I know this one's the light And the worm inside of me Is the oldest wound that I've nursed along...
I acknowledge that this particular revelation brings illumination. The deep pain I carry within, symbolized as a worm, is the oldest and most enduring injury I have nurtured...
So don't try to get inside These things inside are wrong things beyond things
Please refrain from attempting to understand these inner complexities, for they are perplexing aberrations beyond conventional comprehension...
It's sick now It's rotten to the core its eyes bulge and gaze at me... Lovingly...
The state of my being has deteriorated, corrupted to its very core, with its eyes bulging and fixating on me... albeit with a disturbing affection...
And I remember this smell from my dreams except it was sweeter then...
I recollect encountering a similar aroma within my dreams, although it possessed a more pleasant and enticing quality...
And even in this room where I used to lock my secrets It's starting to smell just like my friend
Surprisingly, even within the confines of this room where I typically concealed my innermost secrets, an odor reminiscent of my companion is now permeating...
And I told you not to breathe so now I sit and watch the rain I know I know I know I know I know I know I know I know
Having warned you not to inhale, I now find solace in observing the falling rain, fully aware of the consequences and complexities of the situation...
And I know this one's the dark And the woman inside of me is the oldest wound that I've nursed along...
Similarly, I am conscious that this particular insight delves into the realm of darkness. The feminine aspect dwelling within me represents the most enduring injury I have tended to...
So don't try to get inside These things inside are all just things
Please abstain from attempting to comprehend these internal matters, as they are merely abstract concepts and intangible aspects...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DEVIN GARRETT TOWNSEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind