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.
Universal
Devin Townsend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
STEP INTO THE UNIVERSAL GROOVE
And I owe all that I owe
TENDING TO THE UNIVERSAL YOU
How am I ever supposed to carry on?
Oh yeah!
STEP INTO THE UNIVERSAL GROOVE
And I owe all that I owe
TENDING TO THE UNIVERSAL...
How am I ever supposed to carry on?
So come on, let me hear you
say "Hey!"
So come on, let me hear you
say "Surrah!"
So come on, let me hear you
say "Waste!"
So come on, let me show you
that's all the motherfuck
that I know!
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back home...
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back home...
WOAH! WOAH!
WOAH! WOAH!
WOAH! WOAH!
WOAH! WOAH!
So come on, let me hear you
say "Hey!"
So come on, let me hear you
say "Surrah!"
So come on, let me hear you
say "Waste!"
So come on, let me show you
that's all the motherfuck
that I know!
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back home...
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back home...
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back (the Universe)
Find our way back home...
The phrase "STEP INTO THE UNIVERSAL GROOVE" appears twice in the lyrics of Devin Townsend's song "Universal," and it serves as the anchoring line for the entire piece. The song as a whole explores the interconnectedness of everything and our place in the universe. The singer acknowledges all that they have learned and all that they owe, whether it be to themselves, society, or some higher power. They express a sense of confusion and uncertainty about how to move forward, but ultimately find solace in the "universal groove" and the "universal you." The repetition of the phrase "Find our way back home" reinforces the idea that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves and that we can find peace in our place within the universe.
The lines "So come on, let me hear you / say 'Hey!' / So come on, let me hear you / say 'Surrah!' / So come on, let me hear you / say 'Waste!'" seem almost like a call and response or a chant. The lyrics include some made-up words and phrases that may not have any concrete meaning, but they reflect the idea of finding connection and community through shared experiences.
Overall, "Universal" is a song about seeking meaning and purpose in a vast and complex world. It acknowledges the difficulty of this quest, but ultimately suggests that we can find comfort in the interconnectedness of all things.
Line by Line Meaning
I know all that I know
I am confident in my knowledge and understanding of the world
STEP INTO THE UNIVERSAL GROOVE
Embrace the greater cosmic forces that guide us all
And I owe all that I owe
I am grateful for everything that has been given to me
TENDING TO THE UNIVERSAL YOU
Taking care of oneself is an act of reverence for the interconnectedness of all things
How am I ever supposed to carry on?
It can be overwhelming to confront the enormity of existence
So come on, let me hear you say "Hey!"
Let's celebrate together with a simple exclamation of joy
So come on, let me hear you say "Surrah!"
Let's lift each other up and cheer as one
So come on, let me hear you say "Waste!"
The word may be meaningless, but the act of expression is what counts
So come on, let me show you that's all the motherfuck that I know!
I may not have all the answers, but I am willing to share what I do have
Find our way back (the Universe)
Returning to a sense of connection with the greater whole is a guiding principle
Find our way back home...
Discovering a sense of belonging in the cosmos is the ultimate goal
WOAH! WOAH!
Expressing intense emotion and excitement through nonverbal sounds
Contributed by Gabriella B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jpoortman
I'm alone, drunk, sad a few moments ago but now very much enjoying this album. Hell, lets add a few exclamation marks!!!!!!!
dingus dangus
Are you still sad?
jpoortman
@dingus dangus Nope, a whole lot has happened in the meantime!
But thanks for asking, I shall add this to my playlist again.
Reuben_DBGB
This album just scoops me off this plane of existence.
Devins best work imo
sleuthed
super underrated song by Devvy, but one of my favs! always picks me up
TheOrangeFondler
phenomenal, I wish my Terria CD had this on it!
McSwuggins
Ah, the bonus track on the original disc with commentary. Those were the days
77MarioF
@mrdevecseri It's def. an album which needs time to grow. I#ve been confused when I first heard it, because I was a huge fan of Ocean Machine and don't like so much vocal screaming parts. But it has so many musical layers!! If one really got the time to listen in a relaxed manner one can always discover new facettes depending on what "layer" you focus on. Great!
kingfullmetal
I know! He definitely knows how to make a very diverse plethora of music, eh? I can't wait for "By a Thread" and "Epicloud" to be released. Listening to music will be the only thing I will be seen doing for months.
Spare 15
This is weird, for me. I've only EVER known Terria with 'Humble' on the end.
This feels almost too... "happy" for Terria. Whereas 'Humble' had that almost melancholic tone that seemed to fit with the rest of the album. Must be the major chords.