Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian musician and record… Read Full Bio ↴Devin Garrett Townsend (born May 5, 1972) is a Canadian musician and record producer from New Westminster, British Columbia. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has had an extensive career as a solo artist, in which his work usually leans more towards a progressive metal style.

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.

Wild Colonial Boy
Devin Townsend Lyrics

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If you ever need a friend in me
...ever need a friendly deed
Please don't ever let me
Slip away
What I'll miss in the travesty
Is easier than it needs to be

Please don't ever let me slip away

Because it's cold in the fantasy
I'd do or say anything
Sell me, tell me, I'm wild
(I'm wild)
As I am in the fantasy
I'll do or say anything
I dance for thee 'cause we
All enjoy a wild colonial boy
-Cats- Time! Time!
Paddington, Paddington
That's the saviour
Awe saw sale ya!

Watch the boy he feels it all
Watch the boy he heals it all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Devin Townsend's song Wild Colonial Boy may appear ambiguous and confusing, but a closer analysis reveals that they revolve around themes of loneliness, alienation, and the human desire to connect with others. The opening lines express a sense of loyalty and belongingness, as the singer reassures the listener that they would always be there for them if they needed a friend or a favor. However, this sentiment is quickly overshadowed by a dark and ominous foreboding that runs through the song, hinting at the singer's fear of being abandoned or forgotten. This fear is expressed in lines like "Please don't ever let me slip away" and "What I'll miss in the travesty/Is easier than it needs to be", which suggest a deep-seated anxiety about losing touch with oneself, others, or reality.

As the song progresses, the singer becomes more and more unhinged, delving into a feverish and surreal fantasy world where he is "wild" and untethered from the social norms and expectations that govern our lives. The use of the phrase "wild colonial boy" references a popular Australian folk song about a young Irish rebel who becomes an outlaw and a folk hero after killing a British officer. This connection suggests that the singer may be identifying with the rebel figure and seeking a similar kind of recognition and validation through his own acts of rebellion and defiance. However, this desire is tempered by a sense of desperation and vulnerability, as the singer admits to dancing for the pleasure of others and feeling everything deeply, suggesting that his wildness is ultimately a facade or a coping mechanism.

Line by Line Meaning

If you ever need a friend in me
If you ever find yourself in need of a friend,

...ever need a friendly deed
If you need help in any way,

Please don't ever let me
Promise me that you won't ever,

Slip away
Disappear or lose touch,

What I'll miss in the travesty
There are things that I will regret missing,

Is easier than it needs to be
Those things wouldn't be difficult to obtain if we were together,

Because it's cold in the fantasy
I'm struggling in this make-believe world,

I'd do or say anything
I'm desperate to succeed,

Sell me, tell me, I'm wild (I'm wild)
I'll do anything to achieve my goals,

As I am in the fantasy
My current state of mind is not reality,

I'll do or say anything
I'm ready to compromise my values to be successful,