After five full-length releases, one split, several tours and three record labels, Downway collectively decided to end their career, as band members wanted to get married and start 'normal' careers.
Discography
"Downway Is As Downway Does" (Hourglass Records, 1995)
"Kacknacker" (206 Records, 1998)
"Never Be Clever Again" (206 Records, 2000)
"Defeat Songs" (Sessions Records, 2001)
"Hometown Advantage" - Split with Belvedere (Sessions Records/Union Group 2003)
www.myspace.com/downway
Lip Service
Downway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I find myself pulling the skin off my face
That is why
Every single word you say
Its like turning this fresh air from clean into shame
Burning past the roads ahead while
Youre home burning out
Cause we all know yeah we all know
So stand up straight cause youre next in line
And they dont need to know your name
Its your ignorance its how you waste our time
And now youve made the hall of fame
If everythings alright then something must be wrong
Cause I was told if you cant say something nice say nothing
At all
Burning past the roads ahead while
Youre home burning out
Thats called lip service without the smile
Cause we all know yeah we all know
So stand up straight cause youre next in line
And they dont need to know your name
Its your ignorance its how you waste our time
And now youve made the hall of fame
The lyrics to Downway's song "Lip Service" seem to be about the frustration of dealing with insincere people who say one thing but do another. The singer finds themselves pulling the skin off their face, a possible metaphor for feeling uncomfortable or uneasy, whenever they hear someone speak insincerely. The words spoken by these people turn the fresh air of honesty and transparency into shame, suggesting that lies and falsehoods can taint an otherwise pure situation.
The chorus talks about "lip service without the smile," indicating that the insincerity comes across through tone of voice or body language. The line "we all know" emphasizes the idea that the insincerity is obvious to everyone. The second verse is a call to action, telling the listener to stand up straight and not waste others' time with their ignorance. The last line, "and now you've made the hall of fame," could be interpreted as a sarcastic comment about the notoriety insincere people often achieve.
Overall, the song's message seems to be a warning against the dangers of insincerity and a call for honesty and transparency.
Line by Line Meaning
Every night and every day
I am constantly struggling and suffering internally
I find myself pulling the skin off my face
My struggles are manifesting physically, revealing my pain and vulnerability
That is why
These experiences create a context for why I react to words and actions of others
Every single word you say
Any and all words directed at me have a profound impact
Its like turning this fresh air from clean into shame
The negative words turn what should be refreshing and innocent into something shameful and filthy
Burning past the roads ahead while
Moving quickly and recklessly beyond what is safe and prudent
Youre home burning out
All of this is being done while others rest and relax at home
Thats called lip service without the smile
Talking the talk but not walking the walk, all while pretending to be happy about it
Cause we all know yeah we all know
This behavior is not fooling anyone, it is obvious to everyone
So stand up straight cause youre next in line
Prepare to face the consequences of your actions
And they dont need to know your name
The damage you have caused will speak for itself, no further identification is necessary
Its your ignorance its how you waste our time
The harm you do is due to your lack of understanding and your disrespect for others' time and efforts
And now youve made the hall of fame
Your actions have earned you notoriety for all the wrong reasons
If everythings alright then something must be wrong
Things are not always as they seem, appearances can be deceiving
Cause I was told if you cant say something nice say nothing
It is better to remain silent than to say hurtful or negative things
At all
Perhaps it is best to keep quiet altogether
Contributed by Lillian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.