One night, armed with a borrowed 8-track and locked inside their warehouse with friend Cam Loeppky, they proceeded to record a demo tape of original songs. Their friends (Sinisa and Darcy) loved it, but no one else cared.
One fall night in 1995, they played a festival in Winnipeg. A certain Mr. Peter Jenner, the infamous manager of Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, The Clash, and recently Billy Bragg, was in attendance. "These lads are pretty good," he was heard saying.
Then things started to happen. A local show with the wonderful Smugglers that summer eventually led to our joining the Mint Records family in March of 1996.
Their first album Smash the Ships and Raise the Beams (recorded by Darryl Neudorf in Vancouver) was released in September, 1996, and eventually climbed to #2 on the Canadian College charts. They toured Canada numerous times, and down through the States in early 1997. They even made it to Europe with Huevos Rancheros in early 1998.
A second album The Cons and the Pros (recorded by Brendann McGuire in Toronto) was released in May of 1998, and climbed to #1 on the Canadian College charts. That summer they toured Canada with The Weakerthans and Plumtree. Angus Kirkpatrick joined them on second bass for their next tour in the fall of 1998, during which they played with the Archers of Loaf in Toronto and Montreal. In the spring of 1999, they (including Angus) returned to Europe with The Hi-Fives for a fun-filled, six-week tour.
Follower Of Obvious Voices
Duotang Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The following of obvious voices
When everybody leads the way
Leaving me with nothing to say
But I do
I can't control this
My thoughts are falling out on the cold crowd
I'm feeling like I'm not too depressing
Follow me down beneath the flow
The obligatory status quo
They're so hard to resist, this I know
I want to enjoy the view
And I don't ignore well
I'm only trying to tell from the safe crowd
Who always seem to get in the way
I'm wishing it was still in my sight today
Follow me down beneath the flow
The obligatory status quo
They're so hard to resist, this I know
I want to enjoy the view
Not that it would matter to you
'Cause nothing seems to matter to you
Nothing seems to matter to you
Unless it is pertaining to you
Oooh oooh
Oooh oooh
So relish a great twist
The follower of obvious voices
Pushing through the ones that ...
I know that I have something to say
Yeah I do
Not that it would matter to you
Not that it would matter to you
Follow me down beneath the flow
The obligatory status quo
They're so hard to resist, this I know
I want to enjoy the view
I want to enjoy the view
I want to enjoy the view
The lyrics to Duotang's song "Follower Of Obvious Voices" are somewhat ambiguous but seem to convey a sense of frustration with the pressure to conform to societal expectations and follow the crowd, despite having individual thoughts and ideas. The singer is struggling to reconcile their own desires and beliefs with the pressure to conform, as they feel like they are being left behind by the rest of the group. However, they ultimately decide to trust their own instincts and take a different path, even if it means being isolated from the group. The lyrics seem to suggest that being true to oneself is more important than fitting in with the crowd.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't adore this
I don't like following the crowd
The following of obvious voices
Doing what others do, without thinking for myself
When everybody leads the way
When everyone else is doing it
Leaving me with nothing to say
Leaving me feeling powerless
But I do
But I still have my own thoughts and ideas
I can't control this
I can't help but speak out
My thoughts are falling out on the cold crowd
My ideas are being rejected
And everybody needs a rest
Everyone else is content with the status quo
I'm feeling like I'm not too depressing
I don't want to be seen as negative for speaking out
Follow me down beneath the flow
Come with me to a different way of thinking
The obligatory status quo
The expected way of doing things, even if it's not right
They're so hard to resist, this I know
It's difficult to go against the norm
I want to enjoy the view
I want to see and experience different perspectives
I don't ignore well
I can't overlook things easily
I'm only trying to tell from the safe crowd
I'm speaking from within my comfort zone
Who always seem to get in the way
The people who prevent progress and change
I'm wishing it was still in my sight today
I wish for a time when it was easier to see a different way forward
Not that it would matter to you
I know you won't care about what I have to say
'Cause nothing seems to matter to you
You only care about things that concern you directly
Unless it is pertaining to you
Unless it benefits you personally
So relish a great twist
Embrace a new and different way of thinking
Pushing through the ones that ...
Overcoming the resistance from those who cling to the old ways
I know that I have something to say
I have a unique perspective and ideas worth sharing
Follow me down beneath the flow
Join me in looking at things from a different angle
I want to enjoy the view
I want to appreciate and learn from different perspectives
Contributed by Olivia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Wally Salem
love the video & a great tune
Takuan Soho
Is it ironic that this track brings me back?