Their debut album, "Embrace the Eternal", showed a change in style as Embodyment added elements of metalcore to their death metal sound (Embrace the Eternal is one of the earliest deathcore records). "Embrace the Eternal" featured re-makes of the songs "Golgotha" and "Religious Infamy", which were originally from their demos, as well as guest vocals by Bruce Fitzhugh, vocalist for seminal Christian metal band Living Sacrifice.
After the departure of Kris McCaddon on vocals, Embodyment welcomed Sean Corbray as vocalist and recorded "''The Narrow Scope of Things''", released in 2000. This album was the band's first step away from any of the heavier metal subgenres. Instead, their sound on the album was adjusted to alternative metal with hard rock influences and was the first album to feature actual singing and some screamed vocal parts rather than any form of death vocals.
Embodyment next released Hold Your Breath in 2001, an album which saw the removal of all screamed vocals and yet more slight shift away from the remaining metal influence there had been on "The Narrow Scope of Things". Their last album, "''Songs for the Living''", released under [[XS Records]] in 2002, completed the band's transition to alternative/indie rock and was originally made as an industry demo meant to get the band signed to a major label.
Embodyment later disbanded in early 2004 to the disappointment of loyal fans.
Andrew Godwin, Mark Garza and Kris McCaddon have finally resurfaced with a new band, [http://www.the-famine.com The Famine]
Carnival Chair
Embodyment Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Laughter ringing in my head God make them see
I am not weak (if our spirits were meant to walk)
I am weak (which one of you would take this chair)
You wouldn't
Why do you keep staring at me?
Your judgement is hurting
Whispering your condemnation
Tearing me down must build you up
I don't think so, I don't think so
I will walk again hand in hand with my Father
Look at me look at me through these eyes
I can see I can see you staring at me
With a heart not willing to understand
Carousel is me beneath your feet frowned upon
I am the show I am the game so come and play
With my emotions guilt ridden conscience
Receive your prize guilt ridden conscience
Quiet stay quiet
Carousel is me beneath your feet frowned upon
I am the show I am the game so come and play
With my emotions guilt ridden conscience
Receive your prize guilt ridden conscience
The song Carnival Chair by Embodyment is an empowering song about overcoming the judgment and ridicule of others who see individuals with deformities as weak. The opening line "prey your eyes from the deformity God make them see" speaks to the notion of how society often looks at individuals with deformities or disabilities as something to be pitied, rather than valued. The laughter ringing in the singer's head suggests that people's judgement can be cruel and hurtful, even if it is not intentional.
The singer then affirms their own strength and resilience, saying "I am not weak", but then questions the honesty of this statement with the line "I am weak". This line is in reference to the physical limitations placed upon the singer as someone who uses a wheelchair. The question that follows, "which one of you would take this chair" challenges the audience to consider their own strength and resilience if they were faced with the same obstacles.
The singer then implores the listeners to accept them in their current form, stating that "God made me". The condemnation and judgment of others becomes apparent with the lyrics "tearing me down must build you up", suggesting that the ridicule of those who are different stems from their own insecurity. But ultimately the singer remains confident in their own worth, stating that "I will walk again hand in hand with my Father". The carnival imagery throughout the song references the ways in which individuals with differences are often put on display, but the singer ultimately reclaims their own power and agency despite this.
Line by Line Meaning
Prey your eyes from the deformity God make them see
Stop judging me based on my physical appearance, as it is not my fault that I was born this way.
Laughter ringing in my head God make them see
Even though people are constantly ridiculing me, I still have faith in God and believe that he sees me in a different light.
I am not weak (if our spirits were meant to walk)
I am strong in spirit and refuse to let others bring me down.
I am weak (which one of you would take this chair)
Physically, I am weak and cannot walk, yet none of you seem willing to trade places with me.
You wouldn't
I know that none of you would want to be in my position.
Why do you keep staring at me?
Your constant staring and judging of me is hurtful and unfair.
Your judgement is hurting
Your judgemental attitude towards me is causing me emotional pain.
Whispering your condemnation
Even though you may not say it out loud, your negative opinions of me are still apparent.
Accept me God made me
I believe that God made me exactly as I am, and I should be accepted for who I am.
Tearing me down must build you up
Trying to bring me down and make me feel lesser must somehow make you feel superior.
I don't think so, I don't think so
I refuse to believe that your negative opinions of me are valid.
I will walk again hand in hand with my Father
I have faith that one day, I will be able to walk again and that God will be by my side.
Look at me look at me through these eyes
Instead of judging me based on my outward appearance or disability, look at me through my eyes and try to understand me.
I can see I can see you staring at me
I am aware that you are constantly staring at me and judging me.
With a heart not willing to understand
I know that you are judging me without even trying to understand what I am going through.
Carousel is me beneath your feet frowned upon
I am constantly belittled and looked down upon by others.
I am the show I am the game so come and play
I refuse to be seen as a victim and instead want to take control of my own life.
With my emotions guilt ridden conscience
I often feel guilty or ashamed due to the way others treat me.
Receive your prize guilt ridden conscience
Those who judge me should not feel proud of themselves, as they are only adding to my emotional pain.
Quiet stay quiet
I am tired of constantly being judged and attacked, so please just stay quiet.
Carousel is me beneath your feet frowned upon
I feel like I am constantly being trampled on and disrespected by others.
I am the show I am the game so come and play
I refuse to be a victim and instead want to be in control of my own life.
With my emotions guilt ridden conscience
The way others treat me often makes me feel guilty or ashamed.
Receive your prize guilt ridden conscience
Those who judge and mistreat me should not be able to feel proud or superior because of it.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind