John Watts recorded and performed as 'John Watts' during 1981-83 before forming The Cry in 1984. Watts later continued with a new incarnation of Fischer-Z in 1987, with him being the only original member. Albums were released with a similar line-up until 1995 when John Watts returned to being 'J M Watts', 'Watts' and John Watts. In 2002 the moniker was revived once more for the album "Ether". There was a 2004 reunion of the original band for one short show which featured on the Garden Party DVD which was released along with the Fischer-Z Highlights 1979-2004 25th anniversary compilation album.
After this John continued performing and recording solo with the most recent album being 2005's 'Real Life Is Good Enough', "It Has To Be" (2006) and "Morethanmusic & Films" (2009).
In august 2010 John Watts had a couple of shows in the Netherlands with his current band (Sam Walker on drums and Matthew Gest on keyboard) playing good old Fischer-Z repertoire. He presented this band as "the new Fischer-Z". Though John Watts focuses on his solo efforts more than on Fischer-Z (no new releases under that name) lately he revives the band when concert tent to be focused on that period of his live.
Lies
Fischer-Z Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you're a doctor of minds,
Don't stick that syringe in my arm,
"It's just medication to help you
Calm down, it really won't do any harm".
Lies, lies, lies, lies.
Why must you confine me in here,
"It's our obligation to help you get well,
And leave here a normal young man".
Lies, lies, lies, lies.
You must be crazy, you must be crazy,
You must be crazy, you must be
If you think that I'm crazy you should
See all the fools back at home,
"I think that it's time he went back to
His ward and make sure he's not left alone".
Lies, lies, lies, lies.
You say you're a doctor of minds,
Don't stick that syringe in my arm,
"It's just medication to help you
Calm down, it really won't do any harm".
Lies, lies, lies, lies.
You must be crazy, you must be crazy,
You must be crazy, you must be
The lyrics to Fischer-Z's song "Lies" are a powerful statement against the medical establishment and the way it can abuse its power. The singer of the song is someone who is being held against their will in a psychiatric institution and is being given medication against their will. The opening lines of the song, "Lies, lies, lies, lies, you say you're a doctor of minds, don't stick that syringe in my arm," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is refusing the treatment that is being forced upon them by the doctors and is instead calling out what they believe to be the lies they are being told.
The second verse of the song highlights the feeling of being trapped and powerless that the singer is experiencing. They feel that they are being confined in the institution, and that they will forget who they are if they stay there any longer. The doctors are presented as presenting themselves as doing good by saying that they are helping the singer "get well" and become a "normal young man." However, the singer sees this as just another lie, another way of manipulating them into accepting the treatment that is being forced upon them.
The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, with the singer declaring that the doctors and the system are the ones who are crazy, and that they themselves are not. The final stanza repeats the first, driving home the message that the singer will not accept the lies that they are being told.
Overall, "Lies" is a powerful commentary on the abuse of power within the medical establishment and raises important questions about the ethics of psychiatric treatment.
Line by Line Meaning
Lies, lies, lies, lies,
Repeatedly calling out the falsehoods that are being told
You say you're a doctor of minds,
Questioning the validity of the singer's profession and expertise
Don't stick that syringe in my arm,
Expressing fear and distrust of the medical procedures being forced upon them
"It's just medication to help you
Calm down, it really won't do any harm".
Revealing the manipulative and dismissive nature of those trying to force the medical treatment
Why must you confine me in here,
Questioning the need for the artist's forced isolation
I think I'll forget who I am,
Expressing fear and concern about the impact of isolation and forced treatment on their identity
"It's our obligation to help you get well,
And leave here a normal young man".
Repeating a scripted response that prioritizes conformity over the singer's actual wellbeing
You must be crazy, you must be crazy,
You must be crazy, you must be
Reflecting on the absurdity of the situation and the way that the artist's concerns are being dismissed as irrational or delusional
If you think that I'm crazy you should
See all the fools back at home,
Highlighting the hypocrisy of those forcing the artist into treatment, who are themselves acting recklessly or destructively
"I think that it's time he went back to
His ward and make sure he's not left alone".
Revealing the true intent of those forcing the artist into treatment--not to help them recover, but to keep them under control
Lies, lies, lies, lies.
Reiterating the central theme of this song: that the truth is being obscured by deceit and manipulation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MALCOLM WATTS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gum Nut
In 1980 when I was just getting interested in transitioning from hippie music to new wave, a friend introduced me to two albums, one by a band called Fischer-Z called "Word Salad", and another by a band called The Cure, "17 Seconds". Oh well.. Two great bands.
coldwar1977
Your friend was cool!
coldwar1977
my favourite track on Word Salad
maddog202034
Thanks for the memories...
Frank Waldegg
underestimated song ... thanks for that
Rob Korst
I'ts all lies !!!!
maddog202034
Yeah....ALL of it!
Saint Chism
no its not disabled anymore !! :)
shashicat
audio disabled here too