Flesh Field was an electronic/industrial band formed in 1996 by Ian Ross in… Read Full Bio ↴Flesh Field was an electronic/industrial band formed in 1996 by Ian Ross in Columbus, Ohio. Rian Miller joined the band in 1997 to contribute female vocals and together they released 2 albums, "Viral Extinction"(1999) and "Belief Control"(2001). Rian has left the band late 2003 and has since been replaced by another female vocalist, Wendy Yanko and the 3rd album "Strain" came out. The name Flesh Field is an unofficial term Ian Ross came up with to describe the psychological defense mechanisms of rape survivors. A new album "Tyranny of the Majority" was scheduled for release in 2011 but has been cancelled as Ian has terminated the Flesh Field project. Instrumental demos are available for free on their website.

Seethe
Flesh Field Lyrics

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You thought you had it all
Until you found all you'd lost.
You thought you knew it all.
Then you learned something new.

You once stood tall.
You once stood proud.
Look at you now;

Just another face in the crowd.

I didn't ruin you.
Your own arrogance was your downfall.
I'll shed no tears for you.
I'm glad to see you crawl.

I knew what you would say about me,
So I grew a thick skin you couldn't see right through.
Yours aren't words to extol,
So fuck you.
I'm not yours to control.

When you have to face me, you're never as bold.

Now you berate me.
Now I can be controlled.

Overall Meaning

Flesh Field's "Seethe" is a song that speaks about the journey of self-discovery and healing from the pain inflicted by others. The lyrics suggest a person who believed they had everything until they lost it and learned something new. The first verse dives into the realization of not knowing everything, a moment of clarity and an understanding that we are always learning. It also points out how easily one can go from standing tall and proud to a face in the crowd.

The second verse shows how the person speaking the lyrics is not responsible for the other's downfall, they were arrogant and ruined themselves. The persona is almost content with the person's current state, glad to see them crawl. The chorus speaks of how the persona knew what the other would say about them, and they grew a thick skin to shield themselves from the words of another who wishes to control them. The lyrics say, "I'm not yours to control" meaning the persona is their person, and no one can control them.

The final verse speaks to the other person's cowardice, saying that when they're face to face, they aren't as bold. The person berates the persona who is now controllable but is still loyal to who they are. The lyrics are raw, honest, and powerful, and they speak to those who have experienced the pain of others' words and actions.

Line by Line Meaning

You thought you had it all
You believed everything was perfect

Until you found all you'd lost.
Until you realized you had lost many things

You thought you knew it all.
You believed you knew all possible information

Then you learned something new.
Then you discovered there was more to learn

You once stood tall.
You used to have pride in yourself

You once stood proud.
You used to have confidence in your abilities

Look at you now;
Observe your present circumstances

Just another face in the crowd.
You blend in with everyone else

I didn't ruin you.
I am not responsible for your current state

Your own arrogance was your downfall.
It was your own conceit that caused your failure

I'll shed no tears for you.
I will not feel sad for you