Floater's regional success was noticed by Elemental Records, who put out their first full-length record, "Sink" in 1994. That same year Floater began a string of sold out shows at the Community Center for the Performing Arts (The WOW Hall) that is still unbroken to this day.
In 1995 Floater released "Glyph" and toured the country for the next two years supporting the record. The single, "Danny Boy" received heavy college and commercial radio play, in many cities outselling major label releases. Floater received nominations to the preliminary level of the Grammy's from NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) in 1995 under Best Rock Performance for "Sink" and in 1996 under Best Alternative Performance for "Glyph." (Prelims are determined by nominations from the NARAS members).
In 1998, following their move to Portland, Oregon (where the band currently resides), Floater released their third full-length record, "Angels in the Flesh and Devils in the Bone." The second concept album by the band ("Sink" was the first), "Angel's" brought a new vibe to Floater. It wasn't long before widespread audiences came to embrace what has now become the band's trademark - their versatility.
September of 2000 brought the release of Floater's fourth full- length record, "Burning Sosobra"; a musical collection that explores the band's broad range of song writing. Following its release, the band began to perform live acoustically. Both the band and the fans enjoyed this new avenue of performance that allowed the "quieter" side of Floater to emerge and be explored. Of late, the band has begun playing shows where acoustic Floater opens for electric Floater - giving a sort of Jekyll and Hyde feel to their performances.
In 2002 Floater released their most critically acclaimed record to date, "Alter." Combining the bands strongest musical elements, "Alter" moves fluidly from heavy riffs to lullabies and tells flowing stories of fear, love and above all change.
August of 2004 - The release of the band's acoustic record, "Acoustics." Fans of Floater's electric shows responded with enthusiasm to the band's occasional acoustic performance - with their record label's encouragement, the band put together a uniquely recorded album - one that mimics the sound of their actual performances. Recorded in a studio built in the ballroom of their producers house, the record was made without digital editing and has a fresh, live feeling.
Floater is also the name of a late nineties indiepop band from Sheffield, UK. They briefly rename themselves Floater UK before later reforming as Dangerlust.
The Knowing Dirge
Floater Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You dig a hole down in the sand.
Where you know you left it all,
The things that make you understand.
And guide your hand.
Then you turn with wattering eye,
To the sky in your surprise.
And the sand is your blood and the hole is so big
You know why.
With your watering eye,
You've got a hole inside,
Such a wretched life,
Don't look so surprised.
You know why.
You did this to yourself again.
Gunning for a bluer sky.
Swallowed the dose,
Cut your own rope,
Just to know it all.
Do you know it all?
Took down the dose,
Cut your rope,
Wanted to show yourself everything.
You ran through the wires,
Tasted the fires.
You can't feel anything at all.
Shocked by the voice again.
In The Knowing Dirge by Floater, the singer is describing a situation where someone is digging a hole in the sand and looking at the sky with watering eyes. The person seems surprised by the hole they have dug and is shaking, praying, and begging. The hole inside them is causing them to lead a wretched life. The singer states that this person did this to themselves again and wanted to know everything, so they cut their own rope, swallowed the dose, and ran through the wires. But in the end, they can't feel anything at all and are shocked by the voice again.
The lyrics seem to be describing a person who is introspective and perhaps struggling with addiction or mental health issues. The hole they dig represents the void they feel inside themselves, and they are searching for ways to fill that void. They are willing to take risks such as cutting their own rope and swallowing a dose to experience new things, but in the end, nothing seems to work for them. They are stuck in a cycle of self-destructive behavior and cannot escape from it.
Line by Line Meaning
In the shadow of what's real
Living in the shadow of reality.
You dig a hole down in the sand.
Avoiding reality by burying oneself in distractions.
Where you know you left it all,
Where one has forgotten reality and instead focused on material possessions and superficial things.
The things that make you understand.
The things that one believes guides them, but in reality just distracts from truth.
And guide your hand.
These distractions are what one now relies on to make decisions.
Then you turn with watering eye,
Eventually, one realizes their mistake and sheds tears over their lost grip on reality.
To the sky in your surprise.
Looking to a higher power for answers, shocked at how far they have strayed from truth.
And the sand is your blood and the hole is so big
The distractions have become life and the hole is the emptiness left when they are removed.
And you shake and you pray and you beg.
Attempting to hold onto distractions and wishing for a way out, a way to return to reality.
You know why.
One knows they are responsible for their own situation, their own choice to embrace distractions.
With your watering eye,
Continuing to cry and be emotional.
You've got a hole inside,
The emptiness that remains when distractions are removed.
Such a wretched life,
The life that results from avoiding reality is miserable.
Don't look so surprised.
One should not be surprised at the results of their choices.
You know why.
Again, one knows they are responsible for their own situation.
You did this to yourself again.
Acknowledging that this is not the first time one has strayed from reality and embraced distractions.
Gunning for a bluer sky.
Chasing the impossible dream of a better, happier life through distractions.
Swallowed the dose,
Embraced distractions fully.
Cut your own rope,
Took away their own lifeline, the ability to return to reality.
Just to know it all.
Chose distractions over reality in an attempt to feel in control.
Do you know it all?
Reflecting on the choice to embrace distractions and the emptiness it brings.
Took down the dose,
Continuing to embrace distractions.
Cut your rope,
Continuing to cut away the possibility of returning to reality.
Wanted to show yourself everything.
Believed that distractions could provide all the answers to life's questions.
You ran through the wires,
Continually escaping reality in a frenzy.
Tasted the fires.
Experienced the consequences of their choices.
You can't feel anything at all.
While embracing distractions may seem easier, it ultimately makes one numb.
Shocked by the voice again.
The realization that they have strayed so far from reality shocks them once again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Farmer
on Endless II
I dont know the exact meaning but I hope someone would post what they know.