Glis, named after glissando, is a futurepop / ebm band from Seattle. The ba… Read Full Bio ↴Glis, named after glissando, is a futurepop / ebm band from Seattle. The band was started in 2001 by Andrea Ashdown and Shaun Frandsen. They released their debut album, Extract, in 2002, and were signed to Alfa Matrix records. In September of 2003, after Glis' second release, Andrea left to form her own musical project, Audiodoll. Shaun continued as the sole member of Glis, collaborating with such industrial music luminaries as Delobbo, Haujobb, Lights of Euphoria and NamNamBulu for his projects. He also wrote and performed most of the music for Ayria's 2003 debut album Debris.

In 2005, Glis was joined by Jean-Luc De Meyer of Front 242 as vocalist for the new album Nemesis.

No Pulse
Glis Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You've been away
How does it feel?
You hide inside a space
When nothing's real

You lost your turn
We moved ahead
The only voice of comfort's

Inside your head

You tried to get away
Away from me

No pulse
You're lying on your back
Just can't get ahead because
You're running off the track

No pulse
You're lying in your bed
Just shooting at the targets
So you better play dead

You always get what you want
You never get what you need

No pulse
You're lying on your back
Just can't get ahead because
You're running off the track

No pulse
You're lying in your bed

Just shooting at the targets
So you better play dead

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Glis's "No Pulse" evoke a sense of detachment and isolation. The singer addresses someone who has been away, asking how they feel. The person has retreated into themselves, taking refuge in a space that feels unreal. The song seems to be about someone who is struggling to disconnect from reality, possibly due to depression or other mental health issues. The singer tells the person that they have lost their turn, suggesting that they have fallen behind in some way, or that they have been left behind by others who have moved on with their lives.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "no pulse," which could be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be taken literally, as a reference to the absence of a heartbeat. However, it could also be a metaphorical reference to the person's lack of emotional or creative vitality. The second half of the chorus seems to reinforce this idea, with the imagery of lying in bed and shooting at targets. This suggests a sense of aimlessness and lack of purpose.

The final lines of the song are particularly poignant, with the singer telling the person that they always get what they want, but never what they need. This could be seen as a criticism of the person's life choices, or it could be a more compassionate observation about their struggle to find fulfillment. Overall, "No Pulse" is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant song that explores themes of disconnection and disillusionment.

Line by Line Meaning

You've been away
You have been absent from my life for some time.

How does it feel?
I am curious about your emotional state after being away.

You hide inside a space
You retreat into isolation when things become overwhelming.

When nothing's real
You struggle to feel present and connected to reality.

You lost your turn
You missed an opportunity to move forward.

We moved ahead
I have progressed forward without you.

The only voice of comfort's
Your internal thoughts provide the only solace you have.

Inside your head
This voice of comfort exists only in your mind.

You tried to get away
You attempted to escape from me and your problems.

Away from me
Your desire was to remove yourself from the situation and relationship we share.

No pulse
You are emotionally dead or unresponsive.