The band is best known thanks to the single Stars from the album You'd Prefer An Astronaut, appearing in the tops of several magazines and on various radio stations at the time.
The band was mostly inactive (except for sporadic performances) until reuniting in 2015 for a series of short tours. On June 23, 2020, the band announced and released Inlet by surprise via the internet, their first album of new material in over twenty-two years. On July 1, 2021, it was announced via Instagram that the band's longtime drummer Bryan St. Pere had passed away at the age of 52, prompting the band to cease activities once again.
There are others named Hum:
2) Hum is a Russian artist named Dmitry Chistov who creates emotional "dronescapes" with a prolific output and quite active in the Russian underground scene under various names such as Maw, Sphogha, etc. He is closely related to Exit in Grey as they have a similar musical style and occasionally work together on collaborative CDs.
3) Hum is a Thai pop-soul group originally from Chiangmai, who released an eponymous album (Hum) before splitting up.
4) Hum is a diverse Russian experimental electronic project by Valentin Lanskoy. His albums to date are: Home Music, Aera and Komsomol Scouts Space, the last one released on CD by USC label.
The Scientists
Hum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Smiling now as only she can be.
She said I made some new connections to astound them all
In ways we've never dreamed about
Her lovely hand is glowing from the light inside itself
From soaking in the esters stacked for miles on a single shelf
Holding my eyes still so she can see
It's too much
You're too late
I want to see it all again
She says eep this benzene ring around your finger
And think of me when everything you wanted starts to end
And I saw living clusters form in pools beneath her feet
Invertebrates that only she can see
And I said what on earth are all these ampuls for
She says exactly, we're not gunna wait around here anymore
Systems back down slow, watch the dust cloud resend
And I will keep you. I will keep you till the end
Set your head down low, watch my ears ring
I will take care of you. I will take care of everything
Systems back down slow, watch the dust cloud resend
And I will keep you. I will keep you till the end
Set your head down low, watch my ears ring
I will take care of you. I will take care of everything
It's too much
You're too late
I piloted my distance to the ground
And I think I see myself again through a pinhole
But the pinhole captures all of you
And the pinhole captures all of you
It's too much
You're too late
The lyrics of Hum's "The Scientists" are a psychedelic and surreal depiction of a woman who seems to possess some sort of otherworldly power. The first stanza describes her as "Electrified and lit up by an outline of herself" and "smiling now as only she can be". This suggests a sort of inner radiance that is unique to her. She claims to have made "new connections to astound them all", indicating that she has access to some knowledge or insight that is beyond the ordinary.
In the second stanza, the woman's hand is described as "glowing from the light inside itself" which comes from "soaking in the esters stacked for miles on a single shelf". This suggests that she has been exposed to some sort of chemical or substance that has imbued her with a kind of luminous energy. She holds the singer's gaze to make sure that "all the superundercover custom hybrids got to me". The meaning of this line isn't entirely clear, but it could suggest that she has infused him with some of her power or insight.
The final stanza is a series of cryptic phrases that paint a picture of the woman and her abilities. She is able to see "living clusters form in pools beneath her feet" and "invertebrates that only she can see". She tells the singer that they're not going to wait around anymore and that they need to leave. The song ends with the singer saying that he is "piloting his distance to the ground" and seeing himself "through a pinhole". It's not clear what this final verse means, but it could suggest a kind of detachment or disorientation.
Line by Line Meaning
Electrified and lit up by an outline of herself
She feels energized and radiant because of her own achievements and accomplishments.
Smiling now as only she can be.
She is pleased with herself and her successes and is beaming with joy.
She said I made some new connections to astound them all
She proudly proclaims her ability to make impactful and impressive connections with people.
In ways we've never dreamed about
The connections she's made are unique and innovative - beyond what anyone could have imagined.
Her lovely hand is glowing from the light inside itself
Her hand emits a radiant aura, symbolizing the passion and dedication she has within herself.
From soaking in the esters stacked for miles on a single shelf
She has studied hard and for a long time, gaining knowledge from multiple sources.
Holding my eyes still so she can see
She fixes her gaze upon someone to get their full attention and engage them.
If all the superundercover custom hybrids got to me
She questions herself if she's able to handle the intense competition and challenging obstacles that come her way.
It's too much
The pressure and stress has become overwhelming.
You're too late
It's too late to solve a problem or fix a mistake.
I want to see it all again
She wants to relive an experience because it was so significant and meaningful.
She says eep this benzene ring around your finger
She gives someone a reminder to think of her and the connection they have with a meaningful gift.
And think of me when everything you wanted starts to end
She wants someone to remember the bond and the positive impact she's had in their life during difficult times.
And I saw living clusters form in pools beneath her feet
She has the ability to create and shape things in her environment.
Invertebrates that only she can see
There are things in her environment only she can see or understand.
And I said what on earth are all these ampuls for
She is curious about something in her environment and wants to know more about it.
She says exactly, we're not gunna wait around here anymore
She believes in taking action and not wasting time.
Systems back down slow, watch the dust cloud resend
Things may move backward temporarily, but progress will eventually be made.
And I will keep you. I will keep you till the end
She promises to stay with someone and support them through thick and thin.
Set your head down low, watch my ears ring
She wants someone to relax and let her deal with any problems that arise.
I will take care of you. I will take care of everything
She wants to reassure someone that she'll provide comfort and support whenever needed.
It's too much
The problem or issue is overwhelming and seemingly impossible to solve.
You're too late
It's too late to fix a problem or a mistake.
I piloted my distance to the ground
She took a controlled, calculated approach to solving a problem or issue.
And I think I see myself again through a pinhole
She is recognizing and reflecting on her own behavior and reactions to certain situations.
But the pinhole captures all of you
Although she is focusing inwardly, she still has the ability to recognize and empathize with others.
It's too much
The pressure, stress, or challenges are overwhelming.
You're too late
It's too late to fix a problem or a mistake.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRYAN ST. PERE, JEFFERY DIMPSEY, MATT TALBOTT, TIM LASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind