Indovina and Human Drama began their career in New Orleans in the early 80s as The Models, releasing two singles along with compilation appearances. A mid-'80s move to Los Angeles and the discovery of an already existing Australian band also named The Models set the stage for Indovina and company to begin their new incarnation.
The newly renamed Human Drama became a member of the "Scream scene" of the mid-'80s, which sprang up around the short-lived Los Angeles underground goth/metal club that brought Guns N' Roses and Jane's Addiction to the world. Human Drama contributed a song, "Wave of Darkness", to the 1987 Scream Compilation LP, which led to a major label deal with RCA.
1989 saw the release of the debut Hopes Prayers Dreams Heart Soul Mind Love Life Death EP and the full length Feel LP. Both releases featured a electric guitar-oriented approach. Indovina felt that RCA wasn't properly promoting the band, and the band and label parted ways.
Moving to the independent Triple X label, the next Human Drama release was 1992's The World Inside. Stylistically different from the first two releases, Indovina moved Human Drama into a quieter, more strings-based sound. This album is widely regarded as Indovina and Human Drama's most important work. The LP earned the band critical raves and a near fanatical following, especially in Mexico. A solo performance of various cover songs by Indovina at the album's release party predicted the next Human Drama album. Released in 1993, PinUps was an open tribute to David Bowie's album of the same name, a collection of remakes of various sources of inspiration.
A move to New York city accompanied a temporary co-release stint on the Projekt label, resulting in two additional mid-decade releases, 1994's Human Drama EP and 1995's Songs of Betrayal, which was later re-released as two separate discs with additional tracks.
The next Human Drama release would be a live album. 1997's Fourteen Thousand Three Hundred Eighty Four Days Later, featuring many of the early Feel-era songs, along with some new cover song choices.
1999 brought Solemn Sun Setting, which saw a merging of the two "different" Human Drama styles, before the following year's career overview, Best of Human Drama...In a Perfect World.
The final Human Drama album, 2002's Cause and Effect, continuing themes from Solemn Sun Setting, was an unexpected goodbye from Indovina and company, for both the band and their fans.
In 2004, Human Drama recorded their final track, the Beatles "Let It Be", which was given to fans who attended the band's farewell performance in Los Angeles. When asked why he chose "Let It Be" as their final recording Indovina answered, "I strived my entire career to write a song as good as that, but since I couldn't, I decided to record it as a salute to, what is in my opinion, the best song ever written".
Indovina has since moved on with his next project, Sound of the Blue Heart.
I Am Not Here
Human Drama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When glory laid in our arms
Simple pleasures, now, they're not so simple
Once it was just enough to be near
CHORUS
From my eyes, look away, look away (I can't see)
From my hands, turn away, turn away (they can't feel)
Look away, I am not here
You stand torn, my greatest treasure
Looking for another chance to sleep
I promise I will be here when you wake up
Tell me, what can you promise me?
CHORUS
You say it's me that you love completely
As you lie in your lover's arms
I can see your bruises, oh, so clearly
Can you see what it's done to me?
From my eyes, look away, look away (I can't see)
From my hands, turn away, turn away (they can't feel)
From my heart, look away, look away (I am not here)
From my eyes, look away, look away (I can't see)
From my hands, turn away, turn away (they can't feel)
From my heart, look away, look away
Look away, I am not here
I am not here
I am not here
The song "I Am Not Here" by Human Drama is a hauntingly beautiful track that explores the themes of broken trust, loss, and emotional unavailability. The lyrics draw a parallel to a time when life was simpler and love was easier. The singer longs for the days when "glory laid in our arms" and "simple pleasures" were enough. The chorus emphasizes the theme of emotional detachment, where the singer begs the listener to "look away" because they are not fully present. They can't see, feel or are not there in the moment.
The second verse introduces a character that feels torn and is searching for a new day. The singer makes a promise to be there when the person wakes up but asks for something in return. The chorus repeats itself with the added context of the singer being hurt by the listener's bruises. The repetition of the chorus gives the impression that the singer's detachment is due to betrayal and pain.
Overall, the lyrics are open to interpretation, but they convey a deep sense of emotional disconnection between the singer and the listener. The repeated phrase, "I am not here," emphasizes the idea that the singer is physically present but not emotionally available. It's a sad, melancholic song that captures the feeling of being trapped in emotional limbo.
Line by Line Meaning
I draw a parallel from days gone by
I see similarities between the past and present
When glory laid in our arms
When we were happy and successful
Simple pleasures, now, they're not so simple
Things that used to make us happy are not enough anymore
Once it was just enough to be near
Being close to someone was all we needed for happiness
From my eyes, look away, look away (I can't see)
I can't bear to see what's happening
From my hands, turn away, turn away (they can't feel)
I am numb and unable to feel anything
From my heart, look away, look away
I am emotionally unavailable
Look away, I am not here
I am physically present but emotionally absent
You stand torn, my greatest treasure
You are conflicted and I value you greatly
Looking for another chance to sleep
You want to escape your problems
I promise I will be here when you wake up
I will support you and be there for you
Tell me, what can you promise me?
What can you offer me in return for my support?
You say it's me that you love completely
You claim to love me wholeheartedly
As you lie in your lover's arms
You are with someone else
I can see your bruises, oh, so clearly
I can see the pain and hurt you are going through
Can you see what it's done to me?
Do you understand how your actions have affected me?
Look away, I am not here
I am not present in this situation
I am not here
I am emotionally disconnected
Contributed by Landon R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.