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.
Imitation of...
Human Drama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Selling what you are
Remember all the lies?
Do you baby?
Words ran wild, deception deep
From what do you run
To lay with me now baby?
Come on girl look me in the eye
You say you want to live but
Then you say you want to die
Daddy′s girl says, "I'm a beautiful thing"
How can you not notice?
How can you not want me?
I am love you cannot disagree
I′m am what you need
You can't live without me baby
'Cause you love me
She′s an imitation of
What she longs to be
Standing naked
Fully clothed
Pretending not to see
Come on girl look me in the eye
You say you want to live but
Then you say you want to die
Somewhere lies the guilt of your ways
It′ll track you down
You can't disappear
Here it comes!
She′s an imitation of...
Hey Juliet there's been a lot of Romeo′s
They lie still in the closet
As you beckon in the night once again
Little suicide queen let me introduce the knife
To your trembling hands
It is all so clear
You're an imitation of...
The lyrics of Human Drama's "Imitation of..." explore the themes of dishonesty, self-deception, and the longing for acceptance. The song poses the question of how many times a person can look someone else in the eye and sell themselves as something they are not. The words highlight the prevalence of lies and deception in human communication and relationships. The lyrics suggest that the person being addressed in the song has been dishonest in the past and is currently laying with the singer despite this dishonesty.
The song further delves into the concept of imitating or pretending to be something one is not. The song asserts that one cannot ignore their true self or escape guilt for their actions. The lyrics suggest that the person being addressed in the song is an imitation of what she longs to be, standing naked while pretending not to see. The lyrics urge the person to face the truth and confront the guilt of their actions.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a person who is struggling with their own identity and is consistently confronting the consequences of their choices. The song highlights the human tendency to deceive ourselves and others, and the importance of facing the truth in order to truly live.
Line by Line Meaning
How many times can you look me in the eyes
Asking how many times the person can lie and deceive them without feeling guilty.
Selling what you are
Showing only the facade of who they are instead of the reality.
Remember all the lies?
Asking if they remember all the deceitful things they have done and said.
Do you baby?
Ironically calling them 'baby' while questioning their actions and motives.
Words ran wild, deception deep
Describing how their lies were imaginative and how they manipulated people to believe them.
From what do you run
Questioning what the liar is trying to escape from.
To lay with me now baby?
Asking why they still come back to be with them despite all the lies and deceit, while still calling them 'baby'.
Come on girl look me in the eye
Challenging the liar to face the truth and be honest.
You say you want to live but
Pointing out the irony in their words and claiming they are not living truthfully and happily.
Then you say you want to die
Highlighting their inner turmoil and struggles with life.
Daddy′s girl says, "I'm a beautiful thing"
Quoting how the liar may have been raised and how they view themselves.
How can you not notice?
Asking how people cannot see how fake the liar is.
How can you not want me?
Questioning why people do not see the liar's true face and still want to be with them.
I am love you cannot disagree
Declaring that they are what people need and that they cannot deny it.
I′m what you need
Reinforcing that they are significant to the other person's life.
You can't live without me baby
Claiming that they have become such a crucial part of the other person's life that they cannot function without them.
'Cause you love me
Assuming that the other person loves them despite all of their lies and concealment.
She′s an imitation of
Describing how the liar is pretending to be someone else instead of who they genuinely are.
What she longs to be
Stating that they wish to be someone else but do not have the courage to actualize that dream.
Standing naked
Exposing their true nature after being so concealed and pretending to be someone else.
Fully clothed
Metaphorically hiding their true self with clothes and disguise to show others what they want them to see.
Pretending not to see
Turning a blind eye to reality and what is going on around them.
Somewhere lies the guilt of your ways
Implying that the liar knows that they are doing wrong and that they will face the consequences eventually.
It′ll track you down
Stating that their bad deeds will catch up to them.
You can't disappear
Saying that whatever mistakes they made in their past will still follow them, they can't escape from their mistakes to avoid punishment.
Here it comes!
Emphasizing that the consequences of their actions are imminent and that they should be prepared to face them.
Hey Juliet there's been a lot of Romeo′s
Comparing the liar to the famous tragedy Romeo's lover, Juliet, while insinuating that they have been around and with many lovers.
They lie still in the closet
Saying that these past lovers are long gone and hidden, never to be discovered.
As you beckon in the night once again
Describing how they call for new lovers at night and how they have done this repeatedly and consistently like a routine.
Little suicide queen let me introduce the knife
Using mental imagery to describe the liar's lack of emotional stability and how they may have suicidal tendencies. Offering a knife as a way to inflict self-harm or suicide.
To your trembling hands
Describing the fragility of the person and how easy it is to break and damage them emotionally.
It is all so clear
Ironically stating that everything is now clear and out in the open, despite the lies and deceit that the individual has been perpetuating this entire time.
You're an imitation of...
Repeating the chorus line again to emphasize how the artist feels about the person the song is directed towards, putting a stronger emphasis on the liar being a pretender.
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.