Human Drama was, in many ways, the personal vehicle for singer/songwriter J… Read Full Bio ↴Human Drama was, in many ways, the personal vehicle for singer/songwriter Johnny Indovina, who guided the band through a variety of lineup changes and stylistic experiments. During their lifespan, Human Drama released a series of recordings built around Indovina's passionate singing and dramatic melodies.

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.

This Tangled Web
Human Drama Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

For caring is a breeze that blows by
And returns only when, only when it wants to
So cry, cry little angel forever because

You can't wrap your arms around the wind
Within lie the reasons for
This tangled web we weave

For love at once my shield and terror
Destination and cause for living today
And wanting to die tomorrow
Why is my whole life spent chasing my demise

You can't wrap your arms around the wind
Within lie the reasons for
This tangled web we weave

In my face you see the torture lines from days gone by
But I was never touched these scars have risen from within me.

For memory take a knife it's quicker
Plunge it deep into my soul
Go ahead make me a weaker man
And cry, cry little angel because

You can't wrap your arms around the wind

Within lie the reasons for
This tangled web we weave

Overall Meaning

"This Tangled Web" by Human Drama is a song that delves into the complex emotions of love, life, and loss. The lyrics talk about the constant struggle and turmoil that a person goes through in his journey of life, wanting to love and be loved, yet being afraid to do so. The first stanza of the lyrics talks about the fleeting nature of love, how caring is like a breeze that comes and goes as and when it pleases. The emotions expressed here are that of helplessness, as if the person is dependent on love and cannot control it. The repeated phrase, "You can't wrap your arms around the wind", is telling of the fact that love is an elusive entity that cannot be captured or controlled like the wind.

The second stanza deals more with the emotional conflict that the person feels. Love is described as both a shield and a terror, a cause of living today and wanting to die tomorrow. The lyrics depict the struggle of the person as he tries to come to terms with the fact that love can be both good and bad for him. The phrase "chasing my demise" could mean that the person is chasing a love that he knows is not good for him but is unable to let go. The imagery of torture lines on the face, and scars rising from within is a powerful metaphor for the internal struggle that the person goes through.

The final stanza speaks of memories and the pain they bring. The metaphor of a knife plunging into the soul is a strong one, suggesting that memories can be sharp and painful. The line "Go ahead make me a weaker man" is an acknowledgment that facing the past can make a person vulnerable, but also stronger. The song ends on a somber note, with the reminder that we are all caught in a tangled web of our own making.

Line by Line Meaning

For caring is a breeze that blows by
Caring is something that comes easily, with little effort or control.

And returns only when, only when it wants to
Caring is fickle and unpredictable, coming and going as it pleases.

So cry, cry little angel forever because
Crying is a natural response to the pain and confusion caused by the unpredictability of caring.

You can't wrap your arms around the wind
Love, like the wind, is intangible and cannot be grasped or controlled.

Within lie the reasons for
The complexities of love and relationships can be found in the intangible aspects that cannot be easily understood or controlled.

This tangled web we weave
The intricate nature of relationships and the complex emotions involved can create a confusing and complicated web.

For love at once my shield and terror
Love can be both a source of protection, but also fear and vulnerability.

Destination and cause for living today
Love can provide a reason for living each day with purpose and intention.

And wanting to die tomorrow
Love can become so overwhelming and painful that death is seen as a desirable alternative.

Why is my whole life spent chasing my demise
The pursuit of love, with all of its complexities and risks, can seem like a futile and self-destructive path.

In my face you see the torture lines from days gone by
The emotional pain and suffering from past experiences can leave a lasting impact on a person.

But I was never touched these scars have risen from within me.
The emotional scars of past experiences are often self-inflicted and come from within, rather than external forces.

For memory take a knife it's quicker
The pain caused by memories can be intense and sharp, like a knife.

Plunge it deep into my soul
The pain caused by memories can be all-consuming and penetrate deep within a person's being.

Go ahead make me a weaker man
The pain caused by memories and emotional scars can make a person feel vulnerable and weak.

And cry, cry little angel because
The pain and confusion caused by memories and emotional scars can be overwhelming and cause a person to cry.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SALVADOR JOHN INDOVINA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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