Incubus is a five-man al… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists using this name:
Incubus is a five-man alternative rock band formed in 1991, based in Calabasas, California. Members include Brandon Boyd (vocals and percussion), Mike Einziger (guitar), Ben Kenney (bass), Jose Pasillas II (drums) and DJ Chris Kilmore (turntables). Former members of the band include Gavin Koppel (a.k.a. DJ Lyfe) (turntables) and Alex Katunich (a.k.a. Dirk Lance) (bass). The band's name may seem a peculiar choice to fans, as an incubus is a type of demon that, in mythological lore, comes in the night and has sex with women while they are sleeping; it seduces them in their dreams The story behind the name is that the band needed to think of a name hours before their first show and, after a few failed choices, Mike looked in a dictionary and chose "Incubus" almost at random. Mike says that the name was chosen because it sounded silly; Brandon holds that it was chosen because they were teenagers and the definition had the word "sex" in it. "We really didn't want to rape women in their sleep. But, we were fifteen and it seemed harmless to us then, and we never changed it," says the band.
Incubus has received both critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching multi-platinum sales, as well as releasing several successful singles. The band earned mainstream recognition with the release of their 1999 album Make Yourself. In 2001, Incubus became even more successful with the single "Drive" and their follow-up album Morning View. Their sixth studio album, Light Grenades, debuted at No. 1 in 2006 and has received Gold certification in the U.S. Incubus released their first greatest hits album Monuments and Melodies in June 2009, accompanied by a tour of the United States, Japan and Canada. The band's most recent album, 8, was released on April 21st, 2017.
2. A death/thrash metal band from Metairie, Louisiana. The band was made up of Francis Howard (guitar/vocals), Moyses Howard (drums), Andre Luiz (bass), and Luiz Carlos (guitar). The two Howard brothers are actually from Brazil, and immigrated to Louisiana. This Incubus has released one demo, and two albums, with one album being remastered and re-released with a different track listing. This band has changed their name to Opprobrium.
3. A death/thrash metal band from Georgia who released one demo in 1987. The drummer, Mike Browning, went on to Morbid Angel and later Nocturnus fame.
4. A thrash metal band from São Paulo, Brazil that released 2 demos in 1986 and 1988.
5. A thrash metal band from João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
6. A New Wave of British Heavy Metal band that released a full-length album "To the Devil a Daughter" in 1984. Still a favorite among NWOBHM fans.
7. A death/thrash metal band from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Released a demo "Sinful Dreams" in 1987. Changed their name to Spectral Birth in 1988.
8. A Techno/Rave combo.
03. Make Yourself
Incubus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would have been made somehow
If I hadn't assembled myself
I'd have fallen apart by now
If I hadn't made me
I'd be more inclined to bow
Powers that be would have swallowed me up
If you let them make you
They'll make you papier-mâché
At a distance you're strong
Until the wind comes
Then you crumble and blow away
If you let them fuck you
There will be no foreplay
Rest assured, they'll screw you complete
'Til your ass is blue and gray
You should make amends with you
If only for better health, better health
But if you really want to live
Why not try and make yourself?
Make yourself, make yourself
If I hadn't made me
I'd have fallen apart by now
I won't let 'em make me
It's more than I can allow
So when I make me
I won't be papier-mâché
And if I fuck me
I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll fuck me in my own way
I'll fuck me in my own way
You should make amends with you
If only for better health, better health
But if you really want to live
Why not try and make yourself?
Make yourself, make yourself
Make yourself, make yourself
The lyrics to Incubus's song "Make Yourself" is a powerful message about self-empowerment and self-discovery. The song urges listeners to take control of their lives and not let external factors mold them into something they don't want to be. The first few lines of the song set the tone for the message of the song. The singer acknowledges that without taking control of his own life, he would have been at the mercy of external factors that would have consumed him. Instead, he made himself, and he's in control of his own destiny instead of being controlled by others.
The lyrics also warn against allowing others to make you into something you don't want to be. It urges listeners to be wary of external influences that may try to mold you into something you're not. The warning is stated plainly, "If you let them make you, they'll make you papier-mâché." The image is powerful, evoking the fragile nature of papier-mâché, which can easily be crushed or destroyed.
The song ends on a positive note, urging listeners to make amends with themselves and take control of their own lives. The lyrics are a reminder that we should be true to ourselves and pursue the life we want rather than accepting the life that's given to us.
Line by Line Meaning
If I hadn't made me
Without the decision to create oneself, one's identity would be shaped by external forces
I would have been made somehow
One's identity is not entirely controllable, but can be shaped through conscious effort
If I hadn't assembled myself
Without the ability to put oneself together, one's being would be fragmented
I'd have fallen apart by now
Without the effort to maintain coherence, one would lose their sense of identity
If I hadn't made me
One's self-determined identity is resistant to the pressures of external powers
I'd be more inclined to bow
Without a strong sense of self, one is more susceptible to manipulation and control
Powers that would be have swallowed me up
Forces beyond oneself have the potential to overpower and consume individual identity
But that's more than I can allow
The desire to resist external control is strong enough to maintain a sense of self
If you let them make you
Giving up self-determination leaves one at the mercy of others
They'll make you papier-mâché
The resulting identity will be fragile and easily manipulated
At a distance you're strong
The appearance of strength can be maintained when not confronted with external pressures
Until the wind comes
External factors can shake the foundation of an identity
Then you crumble and blow away
Without a strong sense of self, external factors can cause one to lose their identity
If you let them fuck you
Giving in to external pressure for temporary pleasure will ultimately harm oneself
There will be no foreplay
The consequences of giving in will be immediate and severe
But rest-assured
The harm caused will not be addressed by external powers
They'll screw you complete
The damage caused by external pressures will be extensive and long-lasting
?Til your ass is blue and gray
The consequences will be severe and potentially irreversible
You should only make amends with you
Self-acceptance and self-improvement is the only way to achieve inner harmony
If only for better health
The benefits of self-improvement are numerous, including physical and mental health
But if you really want to live
True fulfillment comes from embracing the challenge of self-creation
Why not try and make yourself?
The only way to achieve a fulfilling and authentic life is to actively shape one's own identity
I won't let ?em make me
Continued self-determination is essential to maintaining an authentic identity
So when I make me
The process of self-creation is an ongoing effort
I won't be papier-mâché
The resulting identity will be strong and resilient
And if I fuck me
Mistakes and setbacks in the process of self-creation are inevitable
I'll fuck me in my own way
One must take responsibility for their own mistakes and continue to shape their identity in a personal and meaningful way
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Alex Katunich, Brandon Charles Boyd, Christopher Kilmore, Jose Anthony Pasillas II, Michael Aaron Einziger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shaun Brogdon
Played this to death walking to work as a teen, still a massive album for me today 24yrs later
Brian Webb
One of the few perfect albums. Not a song to be skipped.
TripleToeSloth
Just had the exact same thought after letting it ride 2x in a row. 🤜🏼💥🤛🏻
Natures Mirror
SOLID GOLD. Got me remembering driving to college singing at the top of my lungs.
Heinz 57
its ok
FEPE The Penguin
This litteraly gave me a massive revelation, 20 years ago
Mr. LD50
I've listened to this album at least 30 times these past 2 weeks. This is one of those rare albums that has no skippable tracks.
Gawdat
I've been abusing Mer de Noms much the same way
Mr. LD50
@Gawdat I ended up buying the cd...an actual cd lol Its that good.
Gawdat
@Mr. LD50 I've bought about 100 CDs the past two months! My CD collection didn't really survive into adulthood, and I just decided fuck it, I want to have them. They're cool, they're what I grew up with, they're like vinyl to me. I don't care if they're obsolete.
They're so cheap to acquire! On ebay I've been managing to put together carts of GREAT CDs that come out to $3-5 each after shipping and tax. Lots of shops do free shipping for every additional CD, or have promotions like buy 3 get 3 free.
PS: I've listened to Make Yourself at least 5 times the past two days lol. Got a solid list of albums with no skippable tracks? I'd love to compare. Surprise me by liking Weezer's Blue Album, Bush's Sixteen Stone, and Toadies' Rubberneck. Those are way underrated.