In 1996, Kenny began by recruiting two of his high school classmates (Andrew Brown/Brett McKenzie) to play Carcass and Nirvana covers at several gigs around Perth. At this time, both Karnivool's current bassist and lead guitarist were attending a conservatorium to study jazz guitar and drums respectively. In 1998, Andrew Goddard joined Karnivool on bass, and from there they began writing original material. Soon Andrew "Drew" Goddard was switched to lead guitar, Andrew Brown and Brett McKenzie were replaced by Jon Stockman (bass) and Ray Hawking (percussion). The band have since released several singles and two EPs, Themata and most recently their sophomore record, Sound Awake. Currently Karnivool consists of Ian Kenny on lead vocals (also one quarter of Birds of Tokyo), Andrew "Drew" Goddard on lead guitar, Mark Hosking on rhythm guitar (both a part of Revolucion Street and an accompaniment for The Cat Empire while they are on tour), Jon Stockman on bass (one fifth of Floating Me) and Steve Judd (originally the drummer for Hope Here Gone which has now disbanded, replaced Hawking in 2004 as a "permanent gun for hire"). Goddard and Stockman also contributed guitar and bass parts to Pendulum's record Hold Your Colour released in 2005.
Themata: Their debut album was named after Themata, an old Greek word; the plural of Thema. A Thema is a gut assumption or intuition about the workings of the world or life itself, a philosophy you can’t prove with hard evidence, but something you instinctively know is right and are willing to back. For the recordings of Themata, they used guitars tuned in the tuning of B-F#-B-G-B-E, a hybrid tuning of Dropped-B (low strings) and Standard E (high strings). Guitarist Andrew Goddard said that this was because he forgot the high strings while detuning and that he liked the complexity. Andrew "Drew" Goddard wrote the tracks for Themata as well as playing drums throughout the recording of the album, he commented too that he often plays guitar like he does drums. Karnivool only actually played the songs off Themata together as a band after the album was recorded, according to Drew. The record was not written with any real foresight, which is evident in many of the song titles and lyrics (Roquefort is actually a strong smelling French cheese, Mauseum is a word "from the depths of Jon's mind" (Drew Goddard) and C.O.T.E. means Center of the Earth), and Karnivool's writing process was dysfunctional and slow going.
Sound Awake: After returning from the US, and completing their slot in the 2008 Big Day Out, the band headed back into the studio to write their follow-up to Themata.
In an interview with X-Press Magazine, guitarist Andrew Goddard said that the new album was a huge step up from Themata. He also said that the writing process of the new record had been more of a collaborative group effort by the band than previous works, and that they were going to go into the studio with a new recording strategy: that is, trying to focus less on the minute details, and put together a more natural sounding album. Karnivool released their long-awaited second album on June 5, 2009.
During live performances in the Aeons Tour, they played three new songs, titled "Goliath", "Deadman" and "Pearogram", as well as "New Day", which had been played at previous shows. At their performance at Homebake in 2008, they debuted a fifth new song entitled "Set Fire to the Hive". The new songs appeared to have a more mature vibe, but still bore resemblance to the band's other work. The album was one of the most anticipated Australian releases for 2009. In an interview with Channel V, Ian Kenny stated that after the success of the Aeons Tour, the band's next tour would be based on a similar layout which brings a new impression on the typical rock show.
On the 26 April 2009, two days before schedule, the band's first single from Sound Awake, "Set Fire to the Hive", was released on the band's MySpace page. The video for the single, confirmed by the band earlier, was released on the 9 May 2009. Sound Awake was set to be released internationally in early 2010.
Sound Awake entered and peaked 2nd on the ARIA charts, following this, just over a month after the release the band announced via their MySpace Sound Awake had gone 'Gold'.
Goliath
Karnivool Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen your ways
Show yourself
Better than what you make believe
All I hear
Is the sound of sleep
Deafening
Now, this won't take long
We'll rise up again
And rewrite these wrongs
I won't do it
I've rushed you
Patiently
Guarding the life that you deceived
I've crawled for you
Or so they say
We rise to it
Fall again into the same dream
You won't have to wait long
They'll show up again
Make way for the fall
Wake up
There's blood in your sweat when you wake up
Cower, bloodsucking liar
Who you gonna call when you wake up?
See now
What you gonna see when you wake up?
Beg, you little fucking liar
Your head on this chopping board
If this is entertaining
I hope you enjoy the view
Wide awake
And still asleep
I'm failing this riddle in my head, I
I'm failing to get it
Can you say?
Honestly?
Wide awake
And still asleep
Don't leave this too long
(It won't take long)
Tomorrow will come
(Hang around)
You won't have to wait long
(We'll rise up again)
It's your day in the sun
They've shown up again
They've shown up again
They've shown up again
They've shown up again
Please wake up!!
Please wake up!!
[Thanks to Troy Kirk for these lyrics]
The lyrics to Karnivool's "Goliath" convey a message of disillusionment and frustration with someone who is living in a state of denial. The singer expresses a desire to bring this person out of their delusion and confront them with the truth. He has seen through their façade and demands that they show themselves as they really are. The singer is tired of the "sound of sleep," of being lulled into complacency by the person's lies and wishes to "rewrite these wrongs." The line "I won't do it, I've rushed you, patiently" suggests that the singer has been waiting for the person to wake up and see the truth, but they have been moving too slowly.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more urgent, calling on the person to "wake up" and acknowledge the reality of their situation. The lines "There's blood in your sweat when you wake up/Cower, bloodsucking liar" suggest that the person is not just in denial but actively harming others. The repeated refrain "Please wake up!!" underscores the singer's desperation for the person to come to their senses before it is too late.
Overall, "Goliath" is a powerful indictment of denial and a plea for self-awareness and truth-seeking. It speaks to the importance of confronting uncomfortable realities and the dangers of living in a dream world.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you
I desire your attention and presence
I've seen your ways
I have observed your behavior and actions
Show yourself
Reveal your true identity and character
Better than what you make believe
Be genuine and authentic instead of pretending to be something you are not
All I hear
The only thing I perceive
Is the sound of sleep
I am surrounded by the peaceful sound of slumber
Deafening
Extremely loud and overpowering
Comfort in the arms of sweet dreams
Finding solace and respite in pleasant fantasies
Now, this won't take long
This will be a short process
We'll rise up again
We will recover and overcome
And rewrite these wrongs
Correct the mistakes that have been made previously
I won't do it
I refuse to comply
I've rushed you
I have pressured you to act quickly
Patiently
With calm and composure
Guarding the life that you deceived
Protecting the truth that has been hidden or distorted
I've crawled for you
I have humbled myself and endured difficulties for your sake
Or so they say
According to what others have claimed
We rise to it
We face challenges with determination
Fall again into the same dream
Repeat the same patterns or mistakes
You won't have to wait long
The anticipated event will occur soon
They'll show up again
The ones who have caused harm or trouble will reappear
Make way for the fall
Prepare for the inevitable defeat or downfall
Wake up
Become aware and alert
There's blood in your sweat when you wake up
You have been working hard and sacrificing, and it has taken a toll on you physically
Cower, bloodsucking liar
Retreat in fear, dishonest and parasitic person
Who you gonna call when you wake up?
Who will you turn to for help and support?
See now
Understand now
What you gonna see when you wake up?
What truth will reveal itself to you when you become aware?
Beg, you little fucking liar
Plead for forgiveness, you untruthful and insignificant person
Your head on this chopping board
You will face the consequences of your actions
If this is entertaining
If this situation is enjoyable or amusing
I hope you enjoy the view
I hope you derive pleasure from observing what is happening
Wide awake
Fully conscious and alert
And still asleep
But unable or unwilling to take action or make a significant change
I'm failing this riddle in my head, I
I cannot comprehend or solve the mystery or conflict within my own mind
I'm failing to get it
I do not understand what is happening or how to bring about change
Can you say?
Can you explain or clarify?
Honestly?
In all truthfulness and sincerity
Don't leave this too long
Do not delay addressing this situation
(It won't take long)
(It will be resolved soon)
Tomorrow will come
The future will arrive
(Hang around)
(Stay and endure)
It's your day in the sun
You will have your moment of glory or success
They've shown up again
The same problematic people or issues have resurfaced
Please wake up!!
Urgent plea to become aware and take action
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW GODDARD, IAN KENNY, JONATHAN STOCKMAN, MARK HOSKING, STEPHEN JUDD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@atishsonawane7960
I want you
I've seen your ways
Show yourself
Better than what you make believe
All I hear
Is the sound of sleep
Deafening
Comfort in the arms of sweet dreams
Now, this won't take long
We'll rise up again
And rewrite these wrongs
I won't do it
I've rushed you
Patiently
Guarding the life that you deceived
I've crawled for you
Or so they say
We rise to it
Fall again into the same dream
You won't have to wait long
They'll show up again
Make way for the fall
Wake up
There's blood in your sweat when you wake up
Cower, bloodsucking liar
Who you gonna call when you wake up?
See now
What you gonna see when you wake up?
Beg, you little fucking liar
Your head on this chopping board
If this is entertaining
I hope you enjoy the view
Wide awake
And still asleep
I'm failing this riddle in my head, I
I'm failing to get it
Can you say?
Honestly?
Wide awake
And still asleep
Don't leave this too long
(It won't take long)
Tomorrow will come
(Hang around)
You won't have to wait long
(We'll rise up again)
It's your day in the sun
They've shown up again
They've shown up again
They've shown up again
They've shown up again
Please wake up!!
Please wake up!!
@WarKaos
Just found this through "What makes this song great" from Rick Beato -- Totally awesome song and band.. :)
@StephenShawCanada
Me too ... love this song!!
@mihajlomarkovic160
Me 2
@SoMDHarleyRider
Same here. Agreed!
@omarsaavedracueto5211
Same
@Fatenashc
Same!
@taylodl
Beato brought me here. This is awesome! Had never heard of this band before.
@jess_n_atx
SAME. as soon as he said prog- , I paused and came here for a listen.
@dustinwilliams7542
We are the same lol
@theiabon
same