1) Mono are a post-rock band from Tokyo, Japan formed in 1999. The songs, all of which are instrumental (their only song featuring vocals is off Rays of Darkness entitled 'The Hand that Holds the Truth' which has guest harsh vocals by Envy's vocalist), are usually focused on layered guitar melodies both epic and heavy in nature built around quieter delicate clean guitar melodies. Post-rock-styled tremolo picking can also be prominently found as well as the frequent use of strings and pianos that is featured in some songs. Mono are known for their powerful live shows, hard-hitting drumming and their complex wall of sound guitar work.
Their first EP, titled Hey, you was released in September, 2000. So far, they have released eleven full albums: Under The Pipal Tree, One Step More And You Die, Walking cloud and deep red sky, Flag fluttered and the sun shined, You Are There, Hymn To The Immortal Wind, For my parents , the double album Rays of Darkness/The Last Dawn, Requiem for Hell, Nowhere Now Here and Pilgrimage of the Soul.
They also have several other records; including a remix album, a collaborative split record with Pelican, another split with The Ocean, an album collaborating with World's end girlfriend, an EP entitled The Phoenix Tree, another EP entitled Memorie dal Futuro, several singles, a compilation, a DVD, a soundtrack and a string of live albums/EPs.
For more information, visit their official websites:
Official Website
Bandcamp
2) Mono were a British trip-hop duo which became a one-hit wonder in the late 1990s with their song "Life in Mono" featured on album Formica Blues. Mono's music shares some similarities with other such acts including Sneaker Pimps and Portishead.
3) Mono are a Dutch indie rock / post-rock band from Rotterdam. They are on Zabel Records, together with We vs. Death. Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/monotheband
4) Mono Mono is a female Austrian Reggae / Dancehall artist who now mostly collaborates with the German artist Nikitaman forming the band Mono & Nikitaman. Both have recently moved from Düsseldorf, Germany to Linz, Austria.
5) Mono is one of the names used by Jezper Söderlund, also known as Airbase, Ozone, Parc and Rah.
6) Mono (모노) was a Korean ballad trio active in the first half of the 90s. They released two albums in 1993 & 1994, and resurfaced for a new album in 2000.
7) Mono is a German field and nature recordings archival project by former STARLAB. A self-titled album was released in 2022.
The Outsider
Mono Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will never witness your love again
I will never knew the stranger in you
I will never knew the stranger in you
The stranger the stranger the stranger ....
I will not surrender my life for you
You only see the sadness in me
I never knew the stranger in you
The stranger the stranger the stranger ....
The lyrics of Mono's song, The Outsider, seem to express a feeling of loss and disillusionment in a relationship. The repetition of the phrase "I will never witness your love again" captures the finality and certainty of the singer's decision to let go of the love they once shared with their partner. The use of the word "witness" also implies a sense of detachment, as if the singer is observing their former lover from a distance.
The second verse adds another layer of complexity to the situation, expressing a sense of confusion and disappointment in the person they thought they knew. The phrase "I will never knew the stranger in you" suggests that the singer has discovered something unexpected about their partner, something that has shattered their trust and left them feeling like they never really knew them at all.
The repetition of the word "stranger" throughout the song creates a haunting and atmospheric mood, as if the singer is grappling with the unfamiliar and unsettling aspects of their situation.
Overall, the lyrics of The Outsider seem to capture the pain and confusion that often accompanies the end of a relationship, particularly when one person feels like they have been betrayed or deceived.
Line by Line Meaning
I will never witness your love again
I have lost you forever and will never be able to experience your love again.
I will never knew the stranger in you
Despite being close to you, I never really knew the full extent of your true self and your secrets.
The stranger the stranger the stranger ....
Repetitive emphasis on the mystery and alienation that exists between two people who are meant to be close.
I will not surrender my life for you
I refuse to give up my own identity and well-being for the sake of our relationship.
You only see the sadness in me
You don't truly understand and appreciate the complexity of my emotions beyond surface-level sadness.
I never knew the stranger in you
I still feel like there is a part of you that I will never fully comprehend or accept.
The stranger the stranger the stranger ....
Continued repetition of the sense of disconnect and foreignness that exists within the relationship.
Contributed by Keira E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.