Neuroactive was formed in 1991 by Jarkko Tuohimaa, Ville Brusi, and Vesa Rainne. Signing their first album, Morphology, in 1994 with Cyberware Productions, the group went on to produce Phonic Trace in 1997. Shortly thereafter, Brusi and Rainne left the group and Kimmo Karjalainen came on board to sing for two albums (Fiber Optic Rhythm, Transients). Following Kimmo's departure Jarkko has been working with various guest vocalists.
Neuroactive signed with A Different Drum in 1998, and continues to release material under that label.
Defeated
Neuroactive Lyrics
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To a mental isolation we are cursed at the birth
I looked inside myself to find out how I feel
There was nothing much to see, defeated hopes and dreams
Sometimes I sense a soft caressing touch trying to heal
But my soul's not a soul at all anymore
Too lame to feel
We live inside the concrete walls and hide behind restrictions
Don't try to touch me,
I've got no time to care
Don't speak, don't make an intrusion, I might get scared
Connections are forbidden, strangers are the freaks
So wear the shades and look deranged to avoid a human feel
Sometimes I sense a soft caressing touch trying to heal
But my heart's not a heart anymore Too tame to beat
We live inside the concrete walls and hide behind restrictions
Sometimes we see the distant sun and dream of affections
We hide behind the cold stone walls sealing the life outside
Sometimes we see the sun
Sometimes we see the sun
We live inside the concrete walls
And hide behind restrictions
Sometimes we see the distant sun
But never really feel the warmth inside
The lyrics to Neuroactive's song "Defeated" paint a picture of a bleak and oppressive world where people are isolated both mentally and physically. The opening lines describe creatures roaming the earth in numb oppressive sleep, emphasizing how disconnected and disengaged people are from one another. The line "To a mental isolation we are cursed at the birth" suggests that this isolation is not something that just happens over time but is a fundamental aspect of human existence. The singer then reflects on their own emotional state and finds "nothing much to see, defeated hopes and dreams." This sense of defeat and hopelessness is further emphasized in the line "But my soul's not a soul at all anymore, too lame to feel."
The second half of the song describes how people cope with this isolation by hiding behind "concrete walls" and "restrictions." The lines "Connections are forbidden, strangers are the freaks, so wear the shades and look deranged to avoid a human feel" convey a sense of paranoia and fear of others. The singer is unwilling to let anyone in, stating "Don't try to touch me, I've got no time to care" and "Don't speak, don't make an intrusion, I might get scared." The final lines of the song describe the longing for connection and warmth, but ultimately acknowledging that this warmth is never really felt within the confines of their isolated existence.
Overall, the lyrics of "Defeated" create a dystopian vision of a world where people are disconnected and isolated, preoccupied with staying safe from threats both internal and external. The singer longs for connection and meaning but ultimately feels defeated and unable to break free from the cycle of isolation and fear.
Line by Line Meaning
In numb oppressive sleep these creatures roam the earth
The people around us are wandering aimlessly through life, not feeling anything and unaware of their surroundings.
To a mental isolation we are cursed at the birth
We are born into a world where mental isolation is a prevailing and unfortunate aspect of our lives.
I looked inside myself to find out how I feel
The singer takes a moment to introspect and assess their emotional state.
There was nothing much to see, defeated hopes and dreams
The artist discovers that they feel forgotten and hopeless, as though their life has not gone the way they wanted it to.
Sometimes I sense a soft caressing touch trying to heal
Occasionally, the artist feels a faint glimmer of hope or positivity attempting to break through their despondency.
But my soul's not a soul at all anymore
Too lame to feel
However, their mental state is such that they are no longer truly feeling anything, as if their soul has been lost or disabled.
We live inside the concrete walls and hide behind restrictions
We live in a society where we feel trapped by societal norms and constraints that we cannot escape.
Sometimes we see the distant sun and dream of affections
Occasionally we catch a glimpse of hope or happiness in the world beyond our walls and imagine what it would be like to be a part of it.
Don't try to touch me,
I've got no time to care
Don't speak, don't make an intrusion, I might get scared
The artist is so closed off from the world and their emotions that they are fearful of any intrusion or contact from others.
Connections are forbidden, strangers are the freaks
So wear the shades and look deranged to avoid a human feel
In this world, making connections with others is discouraged or prohibited, so people go to great lengths to conceal their humanity and avoid making emotional connections.
We hide behind the cold stone walls sealing the life outside
Sometimes we see the sun
We put up walls to shield us from the outside world, but occasionally we catch a glimpse of a brighter existence beyond our walls.
But never really feel the warmth inside
Despite seeing what life could be like beyond the walls, we remain trapped in our despondency and unable to experience the warmth of true human connection.
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.