After releasing their debut EP, ChooseYourWordsPoorly, on their own in early 2006 and establishing themselves as a popular draw on the local concert scene thanks in large part to Volkman's uninhibited and minimally clothed on-stage performance style, Nico Vega signed with MySpace Records, the new recording arm of the popular social networking site, for their second EP, 2007's No Child Left Behind. Their first full-length self titled debut album was released in February of 2009. It featured three songs produced by Linda Perry -- So So Fresh, Wooden Dolls and Gravity - while the rest were produced by Tim Edgar. The album was mixed by Tchad Blake. The band's popularity soared when they performed three songs on Last Call with Carson Daly in 2009.
Nico Vega toured actively in 2009 supporting their first album with acts such as former Bush singer Gavin Rossdale, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, Manic Street Preachers, and Shiny Toy Guns. In 2010 they toured with The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Metric, Sweethead, Saint Motel, and Imagine Dragons. In 2011 they toured with She Wants Revenge and Blondie. In 2012 they toured with Neon Trees.
The song "Beast" off Nico Vega's first self titled album was featured in a trailer for the video game Bioshock Infinite in October of 2012 creating a renewed interest in the track.
The band's sophomore album, titled We Are The Art, will be out in April of 2013 on Five Seven Music. We Are The Art was recorded in studios around Los Angeles as well as at Sonic Ranch Studios in Texas. It showcases the band's trademark blues-laden guitar rock, with soaring synths thrown in for good measure.
At the end of October 2012, Nico Vega debuted a video of the title track, We Are the Art, on Vice.com. It was written and directed by Daniel Epand, the band's drummer.
Protest Song
Nico Vega Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we feed all of our children with our hands
You wake every man
With the greed of a thousand Hitlers and here's mine
And though, the race is tighter
We've only just begun to feel our fire
Now, we're coming to our senses
Now, we're coming to our senses
And we sow our seeds we've made into our share
You take, both our hearts
And replace them with an empty jar of bark
And though, the race is tired
We've only just begun to feel our fire
Now, we're coming to our senses
Now, we're coming to our senses
Now, we're coming to our senses
People don't talk together boys
Keep it to yourself, no
This is the land of America
The land of the free
The land of the free
The land of the free
The land of the...
The lyrics to Nico Vega's song "Protest Song" speak about the struggle between the working class people and those in power. The opening lines "We live off the land and we feed all of our children with our hands" show the hard work and dedication of the common people, who rely on the land for their survival. The song then shifts to criticize those who are greedy and only care about their own self-interest. The line "You wake every man with the greed of a thousand Hitlers and here's mine" portrays the selfish nature of those in power, who are willing to put their interests above everyone else's. The chorus "And though, the race is tighter, we've only just begun to feel our fire, Now, we're coming to our senses" shows that despite the odds being against them, the working class people are starting to awaken and fight back against the corruption.
The second verse continues to emphasize the hard work of the working-class people, who sow their seeds and make their own way. However, those in power take advantage of them and give nothing in return, leaving them with "an empty jar of bark" to represent the emptiness and deceitfulness of those in power. The verses call for people to unite and speak up against the oppression, regardless of whether others tell them to "keep it to yourself." The repeated chorus shows the determination of the working-class people and their belief that change is possible.
Line by Line Meaning
We live off the land
We depend on the resources of our environment to survive
And we feed all of our children with our hands
We provide for our families using our own labor and resources
You wake every man
You incite and rouse individuals to action
With the greed of a thousand Hitlers and here's mine
Your selfishness and desire for power rival that of a notorious dictator
And though, the race is tighter
Despite the increasing competition and challenges we face
We've only just begun to feel our fire
We are just starting to harness and unleash our collective power
Now, we're coming to our senses
We are realizing the truth and the need for change
We work
We labor and toil to provide for ourselves and others
And we sow our seeds we've made into our share
We plant and cultivate the resources we have to create a better future
You take, both our hearts
You strip us of our passion and spirit
And replace them with an empty jar of bark
You give us something useless and meaningless in return
And though, the race is tired
Even though we are feeling weary and exhausted
We've only just begun to feel our fire
We still have the strength and motivation to fight for change
People don't talk together boys
You discourage communication and unity among people
Keep it to yourself, no
You want to keep people silent and obedient to your authority
This is the land of America
This country belongs to all of us who live here
The land of the free
We are promised freedom and democracy in this land
The land of the free
We are promised freedom and democracy in this land
The land of the free
We are promised freedom and democracy in this land
The land of the...
This phrase is left unfinished, perhaps suggesting a sense of uncertainty or incompleteness in America's promise of freedom.
Writer(s): Aja R. Volkman, Rich K. Koehler, Dan G. Epand
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jeanarousi
This song could've gone for 3 more minutes of jamming at the end! So good!
Chance Blackston
I'm glad when an artist I dig does great stuff. Rock on, Nico Vega (and company)! Cheers!
Big McLargeHuge
Nico Vega is the name of the entire band.
Storm
We live off the land
And we feed all of our children with our hands
You wake every man
With the greed of a thousand Hitlers and here's mine
And though, the race is tighter
We've only just begun to feel our fire
Now, we're coming to our senses
Now, we're coming to our senses
We work
And we sow our seeds we've made into our share
You take, both our hearts
And replace them with an empty jar of bark
And though, the race is tired
We've only just begun to feel our fire
Now, we're coming to our senses
Now, we're coming to our senses
Now, we're coming to our senses
People don't talk together boys
Keep it to yourself, no
This is the land of America
The land of the free
The land of the free
The land of the free
The land of the...
T.J. Patterson
best on new album
jiung's choco chip
It's not on the album
jiung's choco chip
Protest song, coal miners' song, mountain song from Egyptian... what else?