Unlike Ogre's earlier Skinny Puppy work, ohGr has a more conventional structure to its music as well as a lighter tone, lyrically and musically.
The band was officially formed in 2001, although the material for the first album, Welt dates back to the mid-nineties, having been held up due to legal trouble with American Records. The first work produced by the band was actually the soundtrack for the computer game 'Descent II', but it was a number of years before their first album was released. Welt was originally the title of the group, a long standing acronym from early Skinny Puppy years when, shortly after Bill Leeb (of Front Line Assembly) left the band, Ogre graffitied "Wilhelm Eats Lunch Today" around Vancouver due to their then-acrimonious split. It was then refined to the less antagonistic "When Everyone Learns Truth". It was later discovered that in the interval, the name had been taken by a Californian punk band.
ohGr's third album titled Devils in my Details was released on October 17th, 2008 in Germany, October 20th in the United Kingdom, and October 21st in the United States. ohGr toured in support of the album release during the autumn of 2008. At Comic-Con 2008, Ogre announced that Bill Moseley will be contributing to the new ohGr album, as a result of them becoming friends through Repo! The Genetic Opera. It was tentatively revealed in a chat with the band that an album of B-sides from Devils in my Details (entitled "D-Sides") and an album of unreleased material from the 1990s (entitled "Dfault") was due to be released. In October 2009 a link to www.wdihtf.com appeared on Skinny Puppy's website. When users sign up to the mailing list they receive a link to the song COLLIDOSKOPE which starts with many different voices saying "Welcome to Collidoskope".
traGek
Ohgr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Watching, watching overseas
Waves of radar lotions pour
Over on some distant shores
Waving Flags to let them in
Kiss my ass, my stupid grin
Moving targets well placing
Look ahead what's following
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still worth the risk of acting?
Action this quick again
It keeps them running, laugh at them
All the same: them watching to entertain
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
Activate this opens doors
Up ahead now blowing holes
Weapon in to make it more
To ease the very things we're told
Version two whats left to do
No better once its left to prove
Warping all the loveless pins
Now pushing through the voodoo fringe
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still worth the risk of acting?
Action this quick again
It keeps them running, laugh at them
All the same: them watching to entertain
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
All the same: them watching to entertain
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still worth the risk of acting
Action this quick again
It keeps them running
All the same: them watching to entertain
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
The song "traGek" by Ohgr may appear to be a collection of disjointed phrases at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that the lyrics deal with themes of surveillance, control, and subversion. The song paints a picture of a world where everything is being watched and monitored, with "nervous" eyes lurking in the trees and waves of "radar lotions" pouring over distant shores. The chorus emphasizes the idea that those in power are watching us for their own entertainment, using us as "small fishes" to be manipulated and controlled.
The second verse takes a more proactive tone, describing a plan to "activate" something that will open doors and blow holes in the system. The use of the phrase "voodoo fringe" suggests a kind of subversive magic or power that is being wielded in this quest for resistance. However, the verse ends on a somewhat nebulous note, suggesting that even if something is successfully accomplished, it may not be any better in the end.
The refrain at the end of the song, where the singer asks whether it is worth taking risks and acting, reinforces the theme of resistance in the face of surveillance and control. This refrain is repeated, emphasizing the importance of this theme in the song.
Overall, "traGek" is a song that is both thematically complex and musically interesting, featuring a driving beat and layers of electronic soundscapes that create a sense of urgency and tension.
Line by Line Meaning
Nervous sits within the trees
A feeling of tension resides amongst the trees
Watching, watching overseas
Keeping a close eye on things happening far away
Waves of radar lotions pour
Radar signals pour out like a lotion
Over on some distant shores
Happening on far-away shores
Waving Flags to let them in
Waving flags to welcome outsiders
Kiss my ass, my stupid grin
Being provoked and taunted while putting on a foolish smile
Moving targets well placing
Situating targets that are difficult to hit
Look ahead what's following
Anticipating what comes next
Asking this worn out skin
Questioning the value of continuing to act
Is it still worth the risk of acting?
Is it worthwhile to continue taking risks and making moves?
Action this quick again
Acting quickly once more
It keeps them running, laugh at them
Causing others to run while feeling a sense of superiority and amusement
All the same: them watching to entertain
Others are watching for amusement, nothing new
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
Those who are left behind are shamed by those who succeed
Activate this opens doors
Activation allows for access
Up ahead now blowing holes
Making holes in what is ahead
Weapon in to make it more
Bringing in a weapon to heighten the situation
To ease the very things we're told
To make the things we are told easier to handle
Version two what's left to do
What is there left to do after version two?
No better once it's left to prove
Nothing is better once it is put to the test
Warping all the loveless pins
Distorting all the loveless people
Now pushing through the voodoo fringe
Making headway through something mysterious and otherworldly
Asking this worn out skin
Questioning the value of continuing to act
Is it still worth the risk of acting?
Is it worthwhile to continue taking risks and making moves?
Action this quick again
Acting quickly once more
It keeps them running, laugh at them
Causing others to run while feeling a sense of superiority and amusement
All the same: them watching to entertain
Others are watching for amusement, nothing new
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
Those who are left behind are shamed by those who succeed
All the same: them watching to entertain
Others are watching for amusement, nothing new
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
Those who are left behind are shamed by those who succeed
Asking this worn out skin
Questioning the value of continuing to act
Is it still worth the risk of acting
Is it worthwhile to continue taking risks and making moves?
Action this quick again
Acting quickly once more
It keeps them running
Causing others to run
All the same: them watching to entertain
Others are watching for amusement, nothing new
All gone shames small fishes to beat the game
Those who are left behind are shamed by those who succeed
Contributed by Sophia O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John H
Nervous sits within the trees
Watching, watching overseas
Waves of radar
Lotions pour
Over on some distant shores
Waving flags to let them in
Kiss my ass
My stupid grin
Moving targets well placing
Look ahead
What's following?
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still worth the risk of asking?
Action, this quick again
It keeps them running
Laugh at them
All the same
Them watching..to entertain
All gone shames
Small fishes
To beat the game
Activate, this opens doors
Up ahead now blowing holes
Weapons in will make it more
To ease the very things we're told
Version two whats not to do
No better once it's left to prove
Warping all the loveless pins
Pushing through the voodoo fringe
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still worth the risk of asking?
Action, this quick again
It keeps them running
Laugh at them
All the same
Them watching..to entertain
All gone shames
Small fishes
To beat the game
All the same
Them watching..to entertain
All gone shames
Small fishes
To beat the game
All the same
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still the risk of acting?
Action, this quick again
It keeps them running
Laugh at them
Take me out
Get me water!
Get me water!
Get me water!
Get me water!
All day thinking
Oh, all the same
Them watching..to entertain
All the same
Holy shit!
Beat the game
Oh, all the same
Oh, them watching you!
Oh, all the same
Small fishes
To beat the game
To beat the game
To beat the game
To beat the game
To beat the game...
Entertain
All the same
Holy shit!
Beat the game
Oh, all the same
Oh, them watching you!
Oh, all the same
Argyle Smith
In my Top 10 Favorite Songs of all time. It's just beautiful... absolutely glorious...
SkyNet General
Sober by tool is amazing too, Hollow hills by Bauhaus, Hamburger Lady by throbbing gristle, notget Bjork, Frankie teardrop by Suicide, Dirt by Alice In Chains, I walk the line by alien sex fiend, He Is Patriotic by Portion Control. Computer love by Kraftwerk. Thieves by Ministry. 24 hours by Joy Division, 100 years by The Cure, sex dwarf by Soft Cell, photographic by Depeche Mode, I love you I’ll kill you by Enigma, schism and parabola by Tool, Battle For Heaven by Glenn Danzig, The End by The Doors.
DontWrite9's4ever
@danielchrnko you're right. Download is the absolute winner of all the side projects
danielchrnko
Lionthou Same, yet Ohgr/Skinny Puppy is nowhere near my top 10 favorite artists.
John H
Nervous sits within the trees
Watching, watching overseas
Waves of radar
Lotions pour
Over on some distant shores
Waving flags to let them in
Kiss my ass
My stupid grin
Moving targets well placing
Look ahead
What's following?
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still worth the risk of asking?
Action, this quick again
It keeps them running
Laugh at them
All the same
Them watching..to entertain
All gone shames
Small fishes
To beat the game
Activate, this opens doors
Up ahead now blowing holes
Weapons in will make it more
To ease the very things we're told
Version two whats not to do
No better once it's left to prove
Warping all the loveless pins
Pushing through the voodoo fringe
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still worth the risk of asking?
Action, this quick again
It keeps them running
Laugh at them
All the same
Them watching..to entertain
All gone shames
Small fishes
To beat the game
All the same
Them watching..to entertain
All gone shames
Small fishes
To beat the game
All the same
Asking this worn out skin
Is it still the risk of acting?
Action, this quick again
It keeps them running
Laugh at them
Take me out
Get me water!
Get me water!
Get me water!
Get me water!
All day thinking
Oh, all the same
Them watching..to entertain
All the same
Holy shit!
Beat the game
Oh, all the same
Oh, them watching you!
Oh, all the same
Small fishes
To beat the game
To beat the game
To beat the game
To beat the game
To beat the game...
Entertain
All the same
Holy shit!
Beat the game
Oh, all the same
Oh, them watching you!
Oh, all the same
Don Lang
One of the great industrial anthems. Makes you wonder who the new goth kids will be, how the new rivet heads will come about.
Gabriel Harrison
An amazing song, for sure. One of my current favorites.
SkyNet General
I wish this version was in the album. The beat here is super amazing and hits soooo hard.
Sinthia Jarrz
everything ogre says i truly listen at times he teaches me the real view of wtf is going on ....thx never stop
eric bryant
def a beautiful soul