The band Phideaux comprises many friends who have known each other since early childhood. Each album is unique in sound and content of adventurous art rock music.
Phideaux creates mysterious and melodic music for the sheer love of it, independently releasing recordings which have been complimented for capturing the essence of classic rock music while remaining modern and distinctive.
They are inspired by mellotrons and flutes and keyboard heavy music but also love dual lead guitar and power chords. Syncopation and tricky time signatures are sometimes utilized but always there is melody to be hummed and riffs to invade your ears and mind. The lyrics tell stories, sometimes clearly, sometimes abstrusely, but always with an intent to spark an image or metaphor.
discography
1993: Friction
2003: Fiendish
2004: Ghost Story
2005: Chupacabras
2005: 313
2006: The Great Leap
2007: Doomsday Afternoon
2009: Number Seven
2011: Snowtorch -and- 7½
2012: Infernal
Fragment
Phideaux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was by your side
Standing so close
But we did not smile
I saw you lose control
I saw your system overload
Go away, away, away
In the shadow of that night
We cried
Like two lost cars
With crashing lights
Once for a while
I was next to you
You looked away
Though you did not move
I wished to hold you near
I tried to reach your inner ear
Stay away, away, away
In the silence of that night
We tried
To break the seal to what's inside
Like strangers on familiar land
We navigate
But can't understand
Now I'm awake
I can see behind
You were afraid
I was paralyzed
I saw you round the bend
And knew the way that it would end
I wished to hold you near
And cheat the fates of what was clear
Stay away, away, away
The lyrics to Phideaux's song Fragment describe a past relationship that has ended badly, leaving the singer with regret and a deep sense of loss. They start by recounting a moment when they stood next to their partner without any happiness or warmth passing between them - all they witnessed was the partner losing control and their system "overloading". The singer then asks them to "go away" - possibly indicating that they have left the relationship since then, and the singer needs distance to heal.
The second verse paints a similarly bleak picture, with the singer being close to their partner but feeling as though they were looking away from them. The singer wanted to hold their partner close and help them, but they couldn't even reach their "inner ear". The relationship is described as being like "two lost cars with crashing lights" - possibly indicating that they were both in danger and couldn't save each other.
Finally, the song ends with the singer reflecting on the end of the relationship. They realize that they were afraid, and the partner was paralyzed, leading them both towards the "bend" where the relationship would inevitably end. They wanted to hold their partner close and change that fate, but ultimately they couldn't. The final refrain asks the partner to "stay away", perhaps sealing the end of the relationship and the singer's chance at closure.
Line by Line Meaning
Once for a while
Occasionally, in the past
I was by your side
I was near you
Standing so close
Being very near physically
But we did not smile
Despite the close proximity, there was no warm expression on our faces
I saw you lose control
I witnessed your loss of composure
I saw your system overload
I observed your mental or emotional capacities being exceeded
Go away, away, away
I want you to leave, repeatedly
In the shadow of that night
During the dark period of that evening
We cried
We shed tears
Like two lost cars
Similar to two aimlessly roaming vehicles
With crashing lights
Our emotional turmoil resembled flashing headlights, colliding and overwhelming each other
Once for a while
Occasionally, in the past
I was next to you
I was standing or walking beside you
You looked away
You glanced in another direction
Though you did not move
You remained in place
I wished to hold you near
I desired to embrace you closely
I tried to reach your inner ear
I attempted to communicate deeply with you
Stay away, away, away
I want you to keep your distance, repeatedly
In the silence of that night
During the stillness of that evening
We tried
We made an effort
To break the seal to what's inside
To open up to each other and reveal our true selves
Like strangers on familiar land
Despite being in a known place, we felt like we were unknown to each other
We navigate
We attempted to find our way
But can't understand
But we were unable to comprehend
Now I'm awake
I am currently aware and alert
I can see behind
I can understand the events and emotions that occurred in the past
You were afraid
You experienced fear
I was paralyzed
I was unable to move or act
I saw you round the bend
I perceived you approaching a critical turning point
And knew the way that it would end
I understood the eventual outcome of the situation
I wished to hold you near
I desired to embrace you closely
And cheat the fates of what was clear
I wished to defy the inevitable, obvious outcome
Stay away, away, away
I want you to keep your distance, repeatedly
Contributed by Owen K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.