There are 8 bands under this name, the two most famous are:

a) Talla… Read Full Bio ↴There are 8 bands under this name, the two most famous are:

a) Tallahassee, Florida's PRESENCE’s infectious hip-hop-influenced hard rock band, packing the aggressive punch of Rage Against The Machine, the melodic swirl of P.O.D., and a lyrical range that drops from resolute, to utterly tongue-in-cheek.

b) A short lived British band of the early 90's, led by Lol Tolhurst after his departure from the Cure in 1990. They released one album, "Inside" in 1993. They were working on new matiriel when lead singer Gary Biddles (former the Cure roadie) died in 2013. They posthumously released Closer (recorded in 1993)

The 6 other bands under this name:

1) A hard rock / heavy metal japanese band from the 80s.　They released 3 studio and 1 live albums for Japanese domestic market.

2) Christian psych folk rock from the 70's.

3) A 1999 one-album project (All Systems Gone - released on Pagan Records) headed by UK deep house producer Charles Webster and featuring collaboration from vocalists Steve Edwards, Sara Jay and Shara Nelson.

4) Not to be confused with "The Presence" which is a Progressive Hip-Hop group.

5) A Progressive Rock Band from Italy.

6) Rock band from Finland 2005-2008, released 2 EP's "Rock'N'Roll Resurrection E.P." and "Connection Thing". Line-up: Kaitsu Appel - Bass, Mertsa Arramo - Vocals, Janmu Hirvonen - Drums, Junde Hietanen - Guitar&Vocals

Van Down by the River
Presence Lyrics

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I'm underrated in your eyes
Undersized but on the rise
Inclined to quench your hunger like supersizin' your fries
It's time to speak the truth
We're runnin' out of time
The ties that you have with your friends is the prize
We need to recognize hellos and goodbyes
And if we realize before we die

Then we are wise
Keep digging down deep inside
Don't analyze the cries
Just try to push ahead through the lows and the highs

In a world full of shit
I'm comin' fully equipped
Mic in my hand
Blunt at my lip
Kickin somethin never nothin see you bluffin always puffin rough and tough and stuffin my soul with the flow
The van down by the river

Now someone's got beef
â??Cause you grew up in the east
You ain't claimin' the west so he knocks out your teeth
Just another beatin' on the crime-infested streets
The strong get stronger while the weak are obsolete
So may you rest in peace
To the recently deceased
I know one day soon we will definitely meet
And when that day comes son
I'll be waitin' and prayin'
When the light goes off

In a world full of shit
I'm comin' fully equipped
Mic in my hand
Blunt at my lip

Kickin somethin never nothin see you bluffin always puffin rough and tough and stuffin my soul with the flow
The van down by the river

Overall Meaning

The lyrics for Presence's song "Van Down by the River" comprise two distinct verses separated by a repeated chorus. In the first verse, the singer describes himself as "underrated" and "undersized" but nevertheless "on the rise." He speaks of himself as having the ability to "quench [your] hunger," using the metaphor of "supersizin' your fries" to convey his sense of personal power. As the verse continues, the singer declares that it's time to "speak the truth" and to "recognize hellos and goodbyes," suggesting that he has come to a realization of the need for honesty and authenticity in his relationships with others. In the chorus, the singer positions himself as someone who is "fully equipped" to navigate the "world full of shit" in which he finds himself. He describes himself as holding a "mic in [his] hand," and having a "blunt at [his] lip," conveying a sense of confidence and swagger.

In the second verse, the singer shifts to a more confrontational tone, describing the violence that he has witnessed on the "crime-infested streets." He describes a scenario in which someone gets beaten up for not claiming the correct neighborhood affiliation, and suggests that in a world where the "strong get stronger" and the "weak are obsolete," the only way to survive is through strength and determination. As the verse continues, the singer shifts into a more reflective mode, offering condolences to "the recently deceased" and expressing a belief in an afterlife where he will "definitely meet" the people who have passed away. The chorus repeats, reinforcing the singer's sense of his own strength and resilience.

Overall, the lyrics to "Van Down by the River" convey a sense of the singer's personal power in the face of a hostile world. The song can be read as a call-to-arms for those who feel overlooked or underestimated, urging them to embrace their own unique strengths and abilities in order to survive and succeed.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm underrated in your eyes
You do not value my worth as much as you should.

Undersized but on the rise
Even though I am small, I have potential and will keep growing.

Inclined to quench your hunger like supersizin' your fries
I am willing to provide you with what you want, even if it is too much.

It's time to speak the truth
We should not hide anything and should be honest.

We're runnin' out of time
We do not have much time left, so we need to hurry up and act.

The ties that you have with your friends is the prize
Your relationships with your friends are very valuable to you.

We need to recognize hellos and goodbyes
We should acknowledge the beginnings and endings of things in our lives.

And if we realize before we die
If we understand this concept before we pass away,

Then we are wise
We are intelligent and knowledgeable.

Keep digging down deep inside
Explore your inner self and examine your true feelings.

Don't analyze the cries
Do not overthink or dwell on emotional outbursts.

Just try to push ahead through the lows and the highs
Persevere through the ups and downs in life.

In a world full of shit
Living in a terrible world,

I'm comin' fully equipped
I am ready with all my skills to face the world.

Mic in my hand
I am holding onto the power of my voice.

Blunt at my lip
I am relaxed and confident.

Kickin somethin never nothin see you bluffin always puffin rough and tough and stuffin my soul with the flow
I am creating something real and powerful with my music.

The van down by the river
This is where I am at the moment, creating and living in a humble space.

Now someone's got beef
Someone is angry or confrontational towards me.

â??Cause you grew up in the east
Because I come from a certain place,

You ain't claimin' the west so he knocks out your teeth
I am not trying to be someone I am not, and that is causing conflict.

Just another beatin' on the crime-infested streets
This is just another violent incident in a dangerous area.

The strong get stronger while the weak are obsolete
Those who have power continue to gain it, while those without are forgotten.

So may you rest in peace
I am paying my respects to someone who has passed away.

To the recently deceased
Someone who has just died.

I know one day soon we will definitely meet
We will inevitably cross paths again.

And when that day comes son
When it does happen,

I'll be waitin' and prayin'
I will be ready and hoping for the best.

When the light goes off
When it is all over.