Contributions to Psychic TV have included artists such as Coil, Current 93, Hafler Trio, The Cult, White Stains, Soft Cell, XKP, Master Musicians of Jajouka, Matthew Best, Daniel Simon Black, Bill Breeze, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Derek Jarman, Fred Giannelli, John "Zoskia" Gosling, Timothy Leary, Rose McDowall, Stephen Kent, Vagina Dentata Organ, Andrew Weatherall, Z'ev, Zef Noi$e, and many others.
PTV can not be seen as regular band/group but more as a collective of musicans, artists, painters and others that made their contribution under the PTV umbrella. PTV had for many years their own record label Temple where they released music by PTV as well as Dave Ball (ex Soft Cell) and others. In many ways PTV followed in the same lane as Throbbing Gristle did, but did it into something more. The first years of PTV the music was experimental and sometimes noise. Later they changed their musical direction into electronica as well as techno.
Psychic TV is also responsible in part for the popularity of the acid house movement. Some will even argue that they played a huge part in starting the movement.
She Was Surprised
Psychic TV Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All power/She was surprised/All power
All power/She was surprised/All power
All power/Lay in her eyes/All power
All power/Lay in her eyes/is it me/is it me
Could I lay here, could I be free
I see again/I see again
Is it me/Is this me
I go away/I see you say
And I die/could I be free
Or am I just what you see
And is just what I give
Everything and this what I see anything
and this what I give in my brain and this why I feel so much pain
or could I be you..
I see you say and I die
could I be free or am I just what you see
and what I give everyday...
...could I be you, could I be you
oh
she was surprised...14'00"
...
The lyrics of Psychic TV's "She Was Surprised" explore themes of power, freedom, and identity. The opening line challenges the idea of being expected to die for someone else's sins, touching on the power dynamics present in society and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The repetition of "All power" throughout the song can be seen as a commentary on the concept of power structures and who holds power in relationships and society.
The repeated refrain of "She was surprised" could be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be seen as a sort of awakening or realization for the singer or a character they are describing. It could also be a commentary on societal expectations and how women are often underestimated or disregarded. The line "Everything goes/everyone know" speaks to the inevitability of change and the understanding that everyone will ultimately be affected by it.
The singer questions their own identity and whether they can truly be free or whether they are just a reflection of others' expectations and perceptions of them. The line "or could I be you" touches on the idea of empathy and understanding others' experiences, while also questioning the extent to which our identities are shaped by those around us.
Overall, the lyrics of "She Was Surprised" are open to interpretation, but seem to revolve around power dynamics, identity, and the ways in which we navigate societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Why should I have to stand up and have to die for your sins?
Questioning why the singer should be responsible for paying for other people's wrongdoings
All power/She was surprised/All power
The immense power that the subject possesses surprised her
All power/Lay in her eyes/All power
The subject possesses all the power visibly in her eyes
All power/Lay in her eyes/is it me/is it me
Wondering if the all-powerful subject is the same person the artist knew before
Could I lay here, could I be free
Questioning if the artist could stay still and still be free
I see again/I see again
Reiterating something being seen multiple times
Everything goes/ everyone know
Everything changes and everyone is aware
Is it me/Is this me
Questioning one's identity
I go away/I see you say
Leaving while seeing someone's response to the action
And I die/could I be free
Dying could lead to freedom
Or am I just what you see
Questioning if the singer's identity is only what others perceive
And is just what I give
The artist's identity is only what they give to others
Everything and this what I see anything
All that the singer sees may be nothing at all
and this what I give in my brain and this why I feel so much pain
The singer's identity comes from their mind and that's why they experience so much pain
or could I be you..
Wondering if the singer could be the person they're addressing
I see you say and I die
Seeing someone else's reaction to their death
could I be free or am I just what you see
Again, questioning if the artist's identity is based on what others see
and what I give everyday...
The singer's identity is based on their daily actions
could I be you, could I be you
Wondering if the singer could be the person they're addressing
she was surprised...14'00"
Reiterating the surprise of the powerful subject
Contributed by Alexandra M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.