Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to … Read Full Bio ↴Within the alternative world, Seven Mary Three have often been compared to the mainstream-sounding, garage/arena rock of post-Ten Pearl Jam, but the group insists that their refusal to alienate themselves from the rest of the world makes them different. Instead, Seven Mary Three offer songs concerning self-discovery and true outsiders isolated from society. Based in Virginia (where the bandmates attended the College of William and Mary), Seven Mary Three signed to the Mammoth label after releasing a self-produced album, Churn, in 1994. The album -- particularly its gritty lead single, "Cumbersome" -- generated a healthy buzz in Florida, and radio stations in Orlando began devoting significant airtime to the band. Seven Mary Three relocated to the Orlando area and re-recorded their old songs, which were packaged alongside two new cuts to round out the band's proper debut, 1995's American Standard. With "Cumbersome" enjoying national success, the album went platinum and won the group a contract with Atlantic Records. Rock Crown followed in 1997, and a year later Seven Mary Three returned with their third LP, Orange Ave. Neither record enjoyed as much recognition as American Standard, but the band continued to release albums into the following decade, issuing The Economy of Sound in 2001 and Dis/Location three years later. Seven Mary Three signed with New York's Icon Records in late 2007, and the following year saw the release of their sixth effort, DAY&NIGHTDRIVING. Steve Huey, All Music Guide

First Time Believers
Seven Mary Three Lyrics

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I am a tiny machinist.
I have the smallest plans.
I have a mind television.
The gift of idle hands.
I've been re-educated.
To bleed technology.
Even more complicated than the machines who made me.
I'm a wasteland messiah.

I'm a train run off the track.
I'm a first time believer in.
What might never always does.
Come back
There was a black hole voice.
An interrupted transmission.
It said to free yourself.
And that fear is your submission.
I have the tiny tools.
To finish what I start.
I have the vacuum tubes to eat your little hearts.
I'm a wasteland messiah.
I'm a train run off the track.
I'm a first time believer in.
What might never always does come back.
I'm a ghost with a name.
I'm the now and never past.
I'm a first time believer in what might never always does.
Come back.
Yes, I want you.
Yes, I want your mind.
Blow it every time.
They say it's darker when a little light goes out than if it never had shone.
Of this I have no doubt.
I drove the 44.
To sun coming up sky.
And when I saw their cars,
I just smiled in my surprise.
Little wasteland messiahs.
Little trains run off the track.
Little first time believers in.
What might never always does.
Come.
Little ghosts with a name.
Little now and never past.
Little first time believers in.

What might never always does.
Come back.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Seven Mary Three's song First Time Believers are complex and enigmatic, leaving plenty of room for interpretation. The verse seems to describe the singer's experience as a machinist who has been “re-educated” to “bleed technology.” This could refer to the way that technology has come to dominate our lives and how we are increasingly entwined with machines. The phrase “mind television” may hint at the way that we are bombarded by media and how it can be difficult to escape its influence. Despite this, the singer seems to portray themselves as something of a messiah-figure, who is able to rise above the technology and see the truth behind it.

The chorus of the song is perhaps the most intriguing part. It speaks of being a “first time believer” in something that “might never always” come back. This enigmatic phrase could refer to the way that we often believe in things that may never actually come to fruition. It could also speak to the cyclical nature of existence and how even if something seems lost or gone, it may eventually return. The repetition of the phrase “come back” reinforces this idea and creates a sense of longing and anticipation.

The final verse of the song seems to offer a glimmer of hope. The singer describes driving and seeing the sun come up, and feeling surprised when they see other people's cars. This could signify a moment of awakening or realization, as the singer is suddenly aware of the vastness and complexity of the world around them. The final lines seem to suggest that even those who are “little” and seemingly insignificant can be first-time believers who find hope and meaning in a world that can often feel cold and indifferent.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a tiny machinist.
I am a small worker who finely crafts machines.

I have the smallest plans.
I have detailed and precise designs for my machines.

I have a mind television.
I have an imaginative mind that visualizes my plans.

The gift of idle hands.
When I have nothing to do, my mind drifts into creativity.

I've been re-educated.
I have been taught new skills and knowledge.

To bleed technology.
To incorporate technology into my designs.

Even more complicated than the machines who made me.
My designs are intricate, surpassing even their previous creators.

I'm a wasteland messiah.
I am a savior of the barren lands.

I'm a train run off the track.
I am somebody who has taken a different and unexpected direction.

I'm a first-time believer in. What might never always does.
I believe that there is the possibility of success in the most improbable situations.

Come back
Success will return.

There was a black hole voice.
There was a voice that delivered a message of despair.

An interrupted transmission.
The voice was unable to fully convey its message.

It said to free yourself. And that fear is your submission.
The voice urged me to overcome my fears and not be held down by them.

I have the tiny tools.
I have the small instruments necessary to accomplish my goals.

To finish what I start.
I am committed to completing my projects.

I have the vacuum tubes to eat your little hearts.
My machines have the powerful capability to obliterate your insignificant devices.

I'm a ghost with a name.
I am somebody who is remembered but not physically present.

I'm the now and never the past.
I am present and focused on the moment.

Yes, I want you. Yes, I want your mind. Blow it every time.
I am sexually attracted to you and your intellectual capabilities excite me.

They say it's darker when a little light goes out than if it never had shone.
The loss of something good is more impactful and saddening than if that good had never happened.

Of this I have no doubt.
I am absolutely certain this is true.

I drove the 44. To sun coming up sky.
I drove a car on Route 44 and watched the sunrise.

And when I saw their cars, I just smiled in my surprise.
When I saw familiar vehicles, I was pleasantly surprised.

Little wasteland messiahs.
There are others like me who help rebuild the barren lands.

Little trains run off the track.
Others have taken unexpected paths too.

Little first time believers in. What might never always does.
Others believe in the impossible just like I do.

Come.
Join me in my endeavors.

Little ghosts with a name.
Others with recognition but without physicality.

Little now and never past.
Presently focused and anchored by the moment.

Little first time believers in what might never always does.
Others who believe that the impossible is achievable.

Come back.
Success will return.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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