Shotmaker’s catalogue comprises three 7”s, two full length LP’s and a 12” split EP.
The group parted ways in 1996, but released their double CD retrospective The Complete Discography: 1993-1996 in 2000, comprising the entirety of their recorded material, including several tracks exclusive to compilations and three unreleased songs. 33 of the 43 tracks were lifted straight from vinyl due to DAT tapes being lost.
From their first 7” (pulled due to its controversial cover illustrating a child holding a pistol) to their final LP, Shotmaker’s success lies in the intermingling of explosive riffs and complex, flowing rhythms, creating tensions best exhibited in Table, where tempos and time signatures shuffle in and out at break-neck speed. However, a number of disparate moods are explored, such as the abrasive curve or the restrained controller.controller. The trio approach catchy on 10/22/94, and an untitled instrumental track on their final album includes nothing but acoustic guitar played over radio frequency white noise.
The lyrics are rather ambiguous, sung and screamed with an urgency that complements the unyielding compositions. There is a sincerity about something, but just exactly what is open for interpretation.
Shotmaker’s members went on to play in such bands as the short lived 30 Second Motion Picture, Three Penny Opera and more recently The Grey.
Drown
Shotmaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Haven't seen quite enough of the world.
I ain't seen a sign of my hero
And I'm still diving down for pearls.
Oh, let me flow into the ocean,
Let me get back to the sea,
Let me be stormy and let me be calm,
Let the tide in
I'm flowing under bridges
Then flying through the sky,
I'm traveling down cold metal
Just a tear in a baby's eye.
Let me flow into the ocean,
Let me get back to the sea,
Let me be stormy and let me be calm,
Let the tide in
I want it to rush over me
I want to drown,etc.
I am not the actor.
This can't be the scene.
But I am in the water
As far as I can see.
I'm remembering distant memories,
Recalling other names,
Rippling over canyons,
I'm boiling in the train,
Let me flow into the ocean,
Let me get back to the sea,
Let me be stormy and let me be calm,
Let the tide in
I want it to rush over me .
I want to drown in your sweet sweet love,etc.
The lyrics of Shotmaker's "Drown" seem to be reflecting on the singer's desire to let go and surrender to the ocean, to let themselves be swept away by the tide. The opening lines describe men fishing, implying that while they may be content with their isolated lives, the singer is seeking something more. They express a desire to return to the sea, to experience the storminess and calmness of the water.
As the lyrics continue, the imagery becomes more abstract, with the singer describing themselves flowing under bridges and flying through the sky. These lines suggest a feeling of weightlessness and freedom, as if the singer is experiencing life without the constraints of their physical body. The lyrics then take a darker turn, with the singer remembering distant memories and boiling in the train, revealing a sense of loss and grief.
The chorus brings the focus back to the singer's desire to drown in someone's love. The repetition of the line "Let me be stormy and let me be calm" reinforces the idea that the singer wants to experience the full range of emotions, to be swept away by passion but also to find comfort and calm.
Overall, "Drown" is a song about the desire to let go and be carried away by something larger than oneself, whether that be the ocean or love. It explores the tension between freedom and surrender, and the need to find meaning and connection in a complex world.
Line by Line Meaning
There are men high up there fishing.
The singer sees people successful in their endeavors but feels left behind.
Haven't seen quite enough of the world.
The singer feels unfulfilled in life and desires new experiences.
I ain't seen a sign of my hero
The singer feels lost and without guidance from a role model or mentor figure.
And I'm still diving down for pearls.
Despite feeling lost, the artist is still determined to find something valuable and meaningful in their life.
Oh, let me flow into the ocean,
The artist wishes to escape their troubles and find solace in nature.
Let me get back to the sea,
The sea represents the singer's desire for a simpler life and a return to their origins.
Let me be stormy and let me be calm,
The singer wants to experience the full range of emotions and sensations that life has to offer.
Let the tide in
I want it to rush over me .
The artist wants to be overwhelmed by their emotions and experiences, even if it means feeling vulnerable or exposed.
I'm flowing under bridges
Then flying through the sky,
The artist feels like they are moving through life with ease, experiencing both highs and lows.
I'm traveling down cold metal
Just a tear in a baby's eye.
The artist sees themselves as delicate and vulnerable, just like a newborn baby.
I am not the actor.
This can't be the scene.
The singer does not feel in control of their life and does not feel like they belong in their current situation.
But I am in the water
As far as I can see.
Despite feeling lost and powerless, the artist is still trying to find their way forward and make sense of their life.
I'm remembering distant memories,
Recalling other names,
Rippling over canyons,
I'm boiling in the train,
The singer is reflecting on their past and the things they have experienced, both good and bad.
Let me flow into the ocean,
Let me get back to the sea,
Let me be stormy and let me be calm,
Let the tide in
I want it to rush over me .
The singer repeats their desire to escape their troubles and experience life fully.
I want to drown in your sweet sweet love,etc.
The singer desires to find love and connection with another person, even if it means feeling overwhelmed or vulnerable.
Lyrics © ABKCO MUSIC INC PETE TOWNSHEND CATALOG , FABULOUS MUSIC LTD , SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
Written by: PETER DENNIS BLANDFOR TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind