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.
Now and Then
Shotmaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His reflection,
Lies infection,
Tries repression.
Colours turning their shades on this fine day,
Life is crawling away on this great day.
No thought have ever been tamed,
Locked away without pain,
For this i hold the blame.
I am so alone, alone.
I am so alone, alone.
The lyrics to Shotmaker's song Now and Then are full of complex emotions and thoughts. The first few lines seem to be describing the internal struggle that the singer is experiencing. They suggest that the singer is grappling with his own self-image and how he perceives himself. The line "Size direction, his reflection" could be interpreted as the singer comparing himself to others and feeling inadequate, while "Lies infection, tries repression" might suggest that he is struggling with a sense of dishonesty and denial.
The next two lines, "Colours turning their shades on this fine day, life is crawling away on this great day" seem to convey a sense of melancholy and disillusionment. The singer seems to be reflecting on how time is passing him by and how he feels helpless to stop it.
The second verse is even more introspective, with the singer delving deep into his own psyche. "No thought have ever been tamed, in my heart there will be shame" suggests that the singer has a lot of pent-up thoughts and feelings that he has not been able to express. He feels ashamed of these thoughts and perhaps fears that if he were to share them he would be judged and ostracized.
The final lines "Locked away without pain, for this I hold the blame, I am so alone, alone" seem to encapsulate the singer's sense of isolation and loneliness. He feels trapped inside his own mind and unable to connect with others. It is a raw and honest expression of the pain that can come from feeling disconnected and lost.
Overall, the lyrics to Now and Then are a powerful meditation on the human experience, dealing with themes of isolation, loneliness, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Size direction,
The way things are perceived in terms of their dimensions,
His reflection,
The image of oneself seen in a reflective surface,
Lies infection,
Falsehood spreading rapidly and causing harm,
Tries repression.
Attempts to suppress or restrain one's thoughts or feelings,
Colours turning their shades on this fine day,
The hues of the day changing with time,
Life is crawling away on this great day.
The passing of time and the fleeting nature of existence,
No thought have ever been tamed,
None of the ideas or notions have been truly subdued,
In my heart there will be shame,
Regret or remorse felt deeply in one's innermost being,
Locked away without pain,
Kept in a state of confinement without any discomfort,
For this i hold the blame.
As the cause of this situation, I must take responsibility.
I am so alone, alone.
A feeling of complete isolation and loneliness.
I am so alone, alone.
A reinforcement of the previous line, emphasizing the depth of loneliness felt.
Contributed by Emma F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.