From their third album (Neon Ballroom) onward, the band have tried to experiment with slightly more complex song structures, pop influences, and the usage of orchestral backing on a few songs, most notably on their fourth album Diorama with composer Van Dyke Parks contributing to three of the tracks. This change is shown on their performance in their only live album "Live At Faraway Stables" where the band plays two sets - the first comprising newer material where they are backed by two keyboardists to simulate orchestral arrangements, and the second containing their earlier material.
2007 saw the release of the band's latest album Young Modern, featuring the lead single Straight Lines; the song reached number one on the ARIA singles charts. The album was supported by a full tour of North America (their first since 1999), and an extensive tour of Australia and New Zealand with fellow Aussie post-grunge rockers Powderfinger, entitled "Across the Great Divide."
To quote Daniel Johns, "I've been thinking a lot since we finished [[album artist=Silverchair]Young Modern] about where this fits into the other stuff we've done. The way I see it, the first album was naivete, the second one was anger, the third one was depression and the last one was escapism. Young Modern is all about acceptance."
The band announced an indefinite hiatus in May 2011:
"We formed Silverchair nearly 20 years ago when we were just 12 years old. Today we stand by the same rules now as we did back then ... if the band stops being fun and if it's no longer fulfilling creatively, then we need to stop. [...] Despite our best efforts over the last year or so, it's become increasingly clear that the spark simply isn't there between the three of us at the moment. Therefore after much soul searching we wanted to let you know that we're putting Silverchair into "indefinite hibernation" and we've decided to each do our own thing for the foreseeable future".
—Daniel, Ben and Chris, chairpage.com (Silverchair Official Website), 25 May 2011.
Members:
* Daniel Johns (vocals, guitar)
* Chris Joannou (bass)
* Ben Gillies (drums)
Albums:
* Tomorrow (EP) (1994)
* Frogstomp (1995)
* Freak Show (1997)
* Neon Ballroom (1999)
* The Best Of - Volume One (2000)
* Diorama (2002)
* Rarities 1994-1999 (2002)
* Live From Faraway Stables (2CD & DVD) (2003)
* Young Modern (2007)
Asylum
Silverchair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I feel no turbulence
The ocean sleeps upon a shelf
And it feeds my apathy
But I can feel it in the night
Like rain upon my skin inside a winter
But you began to splinter
'Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
I'll feel no violence
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
To my own asylum
Dry in the day, I'm fading away in the night
I feel the sun before its light
And it fades away into the night
I was afraid I'll feed myself or clean the shelf
And kill for shame
But I can feel it in the night
Collect the rocks and throw them overborders
To shake the mighty waters
And clear myself from hiding every thorn
'Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
I'll feel no violence
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
To my own asylum
Dry in the day, I'm fading away
And we grow
For we gone away right out the window
You're just a fool for him
For him (x2)
'Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
I'll feel no violence
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
To my own asylum
Dry in the day, I'm fading away (x3)
In the night
The lyrics of Silverchair's song "Asylum" delve into the internal turmoil and struggles of the singer, conveying a sense of isolation and detachment from the world around them. The first few lines describe the singer's current state of being, where they find comfort in the cotton crib, and the ocean seems to feed their apathy. However, as night falls, the singer's inner turmoil becomes more apparent. The rain is likened to a physical sensation upon the skin, and the image of splintering represents the singer's own emotional fracturing.
The second verse contains a sense of hope and redemption, as the singer seeks to clear themselves of their "thorns" and find asylum within themselves. This aspiration is emphasized with the repetition of "every time I see your face in a cloud, I'll feel no violence," implying that the person they see in the clouds serves as a beacon of hope and peace for the singer. As the song progresses, it becomes more abrasive and raw, with the lines "we gone away right out the window" and "you're just a fool for him" potentially referencing a past relationship or situation that has caused the singer's pain.
Overall, "Asylum" is a haunting and introspective song, exploring themes of loneliness, detachment, and hopelessness while still maintaining a sense of hope for redemption and personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Contained in my cotton crib
I am in a comfortable and safe place
Where I feel no turbulence
There is no disturbance or chaos around me
The ocean sleeps upon a shelf
I am surrounded by vastness and depth
And it feeds my apathy
This environment makes me indifferent and unresponsive
But I can feel it in the night
Despite feeling numb, I am aware of something unsettling
Like rain upon my skin inside a winter
This feeling is cold and uncomfortable
But you began to splinter
The cause of my discomfort is starting to break apart
If I decide to recognize my thorns
I need to acknowledge my own flaws and negative traits
'Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
Thinking of you brings me peace and calmness
I'll feel no violence
I am not angry or aggressive when I think of you
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
Help me change my perspective and get out of this negative state of mind
To my own asylum
Guide me towards my own place of safety and security
Dry in the day, I'm fading away in the night
My emotions are suppressed during the day but overpower me at night
I feel the sun before its light
I sense positive energy before I see any physical evidence of it
And it fades away into the night
This positivity disappears as the darkness of the night comes
I was afraid I'll feed myself or clean the shelf
I am scared of taking care of myself or my surroundings
And kill for shame
I am willing to harm myself to avoid feeling ashamed
Collect the rocks and throw them overborders
I need to let go of negative thoughts and feelings and get rid of them completely
To shake the mighty waters
This will create turbulence and instability, but it is necessary to cleanse myself
And clear myself from hiding every thorn
I need to remove every negative trait that I have been hiding
And we grow
We evolve and progress
For we gone away right out the window
We have left our old selves behind and moved on
You're just a fool for him
You are foolish for chasing after someone who is not good for you
Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
Thinking of you brings me peace and calmness
I'll feel no violence
I am not angry or aggressive when I think of you
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
Help me change my perspective and get out of this negative state of mind
To my own asylum
Guide me towards my own place of safety and security
Dry in the day, I'm fading away
My emotions are suppressed during the day and I am slowly losing myself
In the night
But at night, they overwhelm me and make me feel lost
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL JOHNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Intan Hutauruk
Contained in my cotton crib
Where I feel no turbulence
The ocean sleeps upon a shelf
And it feeds my apathy
But I can feel it in the night
Like rain upon my skin inside a winter
But you began to splinter
If I decide to recognize my thorns
'Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
I'll feel no violence
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
To my own asylum
Dry in the day, I'm fading away in the night
I feel the sun before its light
And it fades away into the night
I was afraid I'll feed myself or clean the shelf
And kill for shame
But I can feel it in the night
Collect the rocks and throw them overborders
To shake the mighty waters
And clear myself from hiding every thorn
'Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
I'll feel no violence
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
To my own asylum
Dry in the day, I'm fading away
And we grow
For we gone away right out the window
You're just a fool for him
For him (x2)
'Cause every time I see your face in a cloud
I'll feel no violence
So tilt the water 'til it turns me around
To my own asylum
Dry in the day, I'm fading away (x3)
In the night
PaintPastelJade
The things I would do to hear this beautiful song live
Jacob Gidley
live at newcastle 2003
Thomas Smith
This song is no longer available on Australian Spotify, (same with other b sides) please make sure you share this sort of music with the rest of Silverchair, and music fans alike!
Virginia
Is not available on Brazil Spotify either.. beautiful song, i've never heard before.
Rogério Pichinine
brazilian spotify doesn't got shit, only pins in my needles hollywood and english garden are available
Binksyy
It’s back on there (:
Arrest Fatigue
This is a damn shame, it’s a fucking miracle of music
Irma Rocha
Beautiful song! 😍
Arrest Fatigue
One of my all time fave songs ever. EVER.
Flavyane de C.
Gente, ele simplesmente canta assim ao vivo.... Incrível!!!!