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)
Cemetery
Silverchair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not to imitate
But to irritate
All the ones who hate
I may be late
Always seem to get the wrong date well I
Guess it's fate
Full of good will and integrity you see
I have no specialty
Here's your warning, I'll give you click click boom
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
The lyrics of Silverchair's song Cemetery depict a feeling of being stuck in a rut, wanting to break free from the constraints of society's expectations but not knowing how to do so in a way that is truly original. The repetition of the lines "I need a change, not to imitate but to irritate" show a desire to rebel in a way that is uniquely oneself, rather than simply following the crowd. The singer believes that their destiny is predetermined ("guess it's fate"), but they still refuse to conform.
The metaphor of living in a cemetery is a powerful one, suggesting that the singer feels spiritually dead or stuck in a state of inertia. However, the cemetery could also be seen as a place of peace and reflection, a reminder that life is short and precious. The fact that the singer is "full of good will and integrity" suggests that despite their feelings of frustration, they still believe in doing what is right and living with a sense of purpose.
Overall, the message of the song seems to be one of hope, that even in the darkest of places, there is always a way to find one's true path and to break free from the constraints of society. Through the singer's determination to live a life that is uniquely their own, Cemetery encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and to stand up for what they believe in.
Line by Line Meaning
Need a change
I'm feeling stagnant and I want to mix things up
Not to imitate
I don't want to copy others or follow a trend
But to irritate
I want to challenge those who dislike me or disagree with me
All the ones who hate
Those who dislike or resent me
I may be late
I realize that I might be behind schedule or missing out on something
Always seem to get the wrong date
Things often don't seem to fall into place for me at the right time
Well I guess it's fate
I accept that things happen for a reason and I can't control everything
I live in a cemetery
I feel like I'm stuck in a place of death and decay
Full of good will and integrity you see
Despite my surroundings, I still strive to maintain a positive and honest attitude
I have no specialty
I don't have a specific talent or skill that sets me apart
Here's your warning, I'll give you click click boom
I'm warning my detractors that I'm capable of retaliating or fighting back
I need a change
I'm emphasizing the need for something new and different in my life
Not to imitate
I don't want to follow or emulate others
But to irritate
I want to challenge and provoke those who oppose me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL JOHNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryuko Matoi
Need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
All the ones who hate
I may be late
Always seem to get the wrong date well I
Guess it's fate
I live in a cemetery
Full of good will and integrity you see
I have no specialty
Here's your warning, I'll give you click click boom
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
I need a change
Not to imitate
But to irritate
I live in a cemetery
FadeToBlack
This crushes my 43 year old soul with 90’s nostalgia. I almost can’t listen to this, it’s so intense. But beyond beautiful.
meegan allen
I agree
Aimee Stone
I'm 14 and there my favorite band. My mom got me into it when I was 12 but I didn't love them until I was 13:)
Cameron Cantu
36 now. I remember playing this in art class in the 6th grade. The teacher probably thought i was suicidal lol. Well I guess I was a pretty sad kid even though I always appeared to be happy. Miss the 90's regardless.
Rick Goodman
I understand that, it seems so simple at the 1st time you hear it, like yep.....
Really listening slowly breaks something inside
Daz
Rage days
Indo with Bad english
Since cemetery, we all know that Silverchair not just a nirvana or pearl jam copy. They had their own genius style
Flávio Moura
A primeira música que ouvi foi without you, depois dessa Silverchair passou a ser minha banda favorita.
Nathan Malaki
I mean they had to have parents consent before playing live before thats just crazy genius
Jordan Mayer
This isn't bad, but they fell off the map after their 2nd album. It's fine to experiment, but they should have improved on what they did on their first 2 albums. Instead they went into a totally different direction that myself and a lot of fans couldn't get into, and now they're irrelevant. It's too bad.