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)
Dearest Helpless
Silverchair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a breath to distort the fear in your eyes
I don't mean it to hurt
But every time I hate you I think of you first
He's made you blind
You're better on your own
I'm just the kind
Equalize the pressure
It's all too much
Sex drugs and image is just enough to get you by in the
Real world
He's made you blind
You're better on your own
I'm just the kind
To bring you down
He's made you blind
I'm just the kind
To bring you, to bring you
He's made you blind
You're better own your own
I'm just the kind
To bring you down
The lyrics of Silverchair's "Dearest Helpless" are complex and introspective, revealing the inner turmoil of the singer. The song speaks to the cyclical nature of relationships and the ways in which they can both uplift and destroy us. The singer sings, "Dearest helpless intent's not as bad as the action / Take a breath to distort the fear in your eyes / I don't mean it to hurt / But every time I hate you I think of you first." Here, the singer is acknowledging that, despite their best intentions, they have hurt the person they are addressing. They recognize that their intent does not excuse their actions and that they may have caused fear and pain in the other person.
The second verse is somewhat cryptic, with lines like, "Equalize the pressure / It's all too much / Sex, drugs, and image is just enough to get you by in the real world." The singer seems to be observing the other person's struggles and possibly criticizing their methods of coping with the pressures of life. They may be trying to reach out and help the other person, but they are also cognizant of their own tendency to bring others down. The repeating chorus emphasizes this, with the singer acknowledging that they are not always the best influence, but the other person's partner is even worse: "He's made you blind / You're better on your own / I'm just the kind / To bring you down."
Overall, "Dearest Helpless" is a deeply personal song that explores the complexities of relationships and the darkness that can reside in our own hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
Dearest helpless intent's not as bad as the action
Even though I have bad intentions towards you, I'm not as harmful as my negative thoughts about you.
Take a breath to distort the fear in your eyes
Take a deep breath to calm yourself down and hide the fear you're feeling from me.
I don't mean it to hurt
I say hurtful things to you, but I don't intend to cause you pain or harm.
But every time I hate you I think of you first
Whenever I feel hatred towards you, you come to the forefront of my mind as the focus of that emotion.
He's made you blind
Someone has caused you to lose sight of yourself and what's best for you.
You're better on your own
You would be better off alone rather than with the person who has made you lose sight of yourself.
I'm just the kind
I am the type of person who is not good for you, and may even bring you harm.
To bring you down
My presence or influence in your life will cause you to feel worse or have a negative impact on you.
Equalize the pressure
Find balance in your life and reduce stress by not putting too much pressure on yourself.
It's all too much
Life can be overwhelming and stressful, and sometimes it feels like too much to handle.
Sex drugs and image is just enough to get you by in the Real world
In the real world, people may use sex, drugs, and their image to get by or cope with life's challenges.
To bring you, to bring you
I am determined to bring you down or cause harm to you in some way.
You're better own your own
You would be better off alone than with someone who is detrimental to your well-being.
I'm just the kind
I am the type of person who is not good for you and has a negative influence on you.
To bring you down
Being around me will cause you to feel worse or have a negative impact on you.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind