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)
Trash
Silverchair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome! Nothing short of anarchy
It's so hard to find out who you want to be
Welcome! Nothing short of anarchy
It's so hard to find out who you want to be, oh!
Go!
I couldn't find what you needed, oh to be a double
A big pill but you know that you need a poison
Open, you need it but I returned the point of acceptance
How brave, your parades never do much
Violence!
Hopeless fight!
Call it straight!
Big black steel cap dealt rejection
Yeah, yeah
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Yay
Ugh!
The lyrics of Silverchair's song "Trash" are cryptic and open to interpretation. The refrain of "Welcome! Nothing short of anarchy / It's so hard to find out who you want to be" suggests a theme of rebellion and confusion. The singer seems to be struggling to find his identity, and rejecting societal norms in the process. The lines "I couldn't find what you needed, oh to be a double / A big pill but you know that you need a poison" may suggest a conflict between societal pressure to conform and the singer's desire for individuality, as he rejects the "poison" that society offers.
The section "Violence! / Hopeless fight! / Call it straight!" may suggest frustration with the struggle to be oneself and the violent and hopeless feeling that can accompany it. The image of rejection with the line "Big black steel cap dealt rejection" points to a sense of alienation and perhaps even oppression. The song ends abruptly, with an exclamation of frustration.
Overall, "Trash" seems to be a rebellious anthem about rejecting societal norms and seeking authenticity. The lyrics suggest a struggle against pressure to conform, and the difficulty of finding oneself amidst the chaos of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome! Nothing short of anarchy
The situation is chaotic and unregulated upon entering the song.
It's so hard to find out who you want to be
The confusion and difficulty in discovering one's identity.
Go!
Prompt for action or continuation of the previous statement.
I couldn't find what you needed, oh to be a double
The inability to meet the expectations of someone else's standards or desires.
A big pill but you know that you need a poison
Taking something harmful or toxic despite awareness of the negative effects.
Open, you need it but I returned the point of acceptance
Someone rejecting another's effort or offer to help.
How brave, your parades never do much
Sarcastic remark toward ostentatious expressions that prove to be ineffective.
Violence!
Outburst of aggression or hostility.
Hopeless fight!
Struggling against an overwhelmingly adverse situation that seems impossible to win.
Call it straight!
Request to speak the truth or state what's on one's mind.
Big black steel cap dealt rejection
Rejection represented as a blow from an intimidating object or figure.
Yeah, yeah
An affirmative or agreeing expression.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Vocalization of excitement or enthusiasm.
Yay
Expressing positive emotion or success.
Ugh!
Exclamation of disgust or disappointment.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: DANIEL JOHNS, BEN GILLIES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind