Sister Machine Gun founder Chris Randall and guitarist Miguel Turanzas are, without a doubt, one of music's hardest working duos. In addition to recording, producing, and touring, they also run their own record label, Positron! Records. Not simply a vehicle for SMG, the label has unleashed 17 releases including albums from Van Christie (Die Warzau), Matt Walker (Filter/Smashing Pumpkins/Cupcakes) and Mike Fisher (Machines of Loving Grace).
SMG's extensive catalog explores just about every genre of modern music, from electro-funk dance to Hendrix-flavored industrial strength rock. Their seventh release, Influence, is an elektro-industrial tour-de-force that recalls the industrial sound of the late eighties and early nineties. Heavy beats, distorted guitars and pounding synth lines drag your favorite sounds kicking and screaming into the future.
Sister Machine Gun's catalog of critically acclaimed albums includes four on the pioneering Wax Trax! label: Sins Of The Flesh (1992), The Torture Technique (1994), Burn (1995), and Metropolis (1997); plus three on their own Positron! Records: [R]evolution (1999) sistermachinegun: 6.0 (2001) and Influence (2003). The liner notes of these albums read like a veritable Who's Who of modern music, and include Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie/Tin Machine), Sascha & En Esch (KMFDM), Charles Levi (Thrill Kill Kult/Pigface), Gino Lenardo (Filter), Scott Churilla (The Rev. Horton Heat), Matt Walker (Filter/Smashing Pumpkins/Cupcakes), and Jim Marcus & Van Christie (Die Warzau).
With fans that treat the band as a religion, and an online presence second to none, Sister Machine Gun are Chicago's Ambassadors of Industrial.
Torque
Sister Machine Gun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There ain't nothing going on inside my mind
'Cause I'm trying not to think enough about me
But I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
And my brain's in overdrive, I never can tell
But the fact of the matter is I know quite well
Livin' ain't livin' in a small amount
So take it from me, every little bit counts
Every little bit counts...
Run away, every little thing I fear
I know I have to get the hell out of here
But there's something getting away from the things I don't like
If there ain't something better coming down the pike
Never had a heart attack happen this bad
And I never met nothing that could make me mad
But, then, livin' ain't livin' in a small amount
So take it from me, every little bit counts
Every little bit counts...
(I need to ? down like this...)
Never saw anything happen that fast
Though I ain't really planning on making this last
But I know that everything I do is wrong
And I'm trying to fit where I don't belong
My brain's in overdrive, never can tell
But the fact of the matter is I know quite well
Livin' ain't livin' in a small amount
So take it from me, every little bit counts
Every little bit counts...
(I need tProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0
? down like this...)
In Sister Machine Gun's song "Torque," the singer is driving with the top down and outwardly appears to be content. However, inside their mind, they are struggling with their own thoughts and emotions. They are trying to focus on something other than themselves but cannot escape their own inner turmoil. The lyrics suggest a feeling of being caught between two difficult situations (“caught between the devil and the deep blue sea”) and the resulting feeling of being stuck in a cycle of overthinking.
Despite their struggles, the singer recognizes the importance of every little bit of positivity or progress, and encourages listeners to recognize the same. The repeated phrase “every little bit counts” suggests the importance of taking small steps towards growth and improvement, even if progress feels slow. Overall, the song speaks to the struggle of trying to navigate the complexities of one’s mind while recognizing the power of small steps towards change.
Line by Line Meaning
Riding with the top down, everything's fine
Driving with an open top car feels carefree and enjoyable, but it's just a facade.
There ain't nothing going on inside my mind
The singer is trying to avoid thinking about their problems and worries.
'Cause I'm trying not to think enough about me
The lack of self-care and self-reflection is causing the singer to feel lost.
But I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
The artist is in a difficult situation, with two equally bad options to choose from.
And my brain's in overdrive, I never can tell
The artist's mind is racing and it's hard to keep track of their thoughts and feelings.
But the fact of the matter is I know quite well
Despite their confusion, the singer is aware of their situation and what they need to do.
Livin' ain't livin' in a small amount
Merely existing isn't enough, the singer wants to truly live and experience life.
So take it from me, every little bit counts
Small actions and decisions can make a big difference in one's life.
Run away, every little thing I fear
The artist wants to escape their fears and problems by running away from them.
I know I have to get the hell out of here
The artist feels trapped and needs to leave their current situation in order to find happiness and fulfillment.
But there's something getting away from the things I don't like
There are still things bothering the singer that they can't escape from or avoid.
If there ain't something better coming down the pike
The artist is hoping for something or someone better to come into their life and make it worthwhile.
Never had a heart attack happen this bad
The singer has never felt this unsure, scared, or helpless before.
And I never met nothing that could make me mad
The singer has never been angry or upset enough to take action and change their situation.
Never saw anything happen that fast
The events in the singer's life have been happening quickly and unexpectedly.
Though I ain't really planning on making this last
The artist knows that their current situation isn't sustainable or desirable in the long run.
But I know that everything I do is wrong
The artist is feeling lost and unsure about their actions and decisions.
And I'm trying to fit where I don't belong
The singer is trying to force themselves into a situation or group where they don't feel comfortable or accepted.
(I need to ? down like this...)
This line doesn't provide enough context to determine its true meaning or significance in the song.
Contributed by Sadie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.