The band formed in 1996 and recorded and released their first studio album in 1998. The band last recorded in 2002. The last official band tour was in late 2002 through January 2003; but, the band has made several reunion appearances since, including Desertfest Berlin and Desertfest London in 2014. The band continues with appearances at festival events in the US and Europe, and in 2017 are writing and recording new music for release.
A potent force in the stoner rock field, Sixty Watt Shaman succeeded due to a more varied songwriting approach than many of their contemporaries. Seed Of Decades has some of the standard influences of the genre (i.e. Kyuss, Fu Manchu,early Black Sabbath and other 70s heavy rock bands), blended into a surprisingly original-sounding record. They can throw down with the best of them for sheer heaviness, but also realize the importance of subtlety and mood in their music.
Distance
Sixty Watt Shaman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gone an eternity
But I'm on my own
Left the keys to the house
By the back door
In an old clay jar
These are my last minutes
On a long distance call
But I know…
I know that it won't be long
There's been miles and towns
In a dirty van
Livin' on the road
Been feedin myself
On a dollar bill
Sleepin on a stranger's floor
These are my last minutes
On a long distance call
Hungry and tired
But I know…
I know that it won't be long
The lyrics to Sixty Watt Shaman's song "Distance" describe the feelings of a musician who has been on the road for so long that they feel like they've been gone for an eternity. They are separated from their home and loved ones, and the only thing they have left to remind them of their life before the road is an old clay jar with the keys to their house. The musician is on a long distance call, likely with a loved one, and is feeling both hungry and tired. The lyrics suggest that being on the road is difficult, but the musician is determined to keep going because they know that it won't be long before they're finally home.
The lyrics use simple language and metaphors to paint a picture of the musician's journey. The reference to a 'dirty van' and 'sleeping on a stranger's floor' suggest that the musician is traveling in a modest way, without the comforts of a hotel room, and likely playing small venues. Although the lyrics do not explicitly state it, there is a sense of longing and homesickness that runs throughout the song, which give listeners a glimpse into the life of a touring musician.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been away
I have been gone from home for a very long period of time.
Gone an eternity
I have been gone for a very long period of time.
But I'm on my own
I am all alone in my travels.
Left the keys to the house
I left the keys to my house behind.
By the back door
I left the keys by the back door of my house.
In an old clay jar
I stored the keys in an old clay jar.
These are my last minutes
I only have a few minutes left.
On a long distance call
I am on a phone call with someone who is very far away.
Hungry and tired
I am very hungry and tired.
But I know…
I am aware that my current struggles will not last forever.
I know that it won't be long
I am confident that my current struggles will soon come to an end.
There's been miles and towns
I have travelled many miles and visited many towns.
In a dirty van
I have travelled in a van that is not very clean.
Livin' on the road
I have been living my life while travelling.
Been feedin myself
I have been finding my own food to eat.
On a dollar bill
I have been eating very cheaply.
Sleepin on a stranger's floor
I have been sleeping on the floor of a stranger's house.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesse Foster
Great songs!
Sean Devlin
Yeah, just Googled Jim Forrester, bassist for Sixty Watt. He was shot outside a tattoo shop in Baltimore last year. It appears to be unsolved at this point. Enjoying a Coors Light and this awesome bass solo and remembering how awesome this music was and still is. R.I.P. Rev. Jim. Thanks for the tunes, brother!
TheEndKing
FUCK! The groove is so gradual and smooth, it just gets into you.
Bell County Tourism
RIP Jim. We love you brother
NaCl Sigma
this is good weed!