Inspired by the groundbreaking music of Chrome, Kraftwerk, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, Portion Control, The Legendary Pink Dots, and others, Skinny Puppy experimented with electronic recording techniques and methods. the band composed multi-layered music generally using keyboards, synthesizers, found sounds, drum machines, live percussion, tape splices, samplers, and conventional rock music instruments. Whereas many contemporary remixes and re-edits of songs were created in order to make a song more suitable for dancing or different radio formats, Skinny Puppy approached remixing and re-editing as an artistic process of reinterpreting compositions, often using remixes to push their sound into styles of ambient, dub and techno. Skinny Puppy's often informal, improvisational approach to musical composition is indicated by use of the term brap, coined by them and defined as a verb meaning "to get together, hook up electronic instruments, get high, and record".
Skinny Puppy's first two proper releases, Bites and Remission, fall somewhere between the found-sound chaos of early Cabaret Voltaire and the abrasive, futuristic synthpop of the Units or Crash Course in Science. While the intense synth programming, abstract rhythms, and surreal samples--all Puppy trademarks--are present here, the albums owe as much to new wave as to industrial.
A subsequent EP, Chainsaw, featured a remix of Bites's "Assimilate" that earned the band some attention from club DJs. 1986's Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse earned Skinny Puppy greater attention, as "Dig It" and "Stairs and Flowers" became alternative club and college radio hits; the video for the former was played occasionally on MTV. The album is arguably less club-friendly than its predecessors, as the band continues to refine a claustrophobic, almost surreal sound that buries rhythm and melody. The follow-up, Cleanse, Fold, and Manipulate treads similar territory.
VIVIsectVI was a breakthrough for the band, with "Testure" becoming their biggest club hit to date, and the album itself was received warmly by college radio. The title of the album was a pun intended to associate vivisection with Satanism (ie. the "666 sect"). The album shows SP integrating more political and social themes: "Testure" is an animal rights song; "VX Gas Attack" concerns the use of chemical weapons; "State Aid" promotes sexual abstinence to stop the spread of AIDS/HIV.
Ogre had become very interested in Ministry and Al Jougensen's side projects, and he persuaded the rest of the band to allow Jourgensen to produce Rabies. While "Worlock" (a track Jourgensen didn't produce) remains an industrial club classic, the album was received coolly, as many thought Jourgensen's heavy metal guitar-based signatures did not compliment SP's more complex, intricate sonic sculptures. The band briefly disbanded afterward.
They reformed and returned to their electronic roots with Too Dark Park, a hallucinogenic album that owes as much to psychedelia as industrial music. Two years later, "Last Rights" covered similar territory, culminating in the epic sound sculpture "Download." Although their sound had moved away from industrial dance, these albums expanded the band's audience, and provided the template for many industrial bands of the 1990s.
Following "Last Rights", the band, poised for a major breakthrough in the wake of Nine Inch Nails' commercial success, left their longtime label Nettwerk for American Recordings. Their highly anticipated followup was unfortunately marred by personal tragedy - the death of Dwayne Goettel - and the band's inability to agree on a direction for the record. Numerous producers, including Martyn Atkins (PigFace/Invisible Records founder) and Roli Mosimann (Swans), came and went without success; finally the band regrouped with longtime collaborator Dave "Rave" Ogilvie to finish "The Process". The band expanded their range, working with gothic pop and heavy metal, alongside their familiar electronic textures. While seemingly rushed to completion following Goettel's death (it sounds half-finished in parts), it is an interesting change for the group. Unfortunately American Recordings, tired of waiting for the record, did little to promote it. Skinny Puppy broke up afterward.
With interests in filmmaking, they made a number of music videos, each attempting to further the theme and concept of the composition at hand. Most of these videos received little air play by major music video networks such as MTV (USA) and MuchMusic (Canada) and some were outright banned. For example the video for "Worlock" was universally banned because it is a "non stop gore fest" of clips from various horror movies. Because none of these clips were authorized for usage in the video it has never been commercially available.
Their concerts have been marked by their bizarre and bloody conceptual performance art, which for every concert was planned with the intention of challenging the notions of all who observed. Their music had some acceptance in dance clubs because of its danceable beats, but had little play on commercial radio. Skinny Puppy had little commercial success outside of Canada, but their influence on industrial music is immense.
The band began with the intention of doing something "raw" and "real." Ogre's vocals, one of Skinny Puppy's most recognizable features, are typically roughly growled snarls of half-sentences and fragmented stream of consciousness. Lyrical themes included animal rights, politics, religion, horror, drug abuse, disease, and environmental degradation; these themes were often lyrically and conceptually intertwined. Other core aspects of the Skinny Puppy sound include the mixture of heavy sampling and experimental noise with softer musical styles sometimes approaching synthpop.
Post-punk politics are a recurring theme utilised by Skinny Puppy. Some say the meaning of their name is that their music and lyrics give a view of the world from the eyes of a starving animal. They have long had an interest in animal rights; this is most obvious in their song Testure, which is about vivisection and other animal testing being scientific fraud. During many of their concerts Ogre would take the role of "scientist" and experiment on a stuffed animal. In 1988 they were arrested for their mocked-up vivisections, and found it ironic to be arrested for a parody of what was happening for real across the street from their concert. During their TGWOTR tour, criticism of the Bush regime was a recurring theme, particularly during their performance of VX Gas Attack, a song about atrocities perpetrated by Saddam Hussein, originally released while he was still considered an ally of the United States.
The last two studio albums are points of contention for old school Puppy fans. During the recording of The Process, the band broke up. Even more tragically, Dwayne Rudolph Goettel died, from an apparent heroin overdose at his parent's home, soon afterwards. Some people say that cEvin, Nivek, and Dwayne didn't connect as well on this album as they had earlier because their respective musical interests were diverging at the time, others claim it was the heroin.
Key and Ogre later reunited as Skinny Puppy for a one-off concert in Germany in 2003. Afterwards, they decided Skinny Puppy should continue as an ongoing project. The newly reconstituted Skinny Puppy released The Greater Wrong of the Right in 2004, their first studio album in 8 years, and have been continuing since, constantly evolving their sound.
There have been a number of Skinny Puppy side projects, both before, and after the breakup in 1995. The Tear Garden is a collaboration between cEvin and Edward Ka-Spel (and later most band members) of The Legendary Pink Dots. Other noteable side projects include Download, Hilt, Plateau, Cyberaktif (a collaboration between Key & Goettel and Bill Leeb, a.k.a. Wilhelm Schroeder), Rx (one-off collaboration between Ogre and Martin Atkins), ADuck (Goettel's side project), A CHUD Convention (one-off collaboration with a;GRUHM...), Ogre's contributions to Pigface, Ogre and Mark Walk's band ohGr and solo releases from cEvin Key.
Left Handshake
Skinny Puppy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My sickness grows inside
Help me out of it!
(You are a light. You are a sound. Drift within. This is your body)
I decayed and rot away, your bloody mind's set (did you get lost on the trip?)
You don't know me... (did you get trapped in memory?)
No memory...
Dark fear, walk 'til one A.M. (what did you do?)
Last morning... (you brought your own mind games with you)
Little one or two (trivial paranoia)
No color... (you had to make it a bad trip)
Darkness, for short
Mind reflecting, in the paint of a picture
Cracks of the believable vision
In terminal, watered down
Air, take ingest it, poison
Recursed, repeats, astounds
Presenting the sight
Visual betrayal, last rights denied (quiet, dormant sea of light)
Cyclical trails, a long road inside (buried, a mass grave)
Underestimated, the state of disease
Dirt lipped motherfuck chose a life of ease
Hard to believe, when spirit falls
Takes a soul, travels a trip, to the edge of it all
Why can't they see?
I'm still in control, still having eyes (you don't see right)
Plans lifeless, last rights denied!
Medicated eyes, least to expect him
Who controls, no one right?
Shadow given, it's a decision (soft... It's soft, tissue soft)
Flip or toss this coin, head or tail
Cause effect breakdown, inexperience fails (lift... lift and fold, its soft tissue, soft)
Washing their hands, pointing.. This way!
Washing their hands, point on this way (sink gently, into dark fertile marsh)
Washing their hands, guilt and denial
Washing their hands, pointing away
Washing their hands, pointing this way
Washing his hands, point of denial... (sink, sink, into your... dark)
Who were the righteous, need that be so wrong? (in this mirror of confession)
No guilt, no guilt, I see no guilt (what do you see there?)
No guilt... In... (your personality)
Inexperience failed (all your goals, and your fears)
My fears are my... (your ambitions)
Ambitions? Hey, it's okay (the chess game, of your life)
This world is such a stupid... (you gotta check that, you can't take that on the trip dude)
Hold on, inside... (all those animal impulses)
Way down, hiding down (which you hide, and you keep down below)
Too many, don't you hide this... (all this baggage too, must be checked)
I wouldn't expect it could be (you can't take that)
I never knew I would (on the billion year voyage)
Never wanted to, welcome water, poison (are you ready?)
Sickness, sickness grows inside (then take this chalice, the elixir of life)
Weather, wishing you could grow up
The lyrics of Skinny Puppy's song "Left Handshake" are complex and seem to allude to various themes related to the human condition, such as mental illness, personal demons, and control. The song depicts a narrator who feels like they are drowning in the sickness that grows inside them. They beg for help, but it is unclear if there is anyone around to hear them. The use of the metaphorical language in the song illustrates the despair that the singer feels. In the lines "You are a light, you are a sound, drift within. This is your body" the singer seems to be giving up and relinquishing control.
The song also talks about the state of disease and how it can make one feel underestimated. The singer mentions a dirt lipped motherfuck who chose a life of ease, which can be interpreted as a reference to someone who gave up on fighting their disease. They also criticize the people who wash their hands of the problem and point in different directions, not willing to take responsibility.
The song's overall theme is one of desperation and the struggle to maintain control in the face of internal turmoil. It seems to portray the way critical moments can make or break a person, with various voices vying for control. The seemingly disjointed lyrics, combined with the eerie music, create a sense of disorientation that enhances the feeling of losing control.
Line by Line Meaning
I think I'm water
Feeling as if one is fluid and adaptable, flowing with the circumstances around them
My sickness grows inside
An internal battle with illness or dis-ease that is worsening
Help me out of it!
Seeking assistance or relief from the difficult situation
(You are a light. You are a sound. Drift within. This is your body)
A reminder to stay present and connected to oneself and one's surroundings
I decayed and rot away, your bloody mind's set (did you get lost on the trip?)
Feeling as though one's individuality and sense of self is being destroyed or disregarded by others, questioning if this was always the case
You don't know me... (did you get trapped in memory?)
Feeling misunderstood or unseen, due to possible past events that have caused one to feel stuck or confined in their own mind
Encovered in a wall... (did you forget?)
Feeling trapped and unable to break free from constraints, possibly forgetting the ways to overcome such obstacles
No memory...
Memory loss, forgetting important aspects of one's life
Dark fear, walk 'til one A.M. (what did you do?)
Walking through fear and anxiety, questioning past decisions
Last morning... (you brought your own mind games with you)
Realizing that one's own thoughts and actions contributed to the current state of mind
Little one or two (trivial paranoia)
Experiencing small bouts of unfounded fear or anxiety
No color... (you had to make it a bad trip)
Feeling as though the world lacks vibrancy and depth due to one's own negative perception and outlook
Darkness, for short
A short period of darkness and negativity
Mind reflecting, in the paint of a picture
The mind actively creating and reflecting on one's perceptions and experiences
Cracks of the believable vision
Realizing that the picture-perfect vision of life has many flaws and inconsistencies
In terminal, watered down
In a state of decline or deterioration, lacking vitality
Air, take ingest it, poison
Taking in toxicity, whether metaphorically or literally
Recursed, repeats, astounds
Stuck in a pattern of negative behavior or thinking that is difficult to break out of and is causing shock or surprise
Presenting the sight
Showing the view or perspective of the situation
Visual betrayal, last rights denied (quiet, dormant sea of light)
Feeling as though one has been deceived by what they see, and not being allowed to move on from the negativity
Cyclical trails, a long road inside (buried, a mass grave)
Stuck in a cycle of negativity and self-destruction, with the past weighing heavily on the present
Underestimated, the state of disease
Feeling as though the severity of one's illness is not being fully understood or acknowledged
Dirt lipped motherfuck chose a life of ease
A derogatory comment directed at someone who has chosen the easy way out of a difficult situation, rather than facing it head-on
Hard to believe, when spirit falls
Feeling disillusioned and lost in oneself and one's spirituality
Takes a soul, travels a trip, to the edge of it all
Going through a difficult journey that tests one's spirit and pushes them to the brink of what they can handle
Why can't they see?
Feeling unseen and unheard
I'm still in control, still having eyes (you don't see right)
Asserting one's control over a situation, even if others do not see it that way
Plans lifeless, last rights denied!
Feeling as though one's plans for the future are falling apart, with no hope of redemption
Medicated eyes, least to expect him
Feeling drugged or medicated, with no indication of when or if things will improve
Who controls, no one right?
Questioning who has control over one's life and circumstances, without a clear answer
Shadow given, it's a decision (soft... It's soft, tissue soft)
Becoming aware of a negative aspect of oneself or one's life, but choosing to ignore it or overlook it
Flip or toss this coin, head or tail
Being presented with a difficult decision or choice to make
Cause effect breakdown, inexperience fails (lift... lift and fold, its soft tissue, soft)
Experiencing the consequences of one's actions or choices, and realizing they were not prepared or experienced enough to handle the situation
Washing their hands, pointing.. This way!
Others distancing themselves or deflecting responsibility for the negative situation
Washing their hands, point on this way (sink gently, into dark fertile marsh)
Continuing to ignore or overlook their role in the situation, and remaining stagnant in the darkness
Washing their hands, guilt and denial
Feeling guilty and in denial about their role in the situation
Washing their hands, pointing away
Completely disowning responsibility for the situation and blaming others
Washing his hands, point of denial... (sink, sink, into your... dark)
An individual remaining in denial and refusing to take responsibility for their actions
Who were the righteous, need that be so wrong? (in this mirror of confession)
Questioning the morality of one's actions, and if what they did was truly wrong or not
No guilt, no guilt, I see no guilt (what do you see there?)
Denying that one should feel guilty for their actions, and questioning if others can see and understand this perspective
No guilt... In... (your personality)
Believing that one's personality traits or innate characteristics make them exempt from feeling guilty
Inexperience failed (all your goals, and your fears)
Realizing that one's lack of experience has led to a failure in achieving goals and facing fears
My fears are my... (your ambitions)
Using one's fears and anxieties as a catalyst for pursuing their ambitions and dreams
Ambitions? Hey, it's okay (the chess game, of your life)
Encouraging oneself to pursue their ambitions, even though it may feel like a game of strategy and risk
This world is such a stupid... (you gotta check that, you can't take that on the trip dude)
Feeling as though the world and its aspects are ridiculous, and realizing that this negative outlook will not be conducive to a positive experience
Hold on, inside... (all those animal impulses)
Battling against one's base instincts and natural impulses, in order to maintain control and stability
Way down, hiding down (which you hide, and you keep down below)
Suppressing and hiding away negative aspects of oneself, in order to present a positive image
Too many, don't you hide this... (all this baggage too, must be checked)
Acknowledging that there are too many negative aspects to hide away, and that they must be confronted and addressed
I wouldn't expect it could be (you can't take that)
Being surprised or overwhelmed by a difficult situation or aspect of oneself
I never knew I would (on the billion year voyage)
Reflecting on how the journey of life can be full of unexpected twists and turns
Never wanted to, welcome water, poison (are you ready?)
Feeling unprepared for the challenges and difficulties of life, but being forced to face them anyway
Sickness, sickness grows inside (then take this chalice, the elixir of life)
The internal battle with illness or negativity is growing worse, but there is hope for healing and transformation
Weather, wishing you could grow up
Feeling stuck in a state of immaturity or uncertainty, and wishing for growth and maturity
Contributed by Julia N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@juno3242
The inclusion of this song on the Last Rights tracklist is what elevates that album from a 9 to a 10 in my personal opinion. It works so well as the final buffer of humanity after circustance before Download comes in and wipes the slate completely clean, and is such a creepy and rare personal performance from Ogre before the final instrumental stretch of download. What a tune.
@Meowmixmaster
Well said. One of those rare perfect albums, especially with the inclusion of this track.
@vincenzollamas
i like also how his vocals are mostly 2nd seat to the Timothy Leary samples, & a response/reiteration
@jimbothompson6540
Well said
@Jw071
Having surviving stage iv cancer and losing everything to uncaring, ignorant, and hateful people while I struggled put this song on a whole other level for me. Burned up a lot of NIN and Ministry in the last few years as well. But it’s okay, we gonna rise above.
@shannonjenkins3610
Oh man, so glad you kicked cancers ass and are living life! Hope you're able to make it to one of SP's final shows this year!! 🎶 ❤️ 🎶
@Skullkan6
This song just proves the strength of Ogre as a vocalist. There's lines in here no other vocalist could have pulled off, small segments of melody to string you along deeper and deeper down into darkness.
@herbyverstink
would have made a fantastic album even more fantasticier
@chickenblaster
Oh man, thanks for sharing this, I love this track!
@cablevamp3163
Man this band changed my life