Spock's Beard play a brand of progressive rock with pop music leanings, drawing much influence from Genesis and the Beatles. They are also well known for their intricate multi-part vocal harmonies and use of counterpoint much in the vein of Gentle Giant. They've released records like the acclaimed The Kindness of Strangers and V before releasing the epic concept album Snow, which also marked the departure of leader and main composer Neal Morse for a solo career as a Christian artist.
After the departure of Neal Morse, the frontman role was taken on by Nick D'Virgilio. The 'new' lineup has released four more studio albums: Feel Euphoria, Octane, Spock's Beard and X.
On tour, the band is supported by drummer Jimmy Keegan, leading to occasional drum duets/duels between him and Nick D'Virgilio (which can be compared to Phil Collins and Chester Thompson at Genesis concerts; drummer Collins also took the lead singer role, after original frontman Peter Gabriel left the band).
On November 21, 2011 news was announced that Nick D'Virgilio would discontinue working with the band (due to his work commitments with "Cirque du soleil"), with Ted Leonard (former Enchant and Thought Chamber) replacing him on vocals and former tour drummer Jimmy Keegan replacing him on drums permanently.
The band was named for the Star Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror," where the crew enters a parallel universe in which the parallel Mr. Spock is differentiated by his beard.
The Light
Spock's Beard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What
Makes a dream
So very different
From any other dream
Where is that
Straight line
To the light
And say no!
This is not right
This does not
Stand up
In the light
II: One Man
Call me cavanaugh
I'm the one with the caveman jaw
Call me Smitty or Jones
Talkin' on the tv's and the telephones
I am the critical masses
Stand back and watch as time passes
I am the centerfold
I know the stories before they get told
You can call me Kennedy
You may have killed him but you cannot kill me
I am the crippled and blind
I paint the pretty pictures on the subway signs
Yeah, I am everything to everyone
And I won't go away at the point of a gun
All of this in one man
I am rock 'n roll
I am classical, country and soul
I am the nun and the flasher
I am the father, the son and the bastard
I am the church and the steeple
Open the door and see all the people
All of this in one man
III: Garden People
I'm coming down
People's garden
Garden people
People's garden
Garden people
IV: Looking Straight Into The Light
Look!
There's a light
Headed for the sun
Stand and you might
Turn to everyone
The lady, the lass
Melt into glass
Looking straight into the light
Stand at the door
That would not open wide
You tried so hard before
But now we're on your side
You see us all - the left and the right
Looking straight into the light
You see us all - the left and the right
Looking straight into the light
Looking straight into the light
Looking straight into the light!
In the light
V: The Man In The Mountain
I am the man in mountain
I stand alone - I've been downed
In a sea of loveless illusion
So many lost - so many drowned
Got no church - got no steeple
Got no time for you people
I live the life of a shadow
The only chance that I have now
Is there
In the light
They wore all kinds of things on their heads to disguise
That they'd rather be unfettered than be wealthy and wise
And they listened as their enemies made a similar sound
And they watched a million cars go by
They were gaining some ground
But they didn't know what to do
With this thing they had found
So they had a party!?
VI: Senor Valasco's Mystic Voodoo Love Dance
I am senor Valasco
I drink my milk with tabasco
Got no place to stand
Got no home, no land, but I
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
I am the mask and the chamber
I know of love not of danger
Got no place to go
Ain't nothin' better than be here
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
Don't ever want to die
Don't place no one before I
VII: The Return Of The Horrible Catfish Man
I am the catfish man!
I can't hear you!
Go ahead and have a nice day now
Go ahead and say what you say now
I stand humanis erectus
Stand back... ha... ha... ha!
I am... I am
All of this in one man
VIII: The Dream
What
Makes a dream
So very different
From any other dream
Where is that
Straight line
That I can hold up
To the light and say yes!
This is alright
This one will
Stand up
In the
Light
The lyrics of Spock's Beard's song The Light can be interpreted as a representation of the complexity and diversity of human experience. The first part of the song called The Dream reflects on the confusion and uncertainty that comes with dreaming, and the singer's desire for clarity and discernment in differentiating between reality and mere imagination. The second part, One Man, showcases the multiplicity and diversity of a single individual. The lyrics mention different roles and personalities that the singer embodies, representing the vast range of human experience and identity.
The third part, Garden People, is a transition from the abstract to the concrete, as the singer references coming "down" to "People's Garden," suggesting a physical location. However, the meaning of this reference is unclear, and it remains open to interpretation. In the fourth part, Looking Straight into the Light, the singer speaks of a light headed for the sun, and how looking at it may lead to transformation and enlightenment. The fifth part, The Man in the Mountain, speaks of a lonely individual who has lost faith in society and longs for the light to guide him back to hope.
Senor Valasco's Mystic Voodoo Love Dance, the sixth part, perhaps represents escapism, as the singer speaks of having no place to call home but is content with his own company. The seventh part, The Return of the Horrible Catfish Man, is a burst of absurdity, with the singer exclaiming that he is the titular character, and then simply ending the section with a laugh. The final section, The Dream, serves as a bookend to the song, with the singer now content in finding the "straight line" that he can hold up to the light and declare his satisfaction.
Line by Line Meaning
What
What makes a dream so unique?
Makes a dream
What makes a dream so special?
So very different
How is a dream different from everything else?
From any other dream
How is this dream unlike any other?
Where is that
Where can I find
Straight line
A clear path or truth to follow
That I can hold up
That I can use as a standard
To the light
In brightness or clarity
And say no!
Rejecting something as untrue
This is not right
This doesn't measure up
This does not
This is not how it should be
Stand up
It is weak or falls apart
In the light
In truth or what is clear
Call me cavanaugh
I am known as Cavanaugh
I'm the one with the caveman jaw
I have a prominent jaw like a caveman's
Call me Smitty or Jones
I go by Smitty or Jones
Talkin' on the tv's and the telephones
I use media platforms to communicate
I am the critical masses
I represent the common people
Stand back and watch as time passes
Observing how things unfold
I am the centerfold
I am the center of attention
I know the stories before they get told
I have insight before events happen
You can call me Kennedy
You can refer to me as Kennedy
You may have killed him but you cannot kill me
I am referenced because of the power of my name
I am the crippled and blind
I represent those with disabilities
I paint the pretty pictures on the subway signs
I create art in public spaces
Yeah, I am everything to everyone
I am someone everyone knows
And I won't go away at the point of a gun
My identity is not threatened by violence
All of this in one man
These are all the qualities of one person
I am rock 'n roll
I am cool and influential
I am classical, country and soul
I represent different genres of music
I am the nun and the flasher
I am contradictory in nature
I am the father, the son and the bastard
I embody various family roles
I am the church and the steeple
I represent religious and spiritual figures
Open the door and see all the people
Accepting people of all backgrounds
I'm coming down
Descending to a lower level
People's garden
A place where people gather
Garden people
People who are part of the gathering
Look!
See this!
There's a light
A brightness or clarity
Headed for the sun
Going upward and forward
Stand and you might
If you stand up
Turn to everyone
Turn towards others
The lady, the lass
Referring to women
Melt into glass
Become transparent or vulnerable
Stand at the door
Be blocked by something
That would not open wide
Unable to enter or pass through
You tried so hard before
You previously failed
But now we're on your side
We are now supporting you
You see us all - the left and the right
Recognizing political ideologies
Looking straight into the light
Moving towards truth
I am the man in mountain
I am a lone figure
I stand alone - I've been downed
Isolated and defeated
In a sea of loveless illusion
Surrounded by emptiness and falsehoods
So many lost - so many drowned
So many people have suffered
Got no church - got no steeple
Not rooted in religion
Got no time for you people
Not interested in others
I live the life of a shadow
I am invisible or unimportant
The only chance that I have now
My only hope
Is there
It is found
I drink my milk with tabasco
I like to add heat to mundane things
Don't ever want to die
I don't want to stop living
Don't place no one before I
I am important to myself
I am the mask and the chamber
I am secretive and mysterious
I know of love not of danger
I am focused on good things
Ain't nothin' better than be here
This place is the best
I can't hear you!
I'm ignoring you
Go ahead and have a nice day now
Enjoy the rest of your day
Go ahead and say what you say now
Speak your mind
I stand humanis erectus
I stand proudly
I am... I am
I am who I am
I am Senor Valasco
My name is Senor Valasco
Got no place to go
No specific destination
Don't ever want to die
Desire to live indefinitely
Don't place no one before I
Self-importance
You see us all - the left and the right
.
I am the catfish man!
I am the catfish man
Don't ever want to die
Desire to live indefinitely
Don't place no one before I
Self-importance
What makes a dream
What makes a dream unique?
So very different
How is a dream special?
From any other dream
How is this dream different?
Where is that
Where can I find
Straight line
A clear path or truth to follow
That I can hold up
That I can use as a standard
Yes!
This is right!
This is alright
This aligns with the truth
This one will
This can be trusted
Stand up
It is sturdy and reliable
In the
In what is true
Light
In what is clear
Lyrics © BENDAN MUSIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nickolay414
More detailed timecodes for The Light.
[00:00] I. The Dream
[00:48] "The Light A" instrumental theme (with notable themes at 01:07, 01:34)
[01:58] "The Light A" variation
[02:23] II. One Man Call me Cavanaugh...
[03:28] Chorus: All of this in one man...
[03:54] Verse: I am rock'n'roll...
[04:20] Chorus: All of this in one man...
[04:46] "The Light B" instrumental
[05:13] III. Garden People , with inclusions of sped up:
[05:40 - 05:50] "The Light B"
[06:06 - 06:10] "The Light A"
[06:46] IV. Looking Straight into the Light
[06:54] Verse: Look there's a light! (with The lady, the lass... bit starting at 07:09)
[07:21] Verse: Stand at the door...
[07:48] Instrumental
[08:15] Another variation
[08:30] You see us all - the left and the right Looking straight into the light
[08:44] In the light!
[09:05] V. The Man in the Mountain (piano intro)
[09:25] Verse: I am the man in the mountain...
[10:03] "The Light B", played on piano
[10:22] Garden People reprise (instrumental), loud version
[10:41] Bridge: They wore all kinds of things on their heads to disguise...
[11:08] So they had a party!
[11:11] Instrumental
[11:29] VI. Senor Valasco's Mystic Voodoo Love Dance
[11:40] Verse: I am Senor Valasco..
[12:04] Verse: I am the mask and the chamber...
[12:46] "The Light A" variation
[13:46] VII. The Return of the Horrible Catfish Man I am the Catfish Man...
[14:36] VIII. The Dream What makes a dream...
@christophercoles4401
One of the most brilliant debuts in the history of Progressive Rock. Neal Morse's genius is apparent from the first notes. Modern Prog would never be the same.
@prog-amusicalenigma3300
To this day 'The Light' is one of the best songs to ever have been written, a true masterpiece
@TheAsphyx666
I remember when the album came out, German magazine Rock Hard gave it a 10 out of 10, and the last sentence of the review read, "This is a 10, anything less would be an insult." Rarely have I agreed with a critic more.
@MaurizioMezzatesta
@@TheAsphyx666 its such a perfect album and just gets better and better.
@69stepe
Amen to that!!
@69stepe
Not even at 2min of the song and that guitar solo telling you that you're in for a treat...
@awaken77
One of the best debut albums in prog. Strong from the beginning, still listening it from time to time.
@georgecoulter1935
An overlooked band and album. While Neal Morse went on to many other projects, when he was with his brother Alan Morse, guitar, Nick DiVirgillio, drums, Dave Merose, bass and Ryo Okumoto, keys, they were incredible!!!!!
These guys just ripped it up. One of the most talented groups ever to play music. I had the great good fortune of hanging with them at 2 gigs in Milwaukee,WI and Bethlehem,PA. Great people. I miss this unit a lot. Thanks to Prog Kidd for putting this out there for all to enjoy.
@sgtgrash
The Light ~ All of this in one song... ♥️👍
@heavymetalheretic5386
They could've ended the album there and it still would be a masterpiece.