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.
Waste Away
Spock's Beard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spilled on God's Sunday shirt
Some people are always getting better
Some people just get worse
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long until they waste away
Waste away now
Some people think they're dangerous
Well maybe just to little boys
some people always reaching for the sky
As if they had a choice
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Waste away now
And I want to know
And I don't want to hear them cry
So I gotta go man I gotta go
I gotta go now
Some people think they're lucky
Like they thought of heaven first
Some people been holdin' back their love so long
I think they're 'bout to burst
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Waste away now
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Waste away now
Waste away
Waste away now
Waste away
The lyrics of Spock's Beard's "Waste Away" reflect a deep observation of human nature and the fact that for some people, time is running out. The song begins with a comparison of different types of people, some like "gravy spilled on God's Sunday shirt" and others who are always striving to get better. However, there are people who only tend to waste time until they eventually "waste away". What this means is that people have to be careful how they spend their time and make a conscious effort to improve their lives, or risk becoming irrelevant or forgotten.
The next verse is even more poignant, warning of the danger of putting off important things in life. Some people think they are invincible and dangerous, but the reality is that they are just like little boys. Others are always reaching for the sky, believing that they are in control of their fate when the opposite is often true. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Some people only waste so long before they waste away" and accentuates the urgency of the message. The singer wants to help but feels he has to go before he hears anyone cry.
The final verse of the song highlights the fact that some people consider themselves lucky, while others are holding back their love for too long. The song ends on the important reminder that some people only waste so long before they eventually waste away. The lyrics of "Waste Away" are a powerful critique of our society's tendency to waste time and are an important reminder that we need to make every moment count.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people are like gravy
Some people are comforting and enjoyable, like a gravy that complements a meal.
Spilled on God's Sunday shirt
But sometimes those comforting people can make a mess, like gravy spilled on a nice shirt.
Some people are always getting better
Others are constantly improving themselves, always looking to be better.
Some people just get worse
But some people seem to be stuck in their ways and don't improve, or even get worse over time.
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Those who waste their time and opportunities will eventually lose them and waste away.
Some people only waste so long until they waste away
Again, those who waste their time and opportunities will eventually lose them and waste away.
Waste away now
The repetition emphasizes the urgency and inevitability of wasting away, as if to say 'it's happening right now'.
Some people think they're dangerous
Some people may think they have power or influence over others, but it may be an illusion or only affect those weaker than them, like little boys.
Well maybe just to little boys
Reinforces the idea that those who think they're dangerous may not really be a threat to everyone.
Some people always reaching for the sky
Some people have big dreams and aspirations, always striving for greater heights.
As if they had a choice
But sometimes those aspirations are out of reach, making it seem as if they have no other option than to keep trying despite the odds.
And I want to know
The artist is interested in the truth and wants to understand the situation better.
And I don't want to hear them cry
But they don't want to be swayed by emotions or excuses, and they don't want to hear others complain about their own problems.
So I gotta go man I gotta go
The singer has come to a decision and knows they need to take action to avoid wasting away themselves.
Some people think they're lucky
Some people believe they're fortunate or blessed in some way, perhaps because they have what others lack.
Like they thought of heaven first
Reinforces the idea that those who think they're lucky may be misguided or believe they have something special, when in reality they don't.
Some people been holdin' back their love so long
Some people have been keeping their love and affection hidden or bottled up for a long time.
I think they're 'bout to burst
But holding back those feelings for too long can be detrimental and eventually cause them to overflow and explode.
Waste away
Again, emphasizing the overarching theme of wasted potential and time slipping away.
Waste away now
Repeating the phrase for added impact and urgency.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: NEAL MORSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TiagoPatula84
Some people are like gravy
Spilled on God's Sunday shirt
Some people are always getting better
Some people just get worse
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long until they waste away
Waste away now
Some people think they're dangerous
Well maybe just to little boys
some people always reaching for the sky
As if they had a choice
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Waste away now
And I want to know
And I don't want to hear them cry
So I gotta go man I gotta go
I gotta go now
Some people think they're lucky
Like they thought of heaven first
Some people been holdin' back their love so long
I think they're 'bout to burst
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Waste away now
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Some people only waste so long before they waste away
Waste away now
Waste away
Waste away now
Waste away
@mikereiss4216
Spock's Beard are without a doubt one of the most underrated bands of the 90's or even today for that matter. I think they should even appeal to those who aren't hardcore prog fans. Good music is good music.
@JohnThelin
They're more likely to appeal to people who are not hardcore prog fans than to actual prog fans. That's kind of the deal with Nuprog.
@PeterCulka
John Thelin Well I'm not really sure this is Nu-Prog, as that term itself emerged only maybe a decade ago - while Spock's Beard was on the scene long before that. It's normal prog just more appealing to people. And that fact alone doesn't turn this stuff into Nu-Prog :)
But ye, it's easier listening than some hardcore progressive stuff. But it ain't Nu-Prog ;)
@mikereiss4216
John Thelin If you replace the term nu prog with neo prog I might agree with you. Only the most snobby purists seem to dislike SB imo. However, I wouldn't categorize them as a neo prog band either. They appeal to those who don't mind bands who sometimes wear their influences on their sleeves. The Flower Kings are another well known example of something like this. To me nu prog is more like Muse or Coheed and Cambria or maybe Pineapple Thief.
@JohnThelin
What you're talking about at the end there is often called new prog or post-prog. And, no, SB (and TFK et al) are not neoprog (a distinct genre that was influenced by new wave/80s pop and lacked some of the technical complexity of prog), but nuprog, a genre that takes rock/pop songwriting, putting into prog structures and retaining the technical, if not the compositional, complexity of prog. It's much more likely to appeal to non-prog listeners because it adheres to the same harmonic and melodic rules that 95% of all popular music does (a quality prog never had, and probably the strongest unifying quality between the many diverse bands that were once covered by that term).
Progressive rock is neither progressive nor rock, so when there's a pervasive rock element to a prog band - something that was not common at all until about the mid-90s - it makes sense to call it nuprog to distinguish it from both prog, neoprog and post-prog.
@JohnThelin
No prog is progressive, just like no new wave is new. Once you progress from prog it is not prog any more. Taking the name of a genre literally is...um, confusing at best.
@kyleromick5966
Honestly, this may be one of my absolute favorite songs. The musical genius of this group is appalling. Never have I enjoyed so many songs from one artist, and with noise floor dropping last year, there's always more music of theirs to listen to and love. Gotta love the Beard, prog fan or not!
@davehaz123
I heard these guys yesterday for the first time . I just don't know how this got past me . Found myself involuntarily dancing . One of the greatest s bands I've ever heard .
@petermccarthy4525
Best song on the album I think. Just gorgeous
@cohenterry717
Another brilliant track from a great album - this music is priceless