There is more than one artist under this name:

1. Spray is a 21st ce… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist under this name:

1. Spray is a 21st century synthpop duo from England, starring Jenny McLaren and Ricardo Autobahn. Following the demise of their previous band, the Cuban Boys (famous for their Hamster Dance record and John Peel sessions), McLaren and Autobahn released the album Living In Neon on Ninthwave Records in the USA, followed by the single I Am Gothic in 2003. A new album, Children of a Laser God, was released in the fall of 2006.
Amongst other projects, Spray have been partially responsible for Glen Campbell's 2002 return to the top of the charts with the Rhinestone Cowboy remake, and the top 40 kids band the Barndance Boys. McLaren has a successful sideline in vocalising club/dance records, and Autobahn in soundtracks and commercials. The band has also had their single I Am Gothic appear in the Xbox game Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 3.
In 2006, Autobahn co-wrote and produced the UK's Eurovision entry, Teenage Life, with his long-term collaborator Daz Sampson.

2. Spray is a thrash/punk hardcore band from Byron Bay.

3. Spray is a punk/rock band from Slovakia.
4. Spray is your neighborhood's punk band from İzmir, Turkey.

The Contract
Spray Lyrics

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Employment law is very complex
When you employ a minefield of wrecks
They come in late, they come in when they're rough
They top themselves when the going gets tough

If only, hey, there was some way
To legislate and legally
Protect us from the downtime that's occurred

So if you could just keep a lid on your despair
And then sign here, you're ready to go
Contractually, you're bound by the company laws
So get to work, enjoy your day

I signed myself and never looked back
All those dark thoughts were gone in a flash
It stops you feeling ever so grand
It's not despair, it's the hope I can't stand

Now that's life, still horrifying
But - for me - contractually now fine
I have no mouth and I must scream

So if you could just keep a lid on your despair
And then sign here, you're ready to go
Contractually, you're bound by the company laws
So get to work, enjoy your day

I am in hell, but at least (for now) I'm still alive
And company stock continues to rise
The only thing truly mine has been taken away
So get to work, enjoy your day

Care about everything
Or care about nothing
But anything in between
Is pointless and insulting

We know you care and you show it by how much you cry
Until it impacts your leisure time
You can ignore the polished brutality
Reflected in your telephone screen

I have a voice but I cannot scream anymore
'Cause if I start then I'll never stop

My consciousness is not mine to own anymore
It's soldered to your TV set

Overall Meaning

In "The Contract," Spray presents a satirical take on the oppressive nature of employment and the limitations of modern labor laws. The lyrics begin with a cynical depiction of the difficulties of managing employees, referring to them as a "minefield of wrecks" who are prone to tardiness, rough behavior, and even suicide. The singer laments the lack of legal protection for companies against employee downtime, expressing a desire for more restrictive legislation. The chorus urges workers to "keep a lid on [their] despair" and sign a binding contract that makes them "bound by the company laws."

However, the tone of the song shifts in the second verse as the singer reveals that they have already signed the contract and abandoned their own "dark thoughts." Rather than empowering them, the contract has turned them into a mindless drone, devoid of individuality and unable to express their emotions. The repetition of the chorus takes on a more sinister tone as the singer acknowledges that they are "in hell," but trapped by the legal document they signed. The final lines are a warning against complacency, as the singer's consciousness is no longer their own, but controlled by the corporate machine.

Overall, "The Contract" presents a bleak reflection on the oppressive nature of modern employment practices and the limitations of legal protections for workers. The song's catchy beats and ironic lyrics make it an effective criticism of the modern labor system.

Line by Line Meaning

Employment law is very complex
Employment law is a complicated field of work

When you employ a minefield of wrecks
When you hire employees, there is a risk that they may bring personal problems and issues to work

They come in late, they come in when they're rough
Employees may come to work late and in a bad mood

They top themselves when the going gets tough
Employees may engage in risky behavior or even suicide when things get difficult

If only, hey, there was some way
If only there was a way to protect employers from dealing with their employees’ personal issues and the negative impact it has on the company

To legislate and legally
To make laws and regulations that protect employers from the negative effects of their employees’ personal issues

Protect us from the downtime that's occurred
Protect the company from the loss of productivity due to employee personal problems

So if you could just keep a lid on your despair
As an employee, you should try to hide your personal problems and emotions at work

And then sign here, you're ready to go
Once you sign the employment contract, you are legally bound by the company’s laws and regulations

Contractually, you're bound by the company laws
Once you sign the contract, you are legally bound to follow the rules and regulations set by the company

So get to work, enjoy your day
Start working and have a good day

I signed myself and never looked back
The artist accepted the job offer and never regretted it

All those dark thoughts were gone in a flash
Once the singer started working, his/her negative thoughts disappeared immediately

It stops you feeling ever so grand
Working at the company doesn't make the singer feel proud or accomplished

It's not despair, it's the hope I can't stand
The singer doesn't feel despair, but rather the hope that things will get better is what bothers him/her

Now that's life, still horrifying
This is how life is, and it's still scary

But - for me - contractually now fine
Even though the artist is not completely happy with his/her job, he/she is legally bound to work there

I have no mouth and I must scream
The singer feels trapped and unable to express his/her feelings

I am in hell, but at least (for now) I'm still alive
The singer feels like he/she is in a terrible situation, but at least he/she is still alive

And company stock continues to rise
The company is doing well financially

The only thing truly mine has been taken away
The artist feels like he/she has lost his/her personal freedom and individuality due to working for the company

Care about everything
Either care about everything or nothing at all

Or care about nothing
It's better to not care about anything than to care about something in between

But anything in between
Caring about something in between is pointless and insulting

We know you care and you show it by how much you cry
The company expects employees to care about their work and show emotion

Until it impacts your leisure time
But employees should not care to the point where it affects their personal time and life outside of work

You can ignore the polished brutality
Employees should not be fooled by the company’s surface-level, polished exterior; it can still be a brutal environment

Reflected in your telephone screen
This brutality is reflected in the technology and devices that employees use at work

I have a voice but I cannot scream anymore
The artist feels powerless and unable to express his/her feelings and opinions at work

'Cause if I start then I'll never stop
If the singer starts expressing his/her emotions, it will be endless and never stop

My consciousness is not mine to own anymore
The singer feels like his/her thoughts and consciousness are no longer private or personal

It's soldered to your TV set
The artist’s thoughts and consciousness are now connected to the company and its media and messaging

Contributed by Kaelyn M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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