In the early '70s, Television began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973 in New York City, New York, the group reunited under the name Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. Television was the first punk/new wave bands to play at CBGB. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, "Hey Joe"/"Piss Factory," as well as wrote a book of poetry with the singer.
Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo tape, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded "Little Johnny Jewel," releasing it on their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album.
Marquee Moon, the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 single "Prove It." Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't increase the group's following significantly.
Television released their second album, Adventure, in the spring of 1978. While its American sales were better than those of Marquee Moon, the record didn't make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. Smith rejoined Blondie, while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album Girlfriend.
Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, recording a new, self titled album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began its comeback with a performance at England's Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing Television a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived — the group disbanded again in early 1993. In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago.
See No Evil
Television Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's a whole lot more than "anyhow"
I wanna fly, fly a fountain
I want to jump, jump, jump, jump a mountain
I understand all (I see no)
Destructive urges (I see no)
But it seems so perfect (I see no)
Evil
I get ideas, I get a notion
I want a nice little boat made out of ocean
I get your point, you're so sharp
Getting good reactions with your evil talk
I understand all (I see no)
Destructive urges (I see no)
It seems so perfect (I see no)
I see, I see no
Evil
Don't say unconscious, no, don't say doom
Well, if you got to say it, I've got to leave this room
'Cause what I want, I want now
And it's a whole lot more than "anyhow," get it?
I understand all (I see no)
Destructive urges (I see no)
It seems so perfect (I see no)
I see, I see no
Evil
I'm running wild with the one I love (I see no evil)
I'm going crazy with the one I love (I see no evil)
I keep on dancin' with the one I love (I see no evil)
You control the feelings of the one you love (I see no evil)
You control the feelings of the one you love (I see no evil)
You can feed the fires of the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
The lyrics of Television's "See No Evil" carry a sense of urgency and desire for immediate gratification. The singer wants everything, and he wants it now. He yearns for the impossible and has "destructive urges" that he acknowledges but refuses to succumb to. He's searching for a perfect world where there is "no evil," but he understands the reality that he's living in. He's getting ideas and notions, and he's surrounded by people who talk about evil, but he chooses to look past it.
The singer is struggling to find a balance between what he wants and what he knows is right. He's in love and wants to enjoy his time with his significant other and dance with them, but he recognizes that he can also pull down his own future and the future of the one he loves. The end of the song reveals that he wants to break free from the conversation of "doom," and if he has to hear about it, then he has to leave the room.
Overall, "See No Evil" is a commentary on society and the struggles of an individual living in it. It's an insight into the human psyche and the desire for a perfect world without evil.
Line by Line Meaning
What I want, I want now
And it's a whole lot more than "anyhow"
I wanna fly, fly a fountain
I want to jump, jump, jump, jump a mountain
I am driven by my desires, and I want them now, not later. I want to achieve big things, even if it seems difficult or impossible.
I understand all (I see no)
Destructive urges (I see no)
But it seems so perfect (I see no)
I see, I see no
Evil
I recognize the negative tendencies within myself, but I choose to ignore them because they seem justifiable and harmless. I refuse to acknowledge or accept the evil within me.
I get ideas, I get a notion
I want a nice little boat made out of ocean
I get your point, you're so sharp
Getting good reactions with your evil talk
I have creative thoughts and dreams, and I want to materialize them. I understand your perspective and communication style, which often manipulates others and yields positive outcomes.
Don't say unconscious, no, don't say doom
Well, if you got to say it, I've got to leave this room
'Cause what I want, I want now
And it's a whole lot more than "anyhow," get it?
I don't want to hear negative ideas or criticisms, and I will avoid them if I must. I'll pursue my desires, no matter what, because they're significant and meaningful to me.
I'm running wild with the one I love (I see no evil)
I'm going crazy with the one I love (I see no evil)
I keep on dancin' with the one I love (I see no evil)
I'm enjoying a passionate relationship with someone, and I don't see anything wrong with it. We are free and having fun together, without worrying about any negative consequences or influences.
You control the feelings of the one you love (I see no evil)
You control the feelings of the one you love (I see no evil)
You can feed the fires of the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You pull down the future with the one you love (I see no evil)
You have the power to influence, manipulate, or even destroy the emotions and aspirations of your partner, but I refuse to acknowledge or accept this truth. I see no evil or wrongdoing in this situation, despite its potential negative outcomes.
Lyrics © Rocking Gorillas Music Ltda, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Tom Verlaine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse
Hello to all the Ghost fans checking out this track for the first time.
@viridianaarreola3642
Hi jaja
@buckfozos5554
Hi there. :)
@gracepoulsen8801
Can't wait to hear Ghost's cover of this classic 🤘
@brandonlane4456
I was wondering how far Id have to scroll to find this comment...turns out not far lol
@4A2Offical
@@brandonlane4456 bro literally the same lol
@emkii1640
hey hey, me too :) I already can see how epic this song will be in ghost style
@DraevanDruid
https://youtu.be/pExnH7HVHtw
@A_Ducky
Just dropped. Excellent 👌
@isamontoyacevallos339
Ghost keeps teaching me more and more about music