1) A Johannesburg (So… Read Full Bio ↴The Awakening is a name of at least six bands:
1) A Johannesburg (South Africa), alternative rock band
2) A 1970s U.S. funk/jazz group
3) A Long Island (NY, USA) post hardcore band
4) A Hungarian dark ambient act, better known as Awakening
5) A Göttingen (Germany) brutal death metal band
6) A Canadian Christian rock band active in the mid-late 80s influenced by Yes and The Beatles
1) A Johannesburg alternative rock band, formed in 1995 by vocalist, guitarist and producer Ashton Nyte. The band is credited in the press as "South Africa's most successful Gothic Rock act and one of the top bands in the far broader Alternative scene." The band has released 7 full-length studio albums, 1 greatest hits album, 2 music videos and 2 EPs, and have received significant radio play and club rotation throughout South Africa, Europe and the USA. They became the first gothic rock band to ever headline major national festivals throughout South Africa, including Oppikoppi, RAMfest, and many others. The band has had major chart success with several #1 hits on South Africa Rock charts (see sources) and charted on Germany's Alternative Charts.
As of 2009 the band is based in the United States with record label base in Germany (Massacre Records), South Africa and the USA (Intervention Arts). The band is touring the USA in 2009 for the fourth time, in support of their latest (8th) full-length studio album.
Sites: Wikipedia, Discogs, YouTube and Twitter
2) A U.S. instrumental funk/jazz group which produced only two studio albums, Hear, Sense and Feel (1972) and Mirage (1973), both on jazz pianist Gene Russell's Black Jazz label.
The label was founded in the early 70's, as an alternative to traditional jazz invoking a more political and spiritual tone, often with funk overtones. It made twenty-two releases in multiple genre, including: funk, free jazz and soul jazz.
Sites: Discogs
3) A six piece Long Island post hardcore band which was formed in February of 2008 releasing a self released E.P., Understanding Goodbyes. The band with its original members left for tour only a few months later in July with, “Thieves And Villains (Victory Records).” After tour, conflicts caused The Awakening to disband with no intentions of moving forward.
In April of 2009, The Awakening was brought back together with original members, Jerry Nedrow, Joe Votta, and Nick Tortora. New vocalist Mike D’amico, new guitarist John Arlet, and new synth player
Jason Bach all added. The new lineup put out the two song EP Mending the Broken and, shortly after its release, they toured. After their second east coast run with Beneath The Sky (victory records) drummer Nick Tatora and Guitarist John Ahrlet have left the band and has sense been replaced by Rich Urraro (guitar), Zack Austin (drums).
They planned to release an eight track EP in mid-November 2009 and to tour it the following month.
6) Canada's The Awakening released three albums in the latter part of the 1980s. The band's core duo of Andrew Horrocks on guitar and keyboardist Ian Tanner was joined by bassist Allan Powell and his brother Mike Powell on drums. A regional release produced by Richard J. Hutt, Two Worlds, came out in 1986. Tanner contributed five writing credits on the album's nine cuts to Horrocks' three (the Powells each had two). Wider distribution came with a contract signing with U.S. based Reunion Records. All but two tracks from Two Worlds would find their way onto 1987's Sanctified. Hutt returned as producer, helping write the new group effort "Distant Light", while Horrocks and Mike Powell contributed the new single "My Only Hope". In 1988, the band recorded final outing Into Thy Hands. Hutt once again produced and each member along with Hutt helped write the single and album opener "Don't Wait for Me". The band's Yes influence was made more explicit via a cover of that band's "Onward". CCM Magazine singled out the track "Knife of Life" as evidence of experimentation on the band's part.
Focus
The Awakening Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Melt away as you turn, turn the page
Obstructions in your view
Drift away, away in spite of you
Technicalities of your faith
Break Sacrament's Cup before you taste
You feel you can't pray
You feel they don't believe
If the water doesn't reach the neck
But He's the Son of God
The same in every heart
So shed these rules and
Schools of restricted thought
You're warmed by the flames of sin
Warmed by the nails they hammered in
A self-righteous attitude
Never saved a soul "Now that's news to you"
Turn from your narrow mind
Join hands with your brothers and sisters in Christ
You feel you can't pray
If you're facing west
You feel they don't believe
If the water doesn't reach the neck
But He's the Son of God
The same in every heart
So shed these rules and
Schools of restricted thought
Got to focus
Yeah focus
Come on focus
In The Awakening's song "Focus," the lyrics delve into the constraints and restrictions placed on faith and spirituality by organized religion. The opening lines describe the hieroglyphics of this age melting away as one turns the page, signifying the dissolution of old ways of thinking and the emergence of new ideas. The song speaks to the obstructions in one's view drifting away, despite personal beliefs, urging individuals to shed the technicalities of their faith and break the sacramental cup before tasting.
The lyrics discuss how people feel they cannot pray if they are facing a particular direction or if the water does not reach their neck. This speaks to the rigid rules and schools of restricted thought enforced by organized religion that deprive individuals of their personal connection to spirituality. The chorus, which repeats the statement "He's the Son of God, the same in every heart so shed these rules and schools of restricted thought," urges listeners to let go of these limitations and focus on the essence of spirituality.
The lyrics also suggest that people are warmed by the flames of sin and self-righteous attitudes, which serve only to hinder spiritual growth. The song urges people to turn away from their narrow-mindedness and instead join hands with their brothers and sisters in Christ. The final call to "focus" is a reminder of the importance of staying true to oneself and ignoring the distractions and limitations that prevent spiritual growth.
Line by Line Meaning
The Hieroglyphics of this age
The symbols and systems of the modern world are changing and becoming less clear
Melt away as you turn, turn the page
These symbols become more unclear as time passes, creating confusion and difficulties when trying to understand them
Obstructions in your view
The ways in which the world and society operate can block one's understanding of truth and reality
Drift away, away in spite of you
Despite one's efforts to understand, knowledge and understanding can seem to slip away
Technicalities of your faith
The intricacies of religious belief and practice
Break Sacrament's Cup before you taste
Do not be confined by dogmatic religious practices that may prevent one from experiencing the true essence of faith
You feel you can't pray
There may be perceptions and beliefs that lead one to feel like they cannot practice their religion in a certain way
If you're facing west
Some beliefs hold that prayer must be done facing a certain direction, creating unnecessary restrictions
You feel they don't believe
There may be a sense of disconnect between oneself and others in their religious community
If the water doesn't reach the neck
There may be rituals or practices that must be done in a specific way, enforcing limitations that are arguably unnecessary
But He's the Son of God
Regardless of the ways in which people choose to practice their religion or spirituality, at the core is the belief in a higher power
The same in every heart
This belief is universal and one that is shared amongst humanity
So shed these rules and Schools of restricted thought
Instead of being confined by dogmatic beliefs and traditions, strive for true understanding and connection to ultimate truth
You're warmed by the flames of sin
Negative actions and emotions can be all-consuming and cause one to feel trapped and limited by their mistakes
Warmed by the nails they hammered in
Even when one tries to change their ways and break free from sin, past mistakes and judgements of others can continue to haunt them
A self-righteous attitude
Believing that one is better or more righteous than others based on religious beliefs or morals
Never saved a soul 'Now that's news to you'
This attitude of superiority does not lead to actual spiritual salvation, but rather perpetuates the cycle of judgement and separation from others
Turn from your narrow mind
Instead of being trapped by limited beliefs and societal norms, strive for a broader perspective
Join hands with your brothers and sisters in Christ
Connect with others in the pursuit of a deeper spiritual connection and understanding
Got to focus
It's important to maintain focus and clarity in the pursuit of spirituality and truth
Yeah focus
Emphasizing the importance of this pursuit
Come on focus
Encouraging oneself and others to stay committed to the path of spiritual growth and understanding
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.