The band would perform with various line-ups under their new name The Dignity of Labour starting in 1985. Taylor moved to California in mid 1989 and TDOL became a project under his direction, occasionally performing live with supporting musicians but generally existing in the studio amidst a cache of electronics.
In 1992, TDOL released the album Tired Hands, a collection of vocal ballads and instrumentals written over the previous five years. The album was originally released on cassette in limited quantities, but was re-released on CD in 1994 with four additional tracks. The release garnered some regional success, including an enticing offer by talent scouts Barefield and Vierra, and inclusion of the track La Belle Le Anna on a syndicated compilation disc. Taylor knew his future lay in electronic pop music.
By 1994, Taylor had moved to Denver, Colorado, where he began work on the second TDOL album, Belief. The basic tracks were recorded in Taylor's studio then mixed and mastered at Colorado Sound Studios. Belief was released in December 1997 through international distributor Joe's Grille and was available from various record stores in Colorado. The album was also sent to several labels that cater to electronic musicians. Despite favorable reviews praising TDOL for its accurate depiction of 80's-style electronic synthpop, TDOL decided not to actively promote the release through club gigs or radio airplay. Nevertheless, the tracks Shores of Eternity and Echoes caught the attention of a major record label in Europe.
Fast-forward to August 2002. Taylor submitted a post to a musician's mailing list, asking if anyone would be interested in producing/engineering the next TDOL album. He received several offers, including one from Colin Mansfield, a veteran jack-of-all-trades from St. Paul, Minnnesota. After a few weeks of e-mails and song-swapping, they decided it would be a great idea to work together. Given that Colin had a lot of experience in ambient music, Taylor was excited to see how these songs would come together. In March 2003 he spent a week in St. Paul with Colin and engineer Bob Cain at Ambient Sound, recording the first handful of demos for the new album. Response from those close to Taylor encouraged him to submit the tracks to several independent electronic-based labels in the US and Europe. Among those who responded with contract offers was synthpop label kingpin, A Different Drum, who offered him a one-single/one album deal. In June 2004, ADD released the debut single XRV to critical acclaim.
Taylor recently completed his third album. This self-titled effort explores further the mix of incisive lyrics and techno beats. Here, TDOL ventures into foreign territory, voicing the third person in some instances, disguising the song's identity through allusions to science and technology, while pushing the emotional envelope. The album was released in September 2005.
Utopia
The Dignity of Labour Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Visitation to days of old
Images of once before
Held behind a clever door
Revelations intertwined
With episodes unkind
And every fear
When you are here
If I ask, I shall receive
An invitation to make-believe
Showing nightly in a dream
One recurring theme
On holiday
From what they say
No mission gray
So let's pretend
Time has no end
For one more day
Utopia is a moment at your side
When perfect possibilities are open wide
Boy and girl beneath our skin
Pleading us to let them in
Delicate in every sense
Hidden from present-tense
A game to play
In our own way
No time decay
Anticipate
It's not too late
For yesterday
Utopia is eternity you share
Make a trip to the other side
And my heart will linger there
Utopia is the laughter in your skies
Where I'm ascending
Every time I close my eyes
Utopia is the color of your mind
Where the shades of reality
Are simply left behind
The lyrics of "Utopia" by The Dignity of Labour exude a sense of nostalgia for a seemingly better time. The world outside is described as cold, prompting a visit to days of old, evoking memories of a time that now seem distant and perhaps idealized. The imagery of "images of once before held behind a clever door" conjures up the idea of hidden memories, or perhaps even suppressed ones that are now resurfacing. The song speaks of revelations intertwined with episodes unkind, which suggests that there is more to this idealized past that meets the eye. The chorus sings of disappearing fears and perfect possibilities when one is with another. There is an invitation to make-believe and to take a holiday from reality, where the present-tense is hidden and a game can be played in any way one chooses.
The song's lyrics draw on the idea of utopia, a place or state of being where supposedly perfect conditions prevail. The repetition of the word "utopia" throughout the song emphasizes the importance of this idea, suggesting that it is something that can be achieved if we are willing to look beyond our reality. The lyrics also explore the tension between reality and imagination, presenting a world where we can disregard the constraints of time and indulge in our fantasies.
Overall, "Utopia" presents a compelling picture of a place where possibilities are endless, and fears are non-existent. It shows us the power of imagination in transcending reality and the importance of the memories that have shaped us into who we are.
Line by Line Meaning
When the world outside is cold
The harshness and failures of the outside world make the security of reminiscing about the past seem attractive.
Visitation to days of old
We take comfort in returning to days gone by where we recall better, simpler times.
Images of once before
Memories of happier times are kept locked away, able to be revisited only in our minds.
Held behind a clever door
Our subconscious is adept at preserving memories in a secure and organized way.
Revelations intertwined
The past holds secrets and truths that are intricately woven into our present selves.
With episodes unkind
The past also contains hurtful memories that can resurface in our minds unexpectedly.
And every fear
All anxiety or doubt that we maintain will be extinguished.
Will disappear
Vanish or evaporate as soon as we find security and comfort in each other.
When you are here
Only then will we feel a sense of relief and safety.
If I ask, I shall receive
All of our dreams and desires can be made real if we have the courage to pursue them.
An invitation to make-believe
We can embrace our imaginations and create the reality we wish to experience.
Showing nightly in a dream
Our subconscious provides an escape from reality and a place where we can fulfill our deepest wishes.
One recurring theme
Our desires are consistent and constant, even while our experiences change.
On holiday
We need a place beyond the normal constraints of life where we can allow ourselves to be free.
From what they say
We cast off the expectations and opinions of others that oppress us, relishing the ability to explore and play without their judgement.
No mission gray
In this place there is no purpose beyond enjoyment and personal expression, no rules or regulations to follow.
So let's pretend
We are free to create and act without bounds, inventing our own reality.
Time has no end
In this imaginative world we can escape the harshness and limitations of time.
For one more day
A brief time is all that we need to create a space where we are happy and fulfilled.
Utopia is a moment at your side
True paradise is standing beside someone we care for deeply and sharing in a sense of security and comfort with one another.
When perfect possibilities are open wide
All of our desires are attainable, and we take comfort in the endless possibilities for our lives.
Boy and girl beneath our skin
Regardless of our exterior selves, we are all fundamentally searching for acceptance and love.
Pleading us to let them in
Our inner selves yearn for love and acceptance, but we can be hesitant to share them.
Delicate in every sense
We are emotionally vulnerable beneath our external selves, and it is crucial to recognize this and treat ourselves and others with care.
Hidden from present-tense
Our inner selves are often concealed in our day-to-day lives, but they are still present and can be accessed through introspection.
A game to play
Our lives are a canvas that we can paint with our own unique experiences and emotions.
In our own way
We all have a unique path to follow and our own set of experiences to be had- we should embrace our individuality rather than conforming to societal norms.
No time decay
Our time and experiences are free from the constraints of time- they are eternal and timeless in our memories.
Anticipate
We should approach life with positivity and excitement, ready to embrace whatever experiences lie ahead.
It's not too late
It's never too late to make a change in our lives, explore new parts of ourselves, and find happiness.
For yesterday
Our past experiences and memories can still provide joy and fulfillment in our present lives, and we should not forget them.
Utopia is eternity you share
Paradise is a sense of security and love that we share with those we treasure, that continues infinitely.
Make a trip to the other side
We can travel to another world or create one within ourselves that is entirely our own to live in - free from the limits of reality.
And my heart will linger there
We embrace the experiences that bring us happiness and love, holding onto them in our hearts forever.
Utopia is the laughter in your skies
True paradise is found in the laughter and shared joy we experience with those we cherish.
Where I'm ascending
We are lifted up by love and friendship, ascending to a place of emotional fulfillment.
Every time I close my eyes
Our memories of paradise and joy can be revisited at any time, providing comfort in moments when we seek solace.
Utopia is the color of your mind
Our sense of paradise is subjective and unique, personalized to suit our individual desires and experiences, free from external limitations or expectations.
Where the shades of reality
We create and shape our imagination without the constraints or limitations of reality, free to explore, grow, and be who we truly are.
Are simply left behind
We can disregard societal dictates and expectations, embracing who we are and who we want to become.
Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.