Catching onto the then-noteworthy idea of touring , the band gained notereity through repeated exposure in the skateboarding world, which helped on tour, and which helped create a national fanbase. Thrasher Magazine's MoFo compiled the first Skate rock tape, which featured several Faction songs, as well as songs by JFA and the Big Boys, the two other most established skate punk bands. Other bands included were Riot .303, Minus One, Los Olvidados, Skoundrelz, featuring Tony Alva, Anvil Chorus, Free Beer, featuring San Francisco's Tony and Tommy Guerrero, and others.
The Faction recorded two 7" records, an LP, an EP, and a posthumous EP, and contributed songs to a 7" compilation single, From The Valley Within. Their song Skate and Destroy was also featured in the first skateboarding video, Powell-Peralta's "Bones Brigade Video Show." Except for the Thrasher Skate Rock tapes and the posthumous "Epitaph" EP, which was released on Mystic Records, all the Faction's music was released on IM Records. This label was owned by guitarist Adam Segal, and financed by Arly. Primarily due to musical evolutional differences in the band, they broke up in 1985. In 1989 they reformed with pro skateboarder Jeff Kendall on guitar instead of Adam Bomb. They played two shows, recorded "Accelerate" (used in the "Stoked: The Gator Story") and for whatever reason it didn't go any further.
In 1994, Mark Waters, of Goldenrod Records, approached the band with the idea to compile the Faction's musical history into one complete CD package. The resulting "Collection" gathered most of the band's studio recordings along with some live and radio recordings, along with Gavin's complete list of every show the band ever played, complete lyrics, and what most of the band called their first good artwork. In 2001, the band started playing shows here and there, with original guitarist Russ Wright on guitar. One show led to more, and between 2001 and 2005 the band played a handful of shows, including gigs in Dortmund and Munster Germany, Vancouver B.C., Aberdeen Scotland, Seattle (with X), San Diego and Anaheim with the Adolescents and Strung Out, Sacramento, and numerous San Jose and San Francisco shows.
The Faction's song 'Skate And Destroy" is featured in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 video game.
Being Watched
The Faction Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The house is dark
The t.v. glow won't let me sleep
A noise is heard
I'm filled with fright
The doors are locked
I'm sure I'm sure
A feeling hits me
Did that shadow move or was it me
Is this real
Am I asleep
What was that
I check the phone, no it's not dead
That would suck there's no one to call
Those horror movies play with my mind
It might be a burglar, or even worse
I can see it now in tomorrow's paper
"Boy axed to death while alone at home"
The thing I'm scared of is being scared
Courage prevails
I'll check it out
Feeling down the hall
For the switch
The light comes on but there's nothing there
That window's open now what do I do
Did the psycho enter here or not at all
A slow pace draws me to the window
I shut it tight and draw the shade
I turn around silhouette slams door
I freeze in terror, a light clicks on
I wake in shock stiff as a board
It feels like spiders are in my bed
Ten minutes later I start to breath but I'm being watched.
The Faction's song "Being Watched" portrays a person's experience of fear and paranoia when they are alone at home at night. The lyrics are powerful and evoke a sense of unease in the listener. The song is a reflection of how, at times, our greatest fear may be our own anxiety and paranoia. The singer describes how he is unable to sleep due to the glowing light of the TV, and how every sound he hears fills him with fear. The singer's fear quickly becomes palpable as he begins to wonder if he is hallucinating and if the shadow he saw move across the room was real or a figment of his imagination.
As the song progresses, the singer's fear intensifies as he imagines the various scenarios that terrify him. He imagines being axed to death by a psycho, and the thought of being scared scares him more than anything else. However, the singer manages to muster the courage to investigate the source of the noise, and it is revealed in the end that he was being watched all along.
Overall, "Being Watched" is a powerful song that speaks to our innate human fear of the unknown. The song is a reminder that our minds are capable of creating scenarios scarier than any horror movie, and the reality of fear is often worse than the fear itself.
Line by Line Meaning
It's late at night
The singer is experiencing fear and paranoia in a late-night setting
The house is dark
The singer is in a dark environment, heightening their fear and paranoia
The t.v. glow won't let me sleep
Despite their fear, the singer is unable to turn off the TV as it provides them with some comfort
A noise is heard
A potentially alarming sound is heard, adding to the artist's fear
I'm filled with fright
The artist is overwhelmed with fear and anxiety
The doors are locked
The singer has locked themselves in for protection
I'm sure I'm sure
Despite being scared, the singer is certain of their situation
A feeling hits me
The artist experiences a gut-feeling and heightened sense of danger
What's going on
The artist questions the reality of their situation
Did that shadow move or was it me
The artist is unsure if their fear is irrational or if there is actually something to be afraid of
Is this real
The singer questions the legitimacy of their situation
Am I asleep
The artist questions if they are experiencing a nightmare
What was that
The singer is confused by a mysterious sound
I check the phone, no it's not dead
The singer uses their phone to check for danger and find comfort
That would suck there's no one to call
The singer laments the fact that they are alone and have no one to call for help
Those horror movies play with my mind
The artist realizes that their fear has been amplified by exposure to horror movies and media
It might be a burglar, or even worse
The artist fears that there may be someone dangerous in their home
I can see it now in tomorrow's paper
The singer imagines a future headline detailing their tragic fate
"Boy axed to death while alone at home"
The singer imagines the specific details of a possible violent outcome
The thing I'm scared of is being scared
The artist realizes that their greatest fear is the feeling of fear itself
Courage prevails
The artist is determined to overcome their fear and investigate the source of the noise
I'll check it out
The artist decides to investigate the source of the noise
Feeling down the hall
The singer cautiously makes their way down the hallway
For the switch
The artist searches for a light switch to illuminate their surroundings
The light comes on but there's nothing there
The singer finds no evidence of danger despite their fear and paranoia
That window's open now what do I do
The singer discovers an open window, which adds to their anxiety and sense of vulnerability
Did the psycho enter here or not at all
The singer is unsure if their fear was justified or irrational
A slow pace draws me to the window
The artist approaches the window carefully and cautiously
I shut it tight and draw the shade
The artist takes steps to protect themselves and create a sense of safety
I turn around silhouette slams door
The singer is suddenly startled by a mysterious figure and a loud noise
I freeze in terror, a light clicks on
The singer's fear and terror become overwhelming when they are confronted by unknown danger
I wake in shock stiff as a board
The artist experiences a traumatic event or nightmare that leaves them paralyzed with fear
It feels like spiders are in my bed
The artist is experiencing intense anxiety and paranoia in their own bed
Ten minutes later I start to breath but I'm being watched.
The artist experiences a momentary relief from their fear, only to realize that they are still being watched and are not truly safe
Lyrics © TENEBRAE MUSIC
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