The band consists of Clark Baechle, Todd Fink (formerly known as Todd Baechle), and Joel Petersen. They signed to Saddle Creek Records and released a few singles, but were unable to establish widespread sales, though they were extremely popular in the Omaha-area. After adding Matt Bowen, The Faint released Media, which established them within a small, national community of fans. While touring, Bowen left and was replaced by Jacob Thiele who helped move the next album, Blank-Wave Arcade, towards a more dance and electronica influenced sound. The album was an underground hit. Partway through the creation of the morose Danse Macabre, The Faint added Dapose, a death metal guitarist formerly of LEAD. Danse Macabre was also a critical and commercial success and has helped to establish a wider fanbase for the band. Their 4th album, released in 2004, is called Wet from Birth.
In 2002 bassist Joel Petersen released the first album from his solo project, Broken Spindles, and he has since released two subsequent albums and had a U.S. tour. Guitarist Dapose also has a side-project, Vverevvolf Grehv, releasing his first album in 2008.
On December 12th, 2005, The Faint announced that they have moved out of The Orifice (a rented out warehouse they used to record Wet from Birth) and into ENAMEL, a 100-year-old building where they recorded the tracks for their next album, Fasciinatiion.
1995 | Sine Sierra (Norman Bailer) | Lumberjack
1998 | Media | CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-21]
1999 | The Faint / Ex-Action Figures (split) | 7» Saddle Creek [LBJ-25]
1999 | Blank-Wave Arcade | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-29]
2000 | Blank-Wave Arcade Remixes | 12»PD Saddle Creek [LBJ-33]
2001 | Danse Macabre | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-37]
2001 | Mote / Dust | 12»EP Gold Standard Laboratories [GSL 47]
2001 | Agenda Suicide | CDS Fierce Panda [NING 117]
2003 | Danse Macabre Remixes | 3LP/CD Astralwerks [ASC 83269]
2003 | The Conductor | 12»EP Astralwerks [ASC 83862]
2004 | I Disappear | 12»/CDS Saddle Creek [LBJ-66]
2004 | Wet From Birth | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-67]
2004 | Desperate Guys Saddle Creek
2008 | The Geeks Were Right Blank.wav
2008 | Fasciinatiion Blank.wav
A Battle Hymn For Children
The Faint Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or leave me alone
Why make me work so hard when you know I work slow?
Don't make us watch you spray more powder on the walls.
Show us a laser, take us to space, or let us go.
We've got violent games on pause at home
You've seen this haste take shape
You gave us guns for toys
We trained with cross hair scope
That in the name of peace we make war
Sergeant, I don't remember
How you said to kill with guilt
I'm haunted by families grieving
Even soldiers kids.
Is it God against God, and the pawns are people?
If they're both the same God, then the battle's over
Preacher, am I gonna make it?
Am I going up?
Am I forgiven for the humans I dropped?
It's not like a game once the guilt piles up
If I knew what I know now,
It's easy to say I wouldn't go
At violent games on pause at home
You know how hate takes shape
Don't hide those guilty eyes
You gave us guns for toys
Imposed beliefs, then pride
We were taught that God prefers the USA
Just like the billboard sign that says "God's Country"
If it's true that God roots for the USA,
Then every bomb we drop in God's name
The lyrics of The Faint's song "A Battle Hymn For Children" are a commentary on the ways in which American society indoctrinates children with violence and militaristic values, causing them to question their place in the world and the morality of their actions. In the first verse, the singer pleads with their teacher to either lead them towards a spiritual experience or to let them be, stating that they work slowly and do not want to witness the meaningless violence of "spraying powder on the walls." Instead, they seek a deeper purpose, longing to be taken to space or given a greater understanding of the world.
The second verse addresses the singer's sergeant, who has instructed them in the tactics of war and given them guns to use as toys. The singer is haunted by the families who have been left behind in the wake of their actions and questions whether there is truly a difference between the gods that they are ostensibly fighting for. In the final verse, the singer addresses a preacher, asking for forgiveness for the violence they have committed in God's name. They are overwhelmed by the weight of their guilt and question the morality of the society that has indoctrinated them with these values.
Overall, "A Battle Hymn For Children" is a powerful commentary on the subtle ways in which American culture normalizes and glorifies violence, particularly in the form of war. The lyrics speak to a sense of disillusionment and confusion that many young people feel as they confront the brutal realities of the world in which they live.
Line by Line Meaning
Teacher, bring me to heaven
Teacher, guide me towards the right path or let me be
Or leave me alone
I don't want to blindly follow directions that may lead me astray
Why make me work so hard when you know I work slow?
Why do you put so much pressure on me when you know I am not capable of meeting your expectations?
Don't make us watch you spray more powder on the walls.
I do not want to see you continue to mindlessly engage in pointless activities
Show us a laser, take us to space, or let us go.
Let us do something exciting, interesting or inspirational instead of making us waste our time with mundane things.
We've got violent games on pause at home
We have paused the violent games we have at home and are not engaging in them currently.
You've seen this haste take shape
You know how things can escalate quickly
Don't hide those guilty eyes
You can't pretend like you don't know the consequences of your actions
You gave us guns for toys
You gave us instruments of violence to treat as our playthings
We trained with cross hair scope
We were trained to aim with precision to take someone else's life
That in the name of peace we make war
We take up war in the name of securing peace
Sergeant, I don't remember
I don't remember the instructions
How you said to kill with guilt
Your instructions on how to kill by inflicting guilt is not something I want to remember
I'm haunted by families grieving
The thought of the grief and sorrow the families of the victims and the victims themselves suffer haunts me
Even soldiers kids.
Even the kids of soldiers are not spared from the tragic consequences of the war
Is it God against God, and the pawns are people?
Is it true that there's a war between gods and there are people as pawns?
If they're both the same God, then the battle's over
If both sides claim to serve the same God, the entire point of war seems moot
Preacher, am I gonna make it?
Can I really make it to heaven after all that I have done?
Am I going up?
Can I really ascend to that supposed heavenly abode?
Am I forgiven for the humans I dropped?
Will I ever be able to believe in forgiveness for myself for taking the lives of fellow humans?
It's not like a game once the guilt piles up
The guilt from the actions of war is weighing me down and I cannot trivialize it like a game
If I knew what I know now,
If I knew the consequences of my actions clearly,
It's easy to say I wouldn't go
it would have been easier to choose not to participate
You know how hate takes shape
The rise of hate has visible consequences
You gave us guns for toys
You gifted us violent instruments to treat as our playthings
Imposed beliefs, then pride
Implanted beliefs and propaganda have resulted in unfounded pride and arrogance
We were taught that God prefers the USA
We were indoctrinated to believe that God approves of the country we belong to
Just like the billboard sign that says "God's Country"
Like the sign that claims the country was blessed by God
If it's true that God roots for the USA,
If it's really true that God supports our nation,
Then every bomb we drop in God's name
Then every act of violence we commit in the name of God seems hypocritical
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind