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
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
is blessed assuredly
In these lyrics, The Faint is critiquing the glorification of violence and war in American society. The singer is addressing different authority figures - a teacher, a sergeant, and a preacher - questioning their motives and the messages they are sending to young people. The singer is asking to be either shown something truly awe-inspiring or to be left alone, rather than being forced to watch as things are destroyed. The violence that is being taught seems to be leading to a sense of guilt and questioning the morality of it all.
Line by Line Meaning
Teacher, bring me to heaven
Teacher, give me something meaningful to strive for
Or leave me alone
Or don't push me if you can't give me something better
Why make me work so hard when you know I work slow?
Why make things difficult for me when you know my limitations?
Don't make us watch you spray more powder on the walls.
Don't make us watch you do meaningless things
Show us a laser, take us to space, or let us go.
Show us something exciting and meaningful or let us explore on our own
We've got violent games on pause at home
We have violent video games waiting for us at home
You've seen this haste take shape
You've witnessed how our mentality has shifted towards aggression
Don't hide those guilty eyes
Don't pretend like you are not responsible for our violent tendencies
You gave us guns for toys
You gave us weapons to play with
We trained with cross hair scope
We learned to aim precisely for a target
That in the name of peace we make war
That ironically, we fight wars with the aim of peace
Sergeant, I don't remember
Sergeant, I can barely remember the things you taught us
How you said to kill with guilt
How you taught us to kill with remorse
I'm haunted by families grieving
I am tormented by the thought of people mourning their loved ones
Even soldiers kids.
Even the children of soldiers
Is it God against God, and the pawns are people?
Is it a war between different beliefs, and common people are just pawns?
If they're both the same God, then the battle's over
If they are fighting in the name of the same God, then they should stop fighting
Preacher, am I gonna make it?
Preacher, will I be saved?
Am I going up?
Will I ascend to heaven?
Am I forgiven for the humans I dropped?
Will I be forgiven for taking human lives?
It's not like a game once the guilt piles up
It's not as easy as a game after the guilt accumulates
If I knew what I know now,
If only I knew what I know now,
It's easy to say I wouldn't go
It's easy to say I would not have gone to war
You know how hate takes shape
You know how easily hate grows in us
Don't hide those guilty eyes
Don't pretend like you are not responsible for our violent tendencies
You gave us guns for toys
You gave us weapons to play with
Imposed beliefs, then pride
You taught us your beliefs and your pride
We were taught that God prefers the USA
We were taught that God favors the USA
Just like the billboard sign that says "God's Country"
Like the billboard sign that claims USA is God's country
If it's true that God roots for the USA,
If it's true that God supports the USA,
Then every bomb we drop in God's name
Then every bomb we drop in the name of God
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind