Glenn Mercer and Bill Million formed the band as The Outkids in 1976, and changed their name to The Feelies later that year. The band moved to New York and began receiving critical acclaim for their performances. By the 1978, the band consisted of Mercer, Million, basist Keith DeNunzio and drummer Anton Fier. The band released their debut single "Fa Cé-La", on Rough Trade Records in 1979.
In 1980, the band released their debut album, "Crazy Rhythms" on Stiff Records. Fier and DeNunzio left the band shortly after the release of the album, and the band was put on hiatus as Mercer and Million pursued other projects. The two continued to occasionally perform with other musicians as The Feelies throughout the early 1980's.
The band reformed in 1985 with a lineup consisting of Million, Mercer, Dave Wackerman, Brenda Sauter and Stan Demeski and released "The Good Earth" in 1986. The album was co-produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. The Feelies toured with Lou Reed and R.E.M. during 1986.
In 1988, the band released "Only Life" on A&M Records, and in 1991, released "Time for a Witness" on the same label. The band disbanded in 1992.
The band reunited in 2008 and toured with Sonic Youth, before beginning a schedule of festival dates throughout 2009 and 2010. The band released their fifth album, "Here Before", on Bar/None Records in 2011.
Time for a Witness
The Feelies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sent from high above
In a million fisted message (fisted???)
We all know the word is love
Well past the age of reason
Yeah we've known it for so long
Pardon is to everyone
Who ever done me wrong
And we'll think of a solution (?)
Just give me air to breath
Well it might be my salvation
It might give me some disease
Well high up on the mountain
Yeah up upon a hill
Yeah we look around and ask
Yeah how much more we gonna kill?
All those false smiling prophets
Don't give up without a fight
Well if I'm on the wrong side
Who is on the right?
How many more times
Might we be saved by the bell
Well we could be in the garden
But we've made this living hell
Oh no
It's alright
But it's alright now
The opening line, "Might be time for a witness, yeah, sent from high above" suggests that the singer is calling for some kind of divine intervention, a higher power to come and witness the troubles and struggles of humanity. The phrase "million fisted message" is an interesting one, as it could refer to the sheer number of people calling out for help, or the many different ways in which the message is being delivered. The following line, "We all know the word is love", reinforces the idea that the singer is looking for a kind of spiritual solution, something that transcends the material world and connects all people.
The song then takes a darker turn, with the lines "Well past the age of reason, yeah we've known it for so long / Pardon is to everyone who ever done me wrong". Here, the singer seems to be grappling with feelings of bitterness and resentment, perhaps related to past hurts or betrayals. However, they still hold onto the hope that forgiveness and redemption can be found, both for themselves and for others.
The final verse of the song touches on themes of environmental destruction and the search for a better world. Lines like "Well we could be in the garden, but we've made this living hell" suggest a longing for a simpler, more harmonious existence that has been lost due to human action. The closing refrain of "It's alright, but it's alright now" is ambiguous - it could be read as a resigned acceptance of the difficulties of life, or a hopeful statement that things are beginning to improve.
Line by Line Meaning
Might be time for a witness, yeah,
Perhaps we need someone or something to bear witness to the truth of our situation.
Sent from high above
This witness may come from a divine or otherworldly source.
In a million fisted message
This message may be forceful or overwhelming, delivered with countless punches or blows.
We all know the word is love
Ultimately, love is the answer to our problems and the solution to our struggle.
Well past the age of reason
We have exceeded the point of logical thinking and must rely on something else to guide us.
Yeah we've known it for so long
This truth has been with us for a lifetime, if not longer.
Pardon is to everyone
Everyone deserves to be forgiven and excused for their mistakes.
Who ever done me wrong
We must let go of our grudges and resentments towards those who have hurt us.
And we'll think of a solution
We must brainstorm and come up with a plan to address the problems at hand.
Just give me air to breath
We need space and room to breathe and reflect in order to find our way forward.
Well it might be my salvation
This solution could be our saving grace.
It might give me some disease
However, this solution may also come with unintended negative consequences.
Well high up on the mountain
We may need to rise above our current situation and look at things from a new perspective.
Yeah up upon a hill
We must elevate ourselves and gain a higher vantage point to truly see what is going on.
Yeah we look around and ask
We must take a critical and honest look at our surroundings and situation.
Yeah how much more we gonna kill?
We must consider the harm that has been done and how much more damage can we afford to cause.
All those false smiling prophets
We must be wary of those who claim to have all the answers but are actually misleading us.
Don't give up without a fight
We must resist complacency and continue to push for change no matter the obstacles in our way.
Well if I'm on the wrong side
We must reassess our own position and whether we are truly on the right side of history.
Who is on the right?
The question of who is morally right or wrong can be subjective and difficult to answer definitively.
How many more times
We must confront the reality and consequences of our past mistakes and question how many chances we have left.
Might we be saved by the bell
We may be saved by a sudden or fortuitous event, or it may be too late for us.
Well we could be in the garden
We have the potential to create a paradise or utopia, but we have failed to do so thus far.
But we've made this living hell
Instead, we have created a society full of pain, suffering, and injustice.
It's alright
Despite all of this, everything will be okay.
But it's alright now
We have the opportunity to make things right and create a better future for ourselves and others.
Contributed by Jayden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
begliuccellini
This band deserves a lot more attention, and so does this record.
Michael Lara
Well said. My first trip to NYC, I saw them perform. What an intriguing and inspiring introduction to the love and healthy competition between New Jersey and New York. Whew! Beautiful. “Find your light.” Clutch truth delivered.
George Mouratidis-Γιωργος Μουρατιδης
@Michael O'Boyle Yes.This album and this band . Unique .
Michael O'Boyle
A monumental effort for it’s time, indeed. Love this record.
George Mouratidis-Γιωργος Μουρατιδης
Yes indeed / Thank you
Dean Nilvalli
I had this, and 3 other Feelies albums, years ago. It is great to be able to rediscover them here. I really underestimated them- I think I like them even better now than then (and i liked them a lot!). Such great energy, great mood.
Yepper AlrightyThen
Bought this album when it came out. Good Stuff, thank you for posting the whole album, it helps pass the time at work :)
George Mouratidis-Γιωργος Μουρατιδης
Thank you my friend. I like also this stuff
Patrick Granahan
This just has such a Lou reed velvet underground feel…it gives me chills!
George Mouratidis-Γιωργος Μουρατιδης
Always my friend. All the albums of the Feelies are Velvetish.