The Firebird Band is currently Chris Broach, Steve Znavor (of Life at Sea), & Mike Marsden (The New Constitution).
Control
The Firebird Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ripped at the seams
this is the one thing
invading my dreams
I can't even feel
it terrifies me
I think it could kill me
lost in this motion
and you can't go back
crossing this ocean
you believed you believed in me
control your ego
control your fascist sense
control your best lines
leave a line to the rest of the world
this is an explosion
we're deaf from this sound
blind from the fanfare
there's no one around
something is broken
you promised a crack
a code and it's open
this combination is hack
this is a muse
an anchor
this is monumental
it's the rest
we must impress
you confessed
it was just a guess
and if you break down
you will sink and drown
the rest you guessed
would follow
control your ego
control your fascist sense
control your best lines
leave a line to the rest of the world
somewhere there's a sound
a deafening sound
to make you come around
somewhere under ground
to bring you back down
you can't hold us down
you will never get out of this x4
[control your ego
control your fascist sense
control your best lines
leave a line to the rest of the world] x2
The Firebird Band's "Control" appears to be about feeling overwhelmed and trapped by something you cannot control. The song's first verse suggests that whatever it is, it is monumental, something that has torn at the seams of the singer's life. They dream about it and feel like they're in too deep. The second verse goes on to describe the situation as an explosion of sound and fanfare, but there's still a sense of loneliness and brokenness, as though the singer is disillusioned with the people they thought they could count on. Overall, there's a sense of powerlessness and fear, as well as a call to control one's ego and be mindful of the effect one's words can have on the world.
The song seems to speak to the experience of being overwhelmed by something that is both beyond your control and intimately entwined with your life. It could be read as referring to addiction, mental health issues, or anything else that can consume a person's thoughts and actions against their will. The call to control one's ego suggests that this "something" is not external but rather a part of the self, an aspect of personality or behavior that needs to be kept in check in order to function in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
This is monumental
The situation at hand is of great importance and significance.
Ripped at the seams
The situation is causing a lot of chaos and is on the verge of falling apart.
This is the one thing
This particular issue is the only one causing trouble.
Invading my dreams
This problem is causing a lot of mental distress.
I can't even feel
The situation is so overwhelming that the artist is numb.
It terrifies me
The situation is causing fear and anxiety.
I think it could kill me
The situation is making the singer feel like it could be fatal.
I'm in too deep
The artist is heavily involved in the situation and cannot easily back out.
Lost in this motion
The artist is caught up in the chaos of the situation.
And you can't go back
There is no turning back from the situation.
Crossing this ocean
The singer is navigating through a difficult task.
You believed you believed in me
The artist is assuring someone that they are capable of succeeding.
Control your ego
The singer urges the listener to prevent their pride from taking over.
Control your fascist sense
The listener is advised to avoid becoming a dictator.
Control your best lines
The singer is urging the listener to not monopolize the conversation and let others speak.
Leave a line to the rest of the world
The artist is urging the listener to not dominate the conversation and let others express themselves.
This is an explosion
The situation is generating a lot of intense emotions and reactions.
We're deaf from this sound
The situation is deafening and overwhelming.
Blind from the fanfare
The singer is being bombarded by too much information.
There's no one around
The artist feels alone and unassisted.
Something is broken
The problem is causing damage.
You promised a crack
The listener made a promise to provide a solution.
A code and it's open
The solution has been found and is now accessible.
This combination is hack
The solution is simple and easy.
This is a muse
The situation is inspiring.
An anchor
The situation is grounding.
It's the rest
The singer is emphasizing the importance of the big picture.
We must impress
The situation requires exceptional performance.
You confessed
The listener admitted to something.
It was just a guess
The listener's admission was not a certainty.
And if you break down
If the listener is overwhelmed, they may not be able to handle the situation.
You will sink and drown
If the listener cannot handle the situation, they will fail.
The rest you guessed would follow
The artist is upset that the listener made assumptions about the situation.
Somewhere there's a sound
There is a call to action coming from somewhere.
A deafening sound
The call to action is intense and demanding.
To make you come around
The call to action is intended to convince the listener to take action.
Somewhere underground
The call to action is coming from an unexpected source.
To bring you back down
The call to action is bringing the listener back to reality.
You can't hold us down
The singer cannot be oppressed by the situation.
You will never get out of this x4
The situation is so consuming that there is no escape.
[control your ego
control your fascist sense
control your best lines
leave a line to the rest of the world] x2
The artist reiterates the importance of the listener controlling their behavior and not being domineering.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
FonziBeats Productions
Thanks so much for the video! I built this and put it in my main guitar and I really like what it does with my lead tone. Even without the resistors in the circuit I still find it the effect is confined to the ends of the rotation, but I reconciled it as being easier to hit the sweet spot that way.
Electronicorn Partypus
I really want to build this! Could you please link to the schematic you used?
FonziBeats Productions
I didn’t really use one, I just kinda reverse engineered it. But basically it’s a 500k blend pot wired as a tone control (one deck is reversed) and the caps ground sides get run in series into the one side of the transformer, then to ground.
Electronicorn Partypus
Did you use an inductor?
BITE SIZE CHUNKS
Vinnie - do you have the part number available for the Alpha blend pot?
Vinnie Irvine
No I don’t but I can say that the bourns MN blend pot works better. The alpha is a custom audio taper and in the centre detent both sides still bleed off a bit so it’s not truly off.
The bourns one works better and in the centre detent it can be wired 100% out of circuit
DislocatedCardiganV1
Very noticeable Vinnie. Do you have the facility to record D.I.? That would be great.
Vinnie Irvine
Never tried, I just record using my iPhone, but I do have iRig so I could try it out...
DislocatedCardiganV1
It's a much cleaner recording, gets rid of the "room" which can ruin a good guitar sound... :)
ELLERBROCK - Guitar and Bass Repair
Oh, never mind. You just answered my question on your video explanation. Cheers! ;-)