The band consisted of three members, Robin Proper-Sheppard (born Gary Sheppard) (guitar/vocals), Jimmy Fernandez (bass) and Ronald Austin (drums), and they first performed officially under the name The God Machine in 1991. They released an EP, Purity with the record label Eve, and were later given contracts with the label Fiction. They released two albums in their career, both with their trademark dark and industrial-sounding alternative rock, before Jimmy Fernandez suddenly died from a cancerous brain tumor in 1994. Robin went on to form The Flower Shop Recordings label, and bands Sophia and The May Queens.
The first full-length album, Scenes from the second storey, was released in 1993.
Their second album, One Last Laugh in a Place of Dying, was recognized by Alternative Press as one of the "90 greatest albums of the 90s" (#88) in their December 1998 issue.
Their San Diego incarnation was called Society Line and also featured guitarist Albert Amman, who left the band before its move to London.
Mama
The God Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As he took his hand, knocked me to the ground
Daddy said: faggot fight like a man
I wish I had a gun, had a gun, had a gun
Bring it!
Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh!
Daddy said boy it's a long way down
As he took his hand, knocked me to the ground
Daddy said: faggot fight like a man
I wish I had a gun, had a gun, had a gun
Bring it!
Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh!
Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama!
The God Machine's song Mama portrays the traumatic experience of growing up in an abusive household, especially the father-son relationship where the father is physically and emotionally abusive. The opening lines paint a picture of a father who is willing to resort to violence to make his son "man up." The son's misery is expressed in the repeating line "I wish I had a gun." The repetition of the line adds emphasis to the conviction of the singer's desire to end the pain inflicted on him by his father.
The song's chorus "Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama!" acts as a desperate plea to his mother to intervene and protect him from the abuse he is facing. It shows the longing for a nurturing maternal figure that can protect and console him. "Mama" conveys the singer's yearning for an escape from the situation and evokes the instinctual feeling of turning to one's mother for emotional support.
Overall, The God Machine's song Mama illustrates the struggle and pain of living in an abusive household, where violence is used as a means to enforce patriarchal norms and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy said boy it's a long way down
My father warned me that I was headed for trouble.
As he took his hand, knocked me to the ground
My father physically assaulted me to teach me a lesson.
Daddy said: faggot fight like a man
My father insulted my masculinity by calling me a homophobic slur and challenged me to fight.
I wish I had a gun, had a gun, had a gun
I feel so powerless and helpless in the face of my father's abuse that I wish I could defend myself with a weapon.
Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama!
I am calling out to my mother for help and support, as she is the only one who truly cares for me and understands my pain.
Contributed by Evan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jacob E. L. Jensen
It's still an awsome track so many years after!!!
Nigel Fortune
Still miss this awesome band - R.I.P JF.
hejloeeee
im from Poland and i was listening to this band when i was teen
Fabrice
Un groupe découvert par hasard ... Et qui tient à présent une place indispensable dans ma discographie ...
Christophe Lardeau
J'ai découvert ce groupe dans l'émission de Bernard lenoir sur France inter. Super groupe du début des années 90 surtout cette album(le chanteur fait partie d'un groupe qui s'appelle SOPHIA)
TJG
Seems you are bang on the truth serum my friend. Hard to imagine a better album,
Eric Piron
yeppppppppppppppppppppppp