The band's first release was a single, "The Lords of Summer" issued by Sydney label Phantom Records in 1988. Following this, The Mark of Cain's drummer situation became reasonably stable for some time with the addition of Campbell Robinson and the band issued two albums on Adelaide label Dominator Records, Battlesick in 1989 and The Unclaimed Prize in 1991. The band's music came to the attention of Steve Albini, who produced their next release, the 1993 EP "Incoming". This was the recording debut for Robinson's replacement Aaron Hewson, who had joined the band shortly after the release of The Unclaimed Prize.
Albini's involvement with The Mark of Cain in turn led to Henry Rollins producing the band's breakthrough album, 1995's Ill at Ease. The first release on Sydney alternative label rooArt, Ill at Ease was the also the first to win wide radio support, with Triple J giving the singles "First Time" and "LMA" solid airplay. A national tour followed, after which Hewitt left and Campbell Robinson returned. The next year, The Mark of Cain released Rock And Roll, a collection of remixes by artists such as Paul Mac and B(if)tek. The band also contributed some songs to the soundtrack of the Australian film Idiot Box including a cover of "Degenerate Boy" by early Australian punk band X. This was a minor hit. Robinson was replaced by Stuart Baguley in late 1998 but Stanier was mooted as a member from mid-1999. He was taken on to provide the drumming on the next album This is This which was produced by Andy Gill of Gang of Four, one of The Mark of Cain's early influences. This is This was released by BMG in 2001 with the announcement that Stainer was now the band's permanent drummer.
According to their official website, www.tmoc.com.au, The Mark of Cain will be entering the studio with John Stanier to record a new album in February 2008.
Hindsight
The Mark Of Cain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A token time piece
Marks my time and your time
Hindsight is a great thing
And like a bad play it's rerun again
To a dissipated crowd
And once again I stand alone
And each their own should all beware
For the killer that lies within
Responsibility's a burden to bear
And a promise so hard to keep
And to say there were no signs in the city
That could purge the sickness from my skin
Is another lie, a fantasy
For the killer is within, the killer is within
The killer is within, the killer is within me
The killer is within, the killer is within
The killer is within, the killer is within
I pull the trigger of a gun so to speak
And took another down
My corrupt and twisted street
I never stopped to look around
And each their own should all beware
For the passion that lies within
Responsibility's a burden to bear
And a promise so hard to keep
And to say there were no signs in the city
That could purge the sickness from my skin
Is another lie, a fantasy
For the killer is within, the killer is within
The killer is within, the killer is within me
Take it home
The Mark of Cain's song "Hindsight" explores themes of regret and responsibility, looking back on past actions with the benefit of hindsight. The first verse references the passing of time as marked by a token timepiece, emphasizing the idea that each day must be taken one at a time. However, despite this seemingly simple notion, mistakes can still be made, as the chorus repeats the idea that "hindsight is a great thing."
The second verse brings in more concrete imagery, comparing the mistakes of the past to a bad play rerun for a disinterested audience. The singer laments standing alone, overwhelmed by pride and youth. The bridge of the song warns against the "killer" that lies within each person and the burden of responsibility that comes with it.
The final verse ties the themes together, with the singer admitting to pulling the trigger of a gun and failing to look around at the corrupt streets around him. The bridge repeats, emphasizing the idea that everyone must beware of their own passions and the killer within. Overall, "Hindsight" is a cautionary tale about the danger of allowing passion to drive actions without thought to the consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
One day, a day at a time
Living life requires taking it one day at a time
A token time piece
Some symbolic object marks the passage of time
Marks my time and your time
Time affects us all
Hindsight is a great thing
It's often easier to see mistakes clearly in hindsight
And like a bad play it's rerun again
Mistakes can be repeated like a poorly written or acted play
To a dissipated crowd
Others may not care or be affected by our mistakes
And once again I stand alone
The consequences of mistakes can lead to isolation
Too young and too proud
Youth and pride can contribute to mistakes
And each their own should all beware
Everyone should be cautious and responsible for their actions
For the killer that lies within
Each individual has the potential for negative or harmful behavior
Responsibility's a burden to bear
Being accountable for one's actions can be difficult
And a promise so hard to keep
Committing to change or improvement can be challenging
And to say there were no signs in the city
It's unrealistic to claim there were no indicators of potential harm or danger
That could purge the sickness from my skin
It's impossible to completely remove negative influences or tendencies from oneself
Is another lie, a fantasy
Denying or ignoring one's personal responsibility for mistakes is not truthful
For the killer is within, the killer is within
Negative behavior stems from within an individual
The killer is within, the killer is within me
The artist acknowledges their own potential for negative behavior
I pull the trigger of a gun so to speak
The singer acknowledges a metaphorical act of harm caused by their actions
And took another down
The singer caused harm to another person
My corrupt and twisted street
The artist's environment may have contributed to negative behavior
I never stopped to look around
The artist did not take responsibility for their own actions or surroundings
For the passion that lies within
Intense emotions can contribute to negative behavior
Take it home
Finish strong or successfully complete a task
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind