The Servant was a London-based alternative band who were popular in Britain, France and Italy, as well as other European countries. In November 2007, the band announced through their MySpace blog that they were to split up. Their singles include Orchestra, Liquefy, Cells, and How to Destroy a Relationship. They share the singer, Dan Black, with Planet Funk.
Despite growing international demand, they had chosen to focus on strengthening their European audience before globe trotting. Their first introduction to an American audience was an instrumental version of their song Cells, featured in trailers for the film, Sin City. (The instrumental version of Cells is not on the Sin City soundtrack, but it can be downloaded via their website.) Cells was also used in the film Transporter 2, along with their song, Body. Since the Sin City trailers there has been significant U.S. interest in their records and demands for live concerts.
They released their second album, How to Destroy a Relationship, in October 2006 in Switzerland, Italy, and France.
Body
The Servant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But not with aspirins
You won't
You won't let your family in
Like smoke your body comes
Through the gaps in the urban slums
You try
When you don't know what you want
You end up finding that you haunt your own
Your own life
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You're the empty city streets and I
And I see you
And those talkshows fill your days
Something is slipping away
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
Your skin is cellophane
You know I feel the same
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
When you make a cup of tea
You act like it's alchemy
But it's not
It's not what you think it to be
Seeing everything as signs
Seeing everything as lines always
Always lying saying you're fine
When you don't know what you want
You end up finding that you haunt your own
Your own life
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You're the empty city streets and I
And I see you
And those talkshows fill your days
Something is slipping away
Sometimes it feels like you don?t have a body
Your skin is cellophane
You know I feel the same
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
When you don't know what you want you end up finding that you haunt
Your own life
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You're the empty city streets
But I can see you
Talkshows fill your days
Something is slipping away
Sometimes it feels like
You dont have a body
Your skin is cellophane
You know I feel the same
Sometimes it feels like
You don't have a body....
The Servant's song "Body" is a melancholic piece that centers around the theme of losing oneself in a world filled with distractions, leading to a disconnection from one's own self. The song encourages the listener to "take your mind off him" and break free from the chains of attachment that bind them to someone who may not be worth the emotional investment. However, the lyrics suggest that even when you try to escape, you can't entirely detach yourself from the past. The line "Like smoke your body comes through the gaps in urban slums" is a metaphor for how memories and feelings linger and can seep through even the tiniest spaces.
The song also addresses the issue of wanting to fit in and conforming to societal standards, as seen in the line "You try to speak American." The pressure to assimilate and be accepted can make one feel like they have to perform to maintain their place in society. The song portrays a sense of loneliness and detachment, reinforced by the repeated refrain, "Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body." The lyrics express the idea that when you lose touch with your inner self, you become nothing more than a ghostly presence, wandering through life.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got to take your mind off him
You need to forget about him
But not with aspirins
Don't try to distract yourself with medication
You won't
You can't forget it
You won't let your family in
You keep your emotions to yourself and shut out your loved ones
Like smoke your body comes
You move fluidly and unnoticed through the city
Through the gaps in the urban slums
You navigate through the city's broken and neglected areas
You try
You attempt to fit in
You try to speak American
But you struggle to communicate in the dominant language
When you don't know what you want
Uncertainty consumes you
You end up finding that you haunt your own
You become your own worst enemy
Your own life
Your existence is filled with constant unease and dissatisfaction
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You move around unnoticed, like a ghost
You're the empty city streets and I
You embody the loneliness and isolation of the city
And I see you
I empathize with you despite your attempts to hide
And those talkshows fill your days
You waste away your time with mindless entertainment
Something is slipping away
You can feel your grip on life loosening
Sometimes it feels like you don?t have a body
You feel disconnected from your physical self
Your skin is cellophane
You feel invisible and transparent
You know I feel the same
I can relate to your struggles
When you make a cup of tea
Simple tasks become overcomplicated
You act like it's alchemy
You over-dramatize everyday activities
But it's not
It's just a normal activity
It's not what you think it to be
You are overthinking things
Seeing everything as signs
You try to find deeper meaning in simple things
Seeing everything as lines always
You look for connections where there are none
Always lying saying you're fine
You hide your true emotions behind a facade of contentment
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You try to blend in but are easily overlooked
You're the empty city streets
You embody the deserted and isolated city
When you don't know what you want
You are lost and unsure
You end up finding that you haunt
You become trapped in a self-destructive cycle
Your own life
Your existence is filled with discontent and restlessness
But I can see you
Despite your efforts to disappear, I can still see you
Talkshows fill your days
You waste away your hours with meaningless distractions
Something is slipping away
You feel like you are losing control of your life
Sometimes it feels like
You struggle to connect with the world around you
You dont have a body
You feel disconnected from your physical form
Your skin is cellophane
You feel transparent and easily overlooked
You know I feel the same
I can empathize with your feelings of disconnection and invisibility
Contributed by Julian Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luvios
You've got to take your mind off him
But not with aspirins
You won't
You won't let your family in
Like smoke your body comes
Through the gaps in the urban slums
You try
You try to speak american
When you don't know what you want
You end up finding that you haunt your own
Your own life
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You're the empty city streets and I
And I see you
And those talkshows fill your days
Something is slipping away
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
Your skin is cellophane
You know I feel the same
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
When you make a cup of tea
You act like it's alchemy
But it's not
It's not what you think it to be
Seeing everything as signs
Seeing everything as lines always
Always lying saying you're fine
When you don't know what you want
You end up finding that you haunt your own
Your own life
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You're the empty city streets and I
And I see you
And those talkshows fill your days
Something is slipping away
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
Your skin is cellophane
You know I feel the same
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
hylianlegends
My God, what a powerful song. It could be interpreted in so many ways. It reminds me of the time in my life when I went through a pretty severe depression, and I was in denial about it. "You're the daylight ghost that creeps, you're the empty city streets..." What an amazing metaphore, so descriptive and so true. And the artist is saying that he sees her, even though she feels like she doesn't have a body, and she doesn't have to lie "saying you're fine." Stop haunting your own life.
Gameplay and Talk
Ah, it's been a long time since I've heard this.. Goes straight to the gut. Brings back memories and perceptions I eventually learned to block out..Now they're seeping back in.
Luvios
You've got to take your mind off him
But not with aspirins
You won't
You won't let your family in
Like smoke your body comes
Through the gaps in the urban slums
You try
You try to speak american
When you don't know what you want
You end up finding that you haunt your own
Your own life
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You're the empty city streets and I
And I see you
And those talkshows fill your days
Something is slipping away
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
Your skin is cellophane
You know I feel the same
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
When you make a cup of tea
You act like it's alchemy
But it's not
It's not what you think it to be
Seeing everything as signs
Seeing everything as lines always
Always lying saying you're fine
When you don't know what you want
You end up finding that you haunt your own
Your own life
You're the daylight ghost that creeps
You're the empty city streets and I
And I see you
And those talkshows fill your days
Something is slipping away
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
Your skin is cellophane
You know I feel the same
Sometimes it feels like you don't have a body
Kaz Eddison
One of the greatest bands of any genres.
Hobo Jenkins
Dang.. After a rough day yesterday night that made me feel exactly like this.. I needed this song. What a great band.
Ilaria Sometimes
I adore this album!!!
Louise Le
it's been at least 6 years since I've last listened to this song. :) Nostalgia indeed
TogetherAtLast
I would listen to this song on repeat while reading "Perks of being a Wallflower"
PatheticTeen
best song of The Servant !!
Kaltred
I can't believe that this music has been listen only 10451 time =O Great song, great band