The Unseen formed in Boston 1993 and released the demo EP Too Young To Know...Too Reckless To Care in 1994. Two other 7" EPs followed, before the release of their debut full-length, Lower Class Crucifixion on A-F Records. Another two albums followed on the same label before they signed to BYO Records, and then, Hellcat Records. Each of their albums have sold moderately better than previous releases.
The quintet also released a best-of compilation for the European market in June 2000 titled Totally Unseen: The Best Of The Unseen, which contained two previously unreleased tracks.
For the release of their 2001 album The Anger And the Truth, "Chainsaw" re-accompanied the band in the studio to record the song No Evacuation, a song he originally wrote.
After being a member of the band for nearly ten years and writing most of the material on Lower Class Crucifixion, So This is Freedom?, and The Anger and the Truth, Paul Russo left the band after only contributing vocals to one track on their fourth album Explode. Citing differences in direction, he is now the leader of The Strings, an indie rock/folk band. He remains friends with his former bandmates.
Mark Unseen, the lead singer, formed and currently runs ADD Records. He also briefly joined the Maine street punk group A Global Threat as a second singer, and recorded the full-length What the Fuck Will Change? and Until We Die before deciding to concentrate on his duties with The Unseen.
There has been some controversy concerning the band, including allegations that in recent years they have "sold out". Most widely cited is the fact that The Unseen have produced music videos to air on commercial music video channels such as MTV2, an avenue looked-down upon in the underground streetpunk scene. The band reacted to this perception with the song "So Sick of You."
They have toured Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, and Mexico with many punk heavyweights from The Bouncing Souls and Rancid to decidedly more hardcore outfits like Hatebreed and Sick Of It All. Since the departure of Paul, the band has used many replacements on tour such as members from The Virus, Strike Anywhere, and F-Minus, however, recently, on their MySpace page The Unseen have included a fifth band member, Jonny, an ex-guitarist of A Global Threat who was in the band at the same time as Mark.
2006 also saw the release of Tripp's book So This Is Readin'?, which details the life and hardships of being in an underground band with dry comedy. It started as a lengthy band history on the band's website, but after a few amusing "chapters" he was contacted by a publishing company to release it in book form.
In May 2006, The Unseen announced on their official website that they would begin writing their sixth studio full-length album during the summer of that year. The album, titled Internal Salvation, came out on July 10, 2007. The first song released from that album is a track titled "Right Before Your Eyes". In support of the new album, the band has joined the thirteenth Warped Tour.
Children Of The Revolution
The Unseen Lyrics
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Says "I was like you when I was young"
Son looks up to father's plans
Works in the factory with his hands
Says "I want to be just like you,
Organize the work for the collective few"
But as he grows up he sees no change
Some day people will say
"Do we have to live this way?"
"Is this how we have to exist?"
And the people will rise up, and resist!
A majority class dominates
A world that the lower class creates
Media confusion hides the fact
That we work with the rich man's knife in our back
We're killing ourselves for a profit gain
A profit off life what a fucking shame
We burn that flag for the values sworn
Some day we'll burn it to keep warm
What we have done will not be lost
To all eternity
Everything ripens at its time
And becomes fruit eventually!
Children of the revolution
The Unseen's song "Children of the Revolution" talks about the struggle of working-class individuals and their fight against the capitalist system that oppresses them. The song starts with a conversation between a father and his son, where the father tells his son that he was once like him, young and ambitious, but now he is just another worker in a factory. The son wants to follow in his father's footsteps, but as he grows up, he sees that the system doesn't allow for any change, and it doesn't provide opportunities for the working class to rise above their circumstances. The lyrics "Systems won't let you rearrange" perfectly capture the feeling of being trapped and helpless.
Moreover, the song highlights the concept of false consciousness, where the lower class is blinded and confused by the media manipulating their thoughts and convincing them that they are benefiting from the system. But in reality, they are being exploited to generate profits for the rich. The lines "Media confusion hides the fact/That we work with the rich man's knife in our back" convey this message effectively.
However, there is a sense of hope in the lyrics. The song suggests that someday people will rise up against the system and demand change. The lyrics "And the people will rise up and resist" are a call to action for the working class to join forces and challenge the capitalist system.
Line by Line Meaning
Father looks down to his son
The father gazes at his son.
Says "I was like you when I was young"
He informs his son that he was exactly like him in the past.
Son looks up to father's plans
The son looks up and observes his father's aspirations.
Works in the factory with his hands
He works industriously with his hands in the factory.
Says "I want to be just like you,
He communicates that he desires to become a replica of his father.
Organize the work for the collective few"
He intends to arrange the work for the general populace.
But as he grows up he sees no change
As he matures, he perceives that nothing has transformed.
Systems won't let you rearrange!
Administrative procedures are reluctant to change.
Some day people will say
One day, individuals will express their opinions.
"Do we have to live this way?"
They'll inquire about the possibility of living differently.
"Is this how we have to exist?"
They'll question whether this is the only way to exist.
And the people will rise up, and resist!
Dissatisfied individuals will take a stand and confront their grievances.
A majority class dominates
A dominant social class prevails.
A world that the lower class creates
A society established by the lower class.
Media confusion hides the fact
The media conceals the truth through disinformation.
That we work with the rich man's knife in our back
We are exploited behind our backs by the wealthy elite.
We're killing ourselves for a profit gain
We are damaging ourselves for financial gain.
A profit off life what a fucking shame
It's disgraceful to make money from people's lives.
We burn that flag for the values sworn
We burn the flag due to broken pledges and values.
Some day we'll burn it to keep warm
Perhaps we'll have to burn the flag to keep warm one day.
What we have done will not be lost
Our actions will not be in vain.
To all eternity
For all time.
Everything ripens at its time
Something will be fruitful eventually.
And becomes fruit eventually!
And it will yield results eventually.
Children of the revolution
Individuals who strive for radical change in the system.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Marc Bolan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind