Originally "The Extinct", The Unseen is a punk band (formerly considered a … Read Full Bio ↴Originally "The Extinct", The Unseen is a punk band (formerly considered a street punk band from '93-'00 that was formed in 1993 in Hingham, Massachusetts, United States. After their original lead singer, Marc Carlson, left the band they played as a four piece.

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.

Don't Look Back
The Unseen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm sorry for the things I said
I never meant to hurt you
I'm sorry for the things I did
I did them just to spite you
I'm older and wiser now I see how I played the fool
I guess there's times in all our lives we
Can't Explain the things we do

Don't look back and feel ashamed about how
Easily you played the game cause the past
Is something we can't change.
The world was closing in on me
Fighting for some space
Misdirected anger and it
Blew up in my face
Life's to short for regrets so I'll learn from
My mistakes, but how much fucking learning
Can one person take?

There are things I'd like to say but pride
Has got my tongue, so I'll take the easy way out
And blame it on being young

Can't take back what's been said it's been way too long
Won't be haunted by the past I'm trying to move on

Overall Meaning

The Unseen’s song “Don’t Look Back” tells the story of someone who has caused hurt to a loved one and now regrets their actions. The lyrics earnestly express the singer's remorse and the recognition that their youthful anger led them down a destructive path. The opening lines, “I’m sorry for the things I said. I never meant to hurt you,” demonstrate the singer’s genuine remorse and desire for forgiveness.

The chorus -- “Don't look back and feel ashamed about how easily you played the game cause the past is something we can't change” – emphasizes the importance of moving forward from the past and not letting it consume one's present. Despite the regretful past, the song advocates for redemption and growth.

Towards the end, the singer acknowledges the limits of their situation, “There are things I'd like to say but pride has got my tongue,” but they also claim agency in defining their future, “Won't be haunted by the past I'm trying to move on.”

Overall, the song "Don’t Look Back" is a heartfelt apology that encourages the listener to let go of the past, be accountable for their actions, and embrace the possibility of change and growth.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm sorry for the things I said
Apologizing for words that might have hurt you.

I never meant to hurt you
Assuring you that the words were meant to hurt you intentionally.

I'm sorry for the things I did
Apologizing for some actions done to hurt you.

I did them just to spite you
Admitting to the intentions and the reasons behind the previously stated actions.

I'm older and wiser now I see how I played the fool
Admitting the wrongdoings and realizing the foolishness behind them.

I guess there's times in all our lives we Can't Explain the things we do
Reflecting on how certain things we do at certain times are unexplainable.

Don't look back and feel ashamed about how Easily you played the game cause the past Is something we can't change.
Encouraging one not to feel ashamed of their past for it's something that can't be changed.

The world was closing in on me Fighting for some space Misdirected anger and it Blew up in my face
Explaining the reasons behind their ill behavior and how it caused consequences.

Life's to short for regrets so I'll learn from My mistakes, but how much fucking learning Can one person take?
Realizing the importance of not having regrets and learning from their past, but also questioning when too much learning can become too burdensome.

There are things I'd like to say but pride Has got my tongue, so I'll take the easy way out And blame it on being young
Acknowledging that there are things the person would like to say, but their pride is holding them back. Thus, they would rather take the easy way out by attributing it to being young.

Can't take back what's been said it's been way too long Won't be haunted by the past I'm trying to move on
Realizing that it's impossible to change anything that's been said because it's been a long time, but not wanting to be haunted by the past and trying to move forward.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TORSTEIN FLAKNE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS