The original Urge lineup debuted in 1989 with the cassette-only Bust Me Dat Forty, followed a year later by the LP Puttin' the Backbone Back. After the addition of trombonist Matt Kwiatkowski, the group released 1992's Magically Delicious; later the group added trombonist/keyboardist Todd Painter and saxophonist/keyboardist Bill Reiter, and in 1993 recorded the live LP Fat Babies in the Mix. After Herschel and Malecek left the band in 1994, guitarist Jerry Jost and drummer John Pessoni joined the lineup, and subsequent touring with 311 helped The Urge win a number of new fans. The 1995 release of Receiving the Gift of Flavor was so successful that it brought the band to the attention of Epic's Immortal imprint, which reissued the LP in 1996.
After constant touring with the likes of labelmates Korn and Incubus, Master of Styles was released in 1998, containing the hit "Jump Right In" which featured singer Nick Hexum of 311.
Following the release of Too Much Stereo in mid 2000, the band toured for nearly a year before calling it quits. After the annual St. Louis Christmas shows, the Urge disbanded for the first time since they formed in 1987.
The band played several Midwest reunion shows from 2003-2005 that included a headlining spot at Pointfest, a large semi-annual outdoor rock festival in St. Louis. Frontman Steve Ewing has made several solo records while guitarist Jerry Jost formed LucaBrasi, featuring former members of Adair and Helmet. The other members still resided in St. Louis and are involved in several musical projects.
On July 15, 2011, St. Louis' KPNT 105.7 FM proclaimed that the Urge would be headlining Pointfest XXIX on September 10, 2011, marking their sixth festival appearance. The Urge also confirmed that they are once again an active band and they have been recording new music in the studio for several months.
Gene Machine
The Urge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't bother me
You wanna know if I'll get down
Can't you see
Yeeeeeah
(Gene Machine)
Stick it in
Are they still humans?
(Dream Machine)
With brown eyes
With brown hair
Created scientifically
You wanna see me hang around
Don't bother me
You wanna know if I get down
Oh can't you see
Come on open up your eyes
Truth is there to see
There is to be in reality
(Gene Machine)
Are they issues?
Dial-A-Gene... Buy-A-Gene...
Take a second look did one just pass by way?
Gene Machine
Gene Machine
You never know one
when you see her
Quite aware
Mistaken identity
Oh. Gene Machine
Under H.I.M.
we pray not take the other
The lyrics of “Gene Machine” by The Urge talks about the creation of genetically engineered humans or clones. The song starts with the singer's indifference to the people around him who are questioning his origin and whether he would behave like them. Then it mentions the “Gene Machine” where humans are created scientifically, with brown hair and brown eyes. The song also highlights the fear and the confusion surrounding the concept of genetic engineering - are these clones still humans? The chorus is a sarcastic remark on the superficiality of it all.
The second part of the song, “Dream Machine,” could be seen as a form of escapism, where the singer seems to be acknowledging that the world around him is becoming more and more artificial. He urges the listeners to arrive at their own reality and recognize the truth about the world they are living in, rather than be stuck in a dream-like existence.
Overall, “Gene Machine” could be read as social commentary on the advancements in genetic engineering where man tries to play god and replicates humans. While the song doesn’t necessarily takes a position on its morality, it's up to the listeners to contemplate the different aspects of cloning and what it could mean for humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
You wanna see me hang around
The singer is being asked to stay in a place.
Don't bother me
The singer tells whoever is asking them to stay that they are not interested.
You wanna know if I'll get down
Someone is asking if the singer will participate in something.
Can't you see
The artist is annoyed that the other person is not getting the message.
Stick it in
The artist is talking about some sort of procedure or action involving putting something inside.
Shove it up
The singer is using aggressive language to describe the previously mentioned action.
Are they still humans?
The singer questions the humanity of those involved in the action.
With brown eyes
The artist describes a physical characteristic of those involved in a specific situation.
With brown hair
The artist describes another physical characteristic of those involved in a specific situation.
Created scientifically
The artist indicates that the people they are describing were created through scientific means.
Come on open up your eyes
The singer urges someone to pay attention and see what is going on around them.
Truth is there to see
The artist believes that the reality of the situation is clear if one pays attention.
There is to be in reality
The singer indicates that there is only one truth and it is the reality of the situation.
Are they issues?
The singer questions whether or not the situation they are describing is problematic.
Dial-A-Gene... Buy-A-Gene...
The singer references specific things that have to do with the creation of the people they are describing, perhaps sarcastically.
Take a second look did one just pass by way?
The artist suggests that the people they are describing may be around and one should be aware of their presence.
You never know one when you see her
The artist suggests that it is difficult to identify the people they are describing just by looking at them.
Quite aware
The singer indicates that they understand what is going on and are not simply naive.
Mistaken identity
The singer refers to a situation where someone is confused about who someone else is.
Oh. Gene Machine
The artist repeats the title of the song, which could be seen as referring back to the people they are describing.
Under H.I.M. we pray not take the other
The artist may be making a reference to a religious or political figure and expressing a hope that they do not take away the freedom of the people they are describing.
Contributed by Mackenzie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.