The Velvet Teen officially made its debut in a brief Icelandic tour in the debatedly millennial new year, finding founding member Judah Nagler accompanied by electronic arrangements programmed on a portable sequencer. After returning home, Nagler teamed up with former bandmate Logan Whitehurst, and together they recorded the first EP under the moniker. Joshua Staples soon joined the group, and the trio recorded a wealth of material while touring North America, Canada and Japan until late 2004, when Logan was diagnosed with brain cancer. He died from the disease in 2006. Casey Deitz filled in during Logan’s absence and later joined the group to help extend the band’s reach to Europe and record Cum Laude.
The present day finds The Velvet Teen writing and recording as always, the newest material a culmination of its history, its vision set on the horizon. You are cordially invited to take part in the madness.
A Captive Audience
The Velvet Teen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
like the author ran out of ink, before you got to me
it doesn't matter, you have your answer
my breath upon yer hand
my breath upon yer hand
cos we're never far from another life
but i never wanted to make you spend the night
with yer loneliest thoughts
will i be left here
ooh, love
when so proudly we fail and all the optimists sing
"yeah, we'll be that far"
when we'll be that far behind
it's the drug distraction(tm)
they'll scream when i kick
but for every moment that i get too close
to the faceless void from which i stumbled
it's only because my heart swells over
and i misinterpret it, i dwell on my failures
cos i had parents who taught me to love
yeah, love was something
they never knew
they never cared about you anyway
a hope vicarious, a captive audience
even the people that you call your friends
can fuck you over in the subtlest ways
it'll be your comfort that you're always alone
they never cared about you anyway
they never cared / they never care so much
as when you've lost your way
fire and brimstone where they lay me
heaven help us for a way to get out of here
ooh, love
In "A Captive Audience" by The Velvet Teen, the lyrics depict a sense of isolation and longing for connection. The song starts with the assertion of making something disappear, as if erasing a memory or an experience that never happened. The image of the author running out of ink before reaching the singer implies that their story was left unfinished, suggesting a missed opportunity for connection. However, the singer acknowledges that it doesn't matter anymore because they have found their answer or closure.
The repetition of "my breath upon yer hand" could symbolize a physical closeness, a moment of intimacy between two individuals. It suggests a desire to be near someone, to share a connection that is genuine and personal. However, the following lines express a hesitation or unwillingness to take things further, as the singer confesses, "I never wanted to make you spend the night with yer loneliest thoughts." This shows a fear of bringing others into their personal struggles and vulnerability.
The chorus emphasizes the inability to fully grasp or fulfill our desires and aspirations. The phrase "when so proudly we fail" implies a sense of hopelessness or disappointment in one's own shortcomings. The optimists singing about being "that far behind" suggests that even when we strive for success, we may still feel left behind or unable to achieve what we desire. The reference to the "drug distraction" could represent seeking temporary relief from these feelings of inadequacy or disappointment.
The following verses delve into the singer's introspection and self-reflection. They express a tendency to approach the edge of despair and nothingness, but it is only because their heart swells with emotions that they misinterpret and dwell on their failures. This could suggest a sensitivity and vulnerability that leads to self-criticism and a focus on past mistakes. The mention of having parents who taught them to love but never knowing or caring about the singer's own experiences emphasizes a lack of understanding or empathy.
The final verse touches upon the theme of betrayal and the disappointment that even friends can inflict subtle harm. The notion of always being alone despite having people around is highlighted, indicating a sense of detachment or disconnect. The repetition of "they never cared about you anyway" underscores a feeling of abandonment or disregard. The reference to being laid in fire and brimstone and the plea for heaven's help implies a desire to escape the emotional turmoil and find a way out of the current state of loneliness and isolation. Ultimately, the song expresses a longing for connection while acknowledging the disappointments and challenges that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
i'm gonna make it go away, like it never happened
I will erase the memory of this event completely.
like the author ran out of ink, before you got to me
It feels like our story ended abruptly, as if the author stopped writing.
it doesn't matter, you have your answer
The outcome doesn't matter anymore because you already have the answer you were seeking.
my breath upon yer hand
The physical closeness between us is evident as I feel my breath on your hand.
cos we're never far from another life
We are always connected to different experiences and existences.
but i never wanted to make you spend the night
I never intended to make you stay with your darkest thoughts all night.
with yer loneliest thoughts
I am aware of your most isolated and painful contemplations.
will you come around this time
Are you going to give our relationship another chance?
will i be left here
Am I going to be left alone and abandoned?
ooh, love
An expression of affection and emotion towards someone or something.
when so proudly we fail and all the optimists sing
Even though we fail with pride, the optimists continue to sing their hopeful tunes.
"yeah, we'll be that far"
The optimists believe that we will eventually reach that distant goal.
when we'll be that far behind
We will be left lagging far behind in comparison.
it's the drug distraction(tm)
This distraction is like an addictive drug that keeps us from focusing on reality.
they'll scream when i kick
When I resist the distraction, others will protest and react strongly.
but for every moment that i get too close
Whenever I get emotionally intimate or attached,
to the faceless void from which i stumbled
to the unknown and uncertain path I fell into,
it's only because my heart swells over
it's because my heart becomes overwhelmed with emotions.
and i misinterpret it, i dwell on my failures
I often misunderstand this feeling and focus on my past mistakes.
cos i had parents who taught me to love
Because I was raised by parents who taught me the importance of love.
yeah, love was something they never knew
But unfortunately, my parents never truly understood or experienced love.
they never cared about you anyway
Regardless, they never had genuine concern or affection for you.
a hope vicarious, a captive audience
I find solace in the hope I have for others, but I feel trapped and obligated to listen to their stories.
even the people that you call your friends
Even those individuals you consider friends
can fuck you over in the subtlest ways
can betray and harm you in the most discreet and unexpected manners.
it'll be your comfort that you're always alone
The only comfort you'll have is knowing that you are consistently alone.
they never cared about you anyway
Just like my parents, they never truly cared about your well-being.
they never cared / they never care so much
They never had genuine concern, and they still do not have it to a significant extent.
as when you've lost your way
Their concern is limited to when you are lost or in need of help.
fire and brimstone where they lay me
They will condemn and punish me harshly.
heaven help us for a way to get out of here
We desperately need assistance from heaven to find a way out of this situation.
ooh, love
A repeated expression of affection and emotion towards someone or something.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind