The group was formed in 1988 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by vocalist Daniel Greaves, guitarist Joey Serlin, bassist Pete Loewen and drummer Sammy Kohn. Serlin was a comic fan and named the group after the DC comic. They released their debut album, McLaren Furnace Room, in 1992. (The album was named for one of the band's rehearsal spaces, the furnace room of the McLaren Hotel in Winnipeg.) The single "Cracked" garnered the band significant airplay on rock stations, but was quickly eclipsed by the anti-spousal abuse anthem "Run and Hide", which became the band's breakthrough hit.
Loewen left the band, and was replaced by Ken Tizzard. The band's 1994 album In the Trees confirmed their place in Canadian rock with the hit singles "Boneyard Tree", "All Uncovered" and "Lusitana".
Their 1996 album Brand New Day was not as well-received by critics or audiences -- "Zoom", "Incarnate" and "Shut Up" were moderately successful singles, but none achieved the kind of success that the band's earlier singles had. 1998's Silent Radar was the band's return to commercial success, with the hit singles "Stereo", "Any Day Now" and "Brighter Hell".
Their 2001 album Slomotion saw the exit of Sammy Kohn and the remaining members experimenting with more industrial textures. As if prepared for a bad reception, the band also packaged the album with a second greatest hits disc. The album was, indeed, poorly received by fans and critics, with only the single "Absolutely Anytime" gaining any radio airplay.
The band subsequently broke up. Greaves went on to form Doctor with Rob Higgins, Tizzard joined Thornley, and Serlin appeared on Ryan Malcolm's debut album before forming his own new band, Redline.
In 2009, the band reformed and started touring again.
Holiday
The Watchmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where did the time go
I saw it pass away
We wear nothing but sad faces
Where did the time go
I saw it pass away
Pain is simple
Confidence
To slow down
Slow it down
We go nowhere but old places
Where did the time go
That way
Slow it down
We were old familiar strangers
How was the time though
Not bad
Pain is simple confidence helps me to
Slow down
The Watchmen's song Holiday is a reflection of the passage of time and its effects on people. The opening lines, "So you're sending me on a holiday. Where did the time go? I saw it pass away," suggests that the singer is being sent away on a break, but can't help but ponder where the time has gone. As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the feelings of sadness and disillusionment. The line, "We wear nothing but sad faces," implies that the people they're surrounded by are also feeling the weight of time.
The bridge of the song speaks to the power of pain and confidence in affecting one's perception of time. The line "Pain is simple, confidence, it helps me to slow down," suggests that pain can make time feel longer, but a confident mindset can help one to slow down and appreciate each moment. The repetition of "Slow it down" reinforces this idea.
The final lines, "We were old familiar strangers. How was the time though? Not bad. Pain is simple, confidence helps me to slow down," reflect on the idea that time may pass quickly, but it's the experiences and connections made during that time that truly matter.
Line by Line Meaning
So you're sending me on a holiday
You are telling me to take a break
Where did the time go
I am wondering where all the time has gone
I saw it pass away
I watched the time slip away
We wear nothing but sad faces
We are unhappy and show it on our faces
Pain is simple
The feeling of pain is uncomplicated
Confidence
Belief in oneself
It helps me
Confidence provides assistance to me
To slow down
In order to relax and take it easy
Slow it down
Reduce the tempo
We go nowhere but old places
We only visit familiar locations
That way
In that direction
We were old familiar strangers
We used to know each other well, but now we are like strangers
How was the time though
However, time was not unpleasant
Not bad
Moderately good
Pain is simple confidence helps me to
Even though pain is not complicated, having confidence makes it easier to cope with
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis Hudson, Lisa Stevens
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ashleygodin
I remember seeing an acoustic version of this song on tv when it first came out and it was so great. Wish I could find it!
Scott McCambley
Best Watchmen show of many I attended was way back in the 90's. They played the old LateShow in Niagara Falls, NY. At one point, instead of taking an intermission break, Danny sang a-cappella while the band rested off stage. Slowly each member returned one at a time, joining him at various stages in the song.
I remember specifically all the local waitstaff being totally awestruck by Greaves, stopping in their tracks, and just standing there taking it all in like the rest of the us. If you never saw the watchmen live in their prime, you really missed out. The albums are great but...
Mystic Vapor
Cheers for posting this. Amazing song.
non prophet
prolly my fave song by them, saw their re-union at the power 97 powerball in 2008 great song in concert...
patrick grondines
here are my top 3 favorite songs from this band
1 Come Around
2 Incarnate
3 Holiday (Slow It Down)
patrick grondines
best song from their last album
Greg V
Is there any possible way you could get the video for "Slomotion"? That was my favorite music video as a kid.
MsSllik
looooove this sonng!
MsSllik
wow 8 years ago i posted that i love this song, still fucking love this song, reminds me of a better time in life
dısco.ball.mınd
aaah old school Much Music! This song is sweeeeeeet!