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.
Incarnate
The Watchmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Evident in pointing fingers
From the rad the steam it rises
In this tomb of no surprises
Never knowing what they mean
Not quite in tune with their schemes
Suspect me of an empty shell?
But I guess it's just as well
Sweet perfection, enchanted youth, I'll lose
The weight of all my worries, I'll be the truth, I'll seek
The source, so plant the seed and let it run its course
(Of course)
Paranoia's just like ants
And conversation makes them dance
Around our like hungry friends
So watch your step and just pretend
All that glitters is really gold
And we love all that we are sold
And if there's any pain inside
Paint on a smile, man, and let it slide
Want to become you
Sweet perfection, enchanted youth, I'll lose
The weight of all my worries, I'll be the truth, I'll seek
The source, so plant the seed and let it run its course
Let it run its course
And through the whispers
And across the haze
Just like a mouse
Searching wild in a maze
I see you
From across the room
Yeah, I see you
Early morning light it grows
Casting down on pure white snow
Quietly we walk back home
Like buffalo, our minds they roam
Minds they roam
The Watchmen's song "Incarnate" has an intriguing and thought-provoking lyrical content that explores the themes of inner struggles and societal pressures. The opening lyrics immediately set the mood with the tension in the air and evident pointing fingers. These images suggest a society filled with uncertainty and distrust, where everyone is suspect of the motives of others. The phrase "in this tomb of no surprises" creates a sense of hopelessness and resignation, as if the characters are trapped in a world where they cannot escape the burden of their worries.
The chorus, "Want to become you, sweet perfection, enchanted youth, I'll lose the weight of all my worries, I'll be the truth, I'll seek the source, so plant the seed and let it run its course," is a powerful statement about the desire to be someone else, to escape the burdens of one's own life, and to pursue the truth. The idea of "sweet perfection" suggests an idealized version of oneself that is unattainable, leading to a cycle of self-doubt and self-loathing. The repetition of "I'll seek the source" is especially poignant, as it implies a never-ending search for meaning and purpose.
The final verse shifts the focus to the natural world, with the early morning light casting down on pure white snow, and the characters walking back home. The metaphor of buffalo roaming minds suggests a sense of restlessness and longing, as if the characters are searching for some deeper meaning or purpose in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
In the air the tension lingers
The atmosphere is filled with an uneasy feeling
Evident in pointing fingers
People are blaming each other for the tension
From the rad the steam it rises
There's rising tension coming from a source, like a boiling pot
In this tomb of no surprises
The situation is stagnant, with no progress or resolution
Never knowing what they mean
People are confused and uncertain about the situation
Not quite in tune with their schemes
People aren't fully aware or understanding of others' motivations or intentions
Suspect me of an empty shell?
Are you questioning my authenticity or depth?
But I guess it's just as well
But it doesn't matter much either way
Want to become you
I wish to be like you
Sweet perfection, enchanted youth, I'll lose
I'll give up my flawed self to become like you
The weight of all my worries, I'll be the truth, I'll seek
I'll abandon my anxieties and seek the truth
The source, so plant the seed and let it run its course
I'll find the root cause of the tension and let it resolve naturally
(Of course)
This is obviously the best course of action
Paranoia's just like ants
Paranoia can spread quickly and easily, like ants
And conversation makes them dance
Talking about the situation can exacerbate the paranoia
Around our like hungry friends
Others can feed off the paranoia and exacerbate it
So watch your step and just pretend
Be careful and act like everything is okay
All that glitters is really gold
Things may look great, but they're not necessarily valuable
And we love all that we are sold
We're easily convinced to love and value things based on their appearance
And if there's any pain inside
If we're hurting inside
Paint on a smile, man, and let it slide
We should pretend to be happy and ignore the pain
And through the whispers
Amid rumors and gossip
And across the haze
In the midst of confusion and uncertainty
Just like a mouse
Like a small and vulnerable creature
Searching wild in a maze
Trying to find a way through the confusion and uncertainty
I see you
I notice you amidst everything else
From across the room
Even from a distance
Yeah, I see you
I really see you
Early morning light it grows
As the day begins
Casting down on pure white snow
Shining down on a blank slate
Quietly we walk back home
We go back to our normal lives
Like buffalo, our minds they roam
Our thoughts wander aimlessly
Minds they roam
We're lost in thought
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Goddess
on Zoom
I would love to know the interpretation of this song.
I’m thinking it starts with his birth but now he is dying and he recalls how safe he was with his mother and she is smiling through the lights(in the starlight in heavens) and will carry him home because as he is on the earth her voice is a voice that he doesn’t love more(being the first loving voice he heard and will be the one that calls him to the other side or calls him home) .... calling to the other side of the river evokes the ferryman to me .....mid lyrics he said he’s done all he can met all he can and he is ready to let go