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.
Shut up
The Watchmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to one on mine but much more front and center
She's what becomes a legend most with memories
such as hers diarized inside a cage that there's
no escape only inches of clean air
She's breathing the best that she knows how to breathe.
She's so in love with the great escape it's all around
her hopes and in her dreams of one day just
would they wander around like me. I wish I
knew of a better place, a gentler a kinder place to be
She's living the best that she knows how to live
Hear her sing...
It's 19 in the 40's sometime what be it of a girl who's in the
way of all the race they're ruining. She can almost hear
them now she closes up her eyes but just the same.
She hears their boots and knows that her days are short
and she'll die before she wakes.
Will they haul off and grab me if I break
for the outside will I fall out of love or
will I crumble straight down here. I
write and I fear it's real return me to my maker
Perhaps it was the moondogs who brought those people out
and if that's so it's all they were good for. The show was
of the greatest ones of the ones out here out of the rain and
they didn't leave afterthoughts were nice
and my pipes were workable
In Shut Up, The Watchmen tell the story of a woman who is trapped in a cage, with memories of a time when she was free. Her head sits in a state that rings approximately true to one on mine but much more front and center, which might suggest she is experiencing some sort of mental anguish. The woman is living in a cage, which can be interpreted metaphorically, as she is trapped in a life she does not want to live, or literally, as she is a prisoner. The cage has no escape, only inches of clean air. The woman is trying to breathe the best she knows how to breathe. She dreams of escape and hopes to transport to a better place, a gentler, a kinder place. She is living the best she knows how to live, but she wishes for something more.
The second verse takes a darker turn, with the woman imagining her own death. It's 19 in the 40's sometime, which suggests she is living in a period of war or unrest. She is in the way of all the race they're ruining and can almost hear them now. She hears their boots and knows that her days are short and she'll die before she wakes. She contemplates breaking for the outside, but she wonders whether she will fall out of love or will crumble straight down here. She writes, and she fears it's real. She wishes to be returned to her maker.
Overall, Shut Up tells a story of a woman who is trapped in a life she does not want to live. She dreams of escape and hopes to find a better place, but she is also haunted by the possibility of death. The song is a poignant commentary on the human condition, and the need for freedom, hope and love to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Her head sits in a state it rings approximately true
She's in a state of mind that's close to reality
to one on mine but much more front and center
Her experience is more focused and intense than mine
She's what becomes a legend most with memories
Her experiences will make her a legend
such as hers diarized inside a cage that there's
Her experiences are documented but trapped
no escape only inches of clean air
She's trapped but still able to breathe
She's breathing the best that she knows how to breathe.
She's doing her best to survive
She's so in love with the great escape it's all around
She longs to escape her situation
her hopes and in her dreams of one day just
Her hopes and dreams sustain her
transporting. Where would all the young girls go
She wonders where young girls like her would end up
would they wander around like me. I wish I
She wishes there was a better path for young girls
knew of a better place, a gentler a kinder place to be
She longs for a place where life is easier
She's living the best that she knows how to live
She's making the best of her situation
Hear her sing...
She expresses her emotions through her singing
It's 19 in the 40's sometime what be it of a girl who's in the
It's a difficult time for a girl in the 1940s
way of all the race they're ruining. She can almost hear
She's aware of the racial tensions around her
them now she closes up her eyes but just the same.
She can hear the danger even when she tries to ignore it
She hears their boots and knows that her days are short
She's aware of the danger she's in
and she'll die before she wakes.
She fears she'll never wake up from her nightmare
Will they haul off and grab me if I break
She fears for her safety if she tries to escape
for the outside will I fall out of love or
She wonders if she will lose her hope if she leaves her situation
will I crumble straight down here. I
She fears that she might not be able to handle her situation anymore
write and I fear it's real return me to my maker
She writes about her fear and hopes for a divine intervention
Perhaps it was the moondogs who brought those people out
She wonders what brought people to her situation
and if that's so it's all they were good for. The show was
She questions the value of entertainment in her life
of the greatest ones of the ones out here out of the rain and
The entertainment was one of the best things in her life
they didn't leave afterthoughts were nice
The performers were kind and left a good impression
and my pipes were workable
Her vocal cords were still able to work despite her situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAT MACDONALD, MARK HUDSON, DENNIS GREAVES
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