With keen pop sensibilities, a skewed sense of humour and a willingness to draw inspiration from diverse sources (notably punk rock), Therapy? came to attention in the early 1990s rise of alternative rock, but have endured for more than a decade since; Critic Johnny Loftus writes, "After a ten-plus year career that has seen them outlast competitors and outwit industry attempts at categorization, Therapy? are still headbangers with their thinking caps screwed on tight."
Current line-up :
Andy Cairns (guitar, vocals) (1989 - )
Michael McKeegan (bass guitar, backing vocals) (1989 - )
Neil Cooper (drums) (2003 - )
Past members:
Fyfe Ewing (drums) (1989 - 1996)
Martin McCarrick (cello, guitar, backing vocals) (1996 - 2004)
Graham Hopkins (drums) (1996 - 2001)
Discography:
-Hard Cold Fire (2023)
-Cleave (2018)
-Disquiet (2015)
-A Brief Crack of Light (2012)
-Crooked Timber (2009)
-One Cure Fits All (2006)
-Never Apologise Never Explain (2004)
-High Anxiety (2003)
-Shameless (2001)
-So Much For The Ten Year Plan - A Retrospective 1990-2000 (2000)
-Suicide Pact - You First (1999)
-Semi-Detached (1998)
-Infernal Love (1995)
-Troublegum (1994)
-Face the Strange E.P. (1993)
-Shortsharpshock E.P. (1993)
-Nurse (1992)
-Pleasure Death (1992)
-Babyteeth (1991)
Northern Ireland, 1989.
Clowns Galore
Therapy? Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With no choice but to light nothing new
Opening eyes as the radio sighs
Three chords and any old lies
On to the sheets and maybe the streets
I imagine as vibrant and shrill
A comedy troupe of molecular soup
Atoms chiming in time and in tune
Give us circus and bread
It keeps us happy
But what do we do, now we are happy?
Gorging on everything all of the time
Passing it on to the brood
Fattening kids for the future ahead
In case we run out of food
The audience roar and move in for the kill
A spectacle threatening to spill
They want it right now, but they want it low fat
Expectancy drips down their chins
Give us circus and bread
It keeps us happy
But what do we do, now we are happy?
The lyrics of Therapy?'s song Clowns Galore appear to criticize the notion of society's propensity for instant gratification and physical satisfaction. The opening lines share the same feeling of mundanity that people often experience at the start of a new day. The mention of the radio playing "three chords and any old lies" signifies the singer's perhaps jaded view of the media and its pre-packaged, formulaic content.
The second stanza discusses the way people consume, both literally and metaphorically. The metaphorical consumption can be seen in the way people are "fattening kids for the future ahead" and in the idea that people want to be satiated immediately, but without any real depth or substance (i.e., "they want it right now but they want it low-fat"). The audience in the song "roar and move in for the kill" because they want to be satisfied, regardless of the consequences.
The chorus features the repeated line of "give us circus and bread," a clear reference to the phrase "bread and circuses" that was used to describe the way the Roman emperors would placate the people by giving them enough food to eat and entertaining them with games and spectacle. The implication here is that we are not so different from the ancient Romans, and that our need for superficial entertainment and instant gratification keeps us docile and happy.
Line by Line Meaning
Morning is yawning and out comes the sun
The morning is starting with the rising of the sun
With no choice but to light nothing new
The sun doesn't create new things, it just brings light to the already existing things
Opening eyes as the radio sighs
Waking up and listening to the sound of the radio
Three chords and any old lies
Most songs have simple music and lyrics that may not be truthful
On to the sheets and maybe the streets
After waking up, going back to bed or going outside are the options
I imagine as vibrant and shrill
The streets are full of lively and high-pitched sounds
A comedy troupe of molecular soup
The sounds of the streets are like a funny group of atoms bouncing around
Atoms chiming in time and in tune
The atoms are making sounds that are in rhythm and harmony
Give us circus and bread
People want entertainment and food to make them happy
It keeps us happy
Having entertainment and food can provide happiness
But what do we do, now we are happy?
Once we have entertainment and food, we don't know what to do next to maintain happiness
Gorging on everything all of the time
People overindulge and consume everything without control
Passing it on to the brood
The next generation inherits the same attitude towards consuming everything
Fattening kids for the future ahead
Parents feed their children excessively because they fear a future shortage of food
In case we run out of food
People feel a constant need to have extra food or resources
The audience roar and move in for the kill
People get excited and aggressive when they want something
A spectacle threatening to spill
The situation can become chaotic and out of control
They want it right now, but they want it low fat
People want things instantly but also want them to be healthy
Expectancy drips down their chins
People eagerly wait for what they want, like saliva dripping down their chins
Contributed by Penelope B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.