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.
Get Your Dead Hand Off My Shoulder
Therapy? Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hums in time with my nightmares
Murmuring sinister resonance
The shocking and the shaping of air
Trapped in a shivering carcass
Part of a throbbing crowd
Every space is constantly trembling
Stay awake, lights go out
Time speeds up, I get older
Get your dead hand of my shoulder
You are a present absence
Spectral traces everywhere
You set the darkness echoing
Chair creaks, you're not there
Vibration through my body
It hits my chest and throat
At the point of suffocation I let go
Time speeds up, I get older
Get your dead hand of my shoulder
Deafening whispered threats
Like an unknowable breath
Rising in a hollow swell
Shrill bloody red
All streets are screaming empty
Frequencies sing your ghost
We've had our time together
Now I've got to let you go
Time speeds up, I get older
Get your dead hand of my shoulder
Get your dead hand of my shoulder...
The lyrics of Therapy?'s song Get Your Dead Hand Off My Shoulder describe the haunting feeling of being trapped in a world that is corrupt and toxic. The "botched city" and "sinister resonance" create a suffocating environment where every movement and every breath is made with great difficulty. The singer is surrounded by people who are also trapped in this suffocating environment, represented by the "throbbing crowd" that constantly trembles. The repetition of "time speeds up, I get older" emphasizes the passage of time and the feeling of being stuck in a cycle that is difficult to break free from.
The chorus, "get your dead hand off my shoulder," is a powerful message of release from the haunting feeling of being trapped. It speaks to the idea that we need to break free from the things that are holding us back in life, whether it be our fears, doubts, or negative influences.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of loss and letting go. The singer speaks to someone who is no longer there but who has left a spectral trace everywhere. The chair creaking and the vibration through their body remind them of this person, but they must let go in order to move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
The toxic glow of this botched city
The sickly and dangerous radiance of this poorly constructed urban area
Hums in time with my nightmares
Resonates in sync with my terrifying dreams
Murmuring sinister resonance
Whispering an eerie and ominous vibration
The shocking and the shaping of air
The jarring and molding of the atmosphere
Trapped in a shivering carcass
Confined in a trembling and lifeless body
Part of a throbbing crowd
A member of a bustling and pulsating group
Every space is constantly trembling
Each area is always shaking and quivering
Stay awake, lights go out
Remain alert, despite the darkness engulfing
Time speeds up, I get older
The passing of time hastens, aging me prematurely
Get your dead hand of my shoulder
Remove your cold and lifeless grasp from me
You are a present absence
Your absence is a constant presence
Spectral traces everywhere
Evidence of your existence is pervasive but intangible
You set the darkness echoing
You cause the shadows to reverberate
Chair creaks, you're not there
The furniture groans, yet you are absent
Vibration through my body
A tremor runs throughout my entire being
It hits my chest and throat
It impacts my heart and airway
At the point of suffocation I let go
When suffocation looms, I release my hold
Deafening whispered threats
Intimidating and menacing whispers that deafen
Like an unknowable breath
Similar to an unfathomable exhalation
Rising in a hollow swell
Escalating in a harrowing surge
Shrill bloody red
High-pitched and vividly crimson
All streets are screaming empty
Every road is crying out, devoid of life
Frequencies sing your ghost
Waves resonate and recall your spectral essence
We've had our time together
We've shared our moments
Now I've got to let you go
The time has come for me to release you
Writer(s): Neil Cooper, Michael Mckeegan, Andrew Cairns
Contributed by Leah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.