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.
My Voodoo Doll
Therapy? Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if I liked it then I did it a bunch
But the only things that failed me
Were the things that were meant to save me
You could find yourself in a factory
As the credits roll
Waiting on the big time
Waiting on the big time
Well I could stay in bed all day
And I could wish you all away
If I just choose my voodoo doll
If I just choose my voodoo doll
Well it's the same thing every day
Slowly drain your life away
Watch as each day turns to night time
Waiting on the big light
You find yourself in a factory
As the credits roll
Hanging on for deal life
When you've got to let it go
Well I could stay in bed all day
And I could wish you all away
If I just choose my voodoo doll
If I just choose my voodoo doll
I tried everything at least once
And if I liked it then I did it a bunch
But the only thing that failed me
Were the things that were meant to save me
Well, I can stay in bed all day
And I can wish you all away
If I just choose my voodoo
If I just choose my voodoo
Well, I can stay in bed all day
And I can wish you all away
If I just choose my voodoo doll
If I just choose my voodoo doll
The lyrics of My Voodoo Doll by Therapy? depict the frustration and feeling of being stuck in a monotonous routine, with the singer having tried everything once and finding solace in using a voodoo doll as a means of control. The opening lines suggest a willingness to experiment and try new things, with the repetition of doing something the singer enjoys. However, the things that were meant to save the singer have failed them, leading them to feel trapped and stuck in the same routine. The mention of a factory and waiting on the big time suggest a feeling of being stuck in a dead-end job or waiting for something to happen that never does. The repetition of "waiting on the big time" reinforces this feeling of being stuck in a cycle of inaction and lack of progress.
There's a sense of resignation and hopelessness in the chorus, where the singer acknowledges that they could stay in bed all day and wish everything away, but the only thing that offers them any semblance of control is their voodoo doll. The third verse repeats the imagery of a factory and waiting, but this time with the added theme of hanging onto something for dear life, despite the acknowledgment that it's time to let go.
Overall, the song reflects the frustration and desperation that comes with feeling stuck in a cycle of monotony and the need for some form of control or power over one's circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I tried everything at least once
I have experimented with various things in life, without any hesitation or reservations.
And if I liked it then I did it a bunch
If I enjoyed doing something, I did it repeatedly, without paying heed to the consequences.
But the only things that failed me
Strangely enough, the only things that didn't work out for me were the things that I thought could help me.
Were the things that were meant to save me
The things I thought would be my savior were the ones that let me down.
You could find yourself in a factory
Your life may become monotonous, like working in a factory, devoid of any excitement or change.
As the credits roll
As life goes on and we age, we tend to notice the end credits, signifying the limited time we have left.
Waiting on the big time
Waiting for that one moment that could change your fortune, even if it never comes.
Well I could stay in bed all day
I can simply choose to avoid the world and shut myself off from everything, including my problems.
And I could wish you all away
I could just wish all my problems and worries away without doing anything about them, hoping they'll disappear on their own.
If I just choose my voodoo doll
If I lay my hands on something that helped me feel in control and empowered, like a voodoo doll, I could maybe outsmart life's problems.
Well it's the same thing every day
Life often falls into a routine, and we tend to do the same things over and over again.
Slowly drain your life away
Living life on autopilot, doing the same things, could deplete our energy and leave us feeling drained.
Watch as each day turns to night time
Our days merge into nights, and time ticks away without anything substantial happening, leaving us feeling lost and unfulfilled.
Waiting on the big light
We yearn for that one significant moment that could illuminate our lives like a beam of light, waiting for it to happen patiently.
Hanging on for dear life
Even when we know something isn't working or isn't good for us, we tend to cling to it out of fear of losing control or familiarity.
When you've got to let it go
We need to learn to let go of things that hold us back, even if it's scary, to ultimately move forward.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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