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.
Private Nobody
Therapy? Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My dog-tag reads "leave me alone"
I wake, I live, I sleep
Nothing more; so it goes
Private Nobody
Private Nobody
A sign of comfort, an open door
Everybody has a third face
The one they'll never show
Private Nobody
Private Nobody
Private Nobody
Private Nobody
Private Nobody
The lyrics to Therapy?'s song "Private Nobody" are reflective and introspective. The singer of the song identifies as a "private nobody," someone who wants to be left alone and leads a simple existence consisting of waking, living, and sleeping. The dog-tag referenced in the lyrics serves as a symbol of the singer's desire for solitude and the need to be left alone. The repetition of "Private Nobody" throughout the song reinforces this desire for privacy and anonymity.
The reference to Billy Pilgrim in the lyrics is a nod to the character from Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse-Five. Pilgrim is a traumatized war veteran who becomes "unstuck in time," and the mention of his name serves as a reminder that everyone has a hidden side or past that they may not show to others. The reference to the "third face" that everyone has but never shows suggests that the singer is aware of their own hidden side and unwilling to share it with the world.
Overall, the lyrics to "Private Nobody" are a rumination on the human need for privacy and the desire to lead a simple, uncomplicated life. The repetition of the phrase "Private Nobody" and the use of subtle literary references reinforce the message that the singer wants to be left alone and is content with being a "private nobody."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a private nobody
I am an ordinary, unremarkable person who desires to live a quiet, unassuming life.
My dog-tag reads 'leave me alone'
I am so content being left to myself that I carry an identification tag stating that others should not disturb or bother me.
I wake, I live, I sleep
My daily routine involves waking up, carrying out mundane tasks in life, and sleeping. That's all there is to it.
Nothing more; so it goes
My life is devoid of unusual or exciting incidents. It just moves on with no direction or purpose.
Billy Pilgrim's got a kind face
Billy Pilgrim, a fictional character from 'Slaughterhouse-Five,' appears gentle and peaceful on the outside, devoid of any emotional turmoil.
A sign of comfort, an open door
Looking at Billy's calm demeanor provides a sense of relief and a welcoming invitation for others to open up to him.
Everybody has a third face
Most people have a hidden side to them, unknown to the public, that stays within the person's psyche and never comes out.
The one they'll never show
That concealed aspect of oneself will always remain undisclosed to others, making people deceived by their apparent image.
Private Nobody
I lead an average life and mind my own business that I find more satisfying than living up to societal expectations, thus distinguishing myself as a private nobody.
Private Nobody
The song's refrain reiterates the theme of the song, where the person speaks for him/herself - a private nobody
Contributed by Molly H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.