ThouShaltNot have built strong fanbases through their national tours and their work with acts such as The Dresden Dolls, VNV Nation, Alphaville and David J (of Bauhaus). Their club hits "Cardinal Directions," "Without Faith," "Last Comfort," and "Inside of You, In Spite of You," have been played at nearly every dark alternative and goth venue in America, while their more organic "True Love" and "When Everyone Forgets" have appeared to acclaim on high profile compilations that exceed the limits of genre.
ThouShaltNot's music, throughout its thoughtful subject matter, is hook-laden and complex in its emotional and intellectual architecture. With their latest releases, Land Dispute and the New World EP, ThouShaltNot is poised to change the way you think and feel about music.
The band consists of: Alex Reed (vocals, keyboards, guitars, programming, samples), Aaron Fuleki (percussion, programming, samples, guitars, backing vocals) and Jeremy David (guitars, backing vocals, piano, keyboards, programming).
Crash
ThouShaltNot Lyrics
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As devils drove around her at a thousand miles an hour
The dreams of lazy wishing and of promises bestowed
Were just enough to give her hands unlikely guiding power
From left and right the silent witness watched her as she flew
No cage around her body to protect her from the world
A lover in the form of barriers that quickly grew
With glass he kissed her on the lips the wishing-dreams now changed
To hyperactive craving beyond wishing known on Earth
The gravitation of her slow desire rearranged
The planets and the insects and the wealthy demons' worth
And in that half a second that she finally had her want
Not waking, she was like a queen above the summer tar
With dream-built sceptre to her side and fools there to her front
She grinned, that falling empress for the fifteen meters far
The lyrics of ThouShaltNot's song "Crash" showcase a story of a girl who falls asleep outside while surrounded by fast cars. The lyrics describe the antagonist as devils who drive around her at 1000mph. The girl is in a dream state and is holding onto promises bestowed before she fell asleep under the stars. Her “unlikely guiding power” takes over as she is surrounded by the fast-moving traffic. The silent witness from both the left and right watches the events taking place as the girl flies.
The singer goes on to describe the girl's lack of physical safety as she has no cage or barrier protecting her. However, as she continues to dream, she perceives the barriers as a lover would embrace his wedding girl. As she approaches closer, glass kisses her on the lips as the dreams change into beyond earthly cravings. Her slow desire starts to rearrange the planets, insects, and demons, thus depicting her strength in the dream state.
Finally, in a half-second, the girl gets what she wants, becoming like a queen above the summer tar. She holds a dream-built scepter, and fools gather around her. The girl falls from her throne fifteen meters away, the falling empress grinning while doing so.
The song "Crash" by ThouShaltNot was released on the album "You'll Wake Up Yesterday." It was produced by Joshua Eustis of Telefon Tel Aviv and Alex Reed. The song earned a significant amount of attention from the audience due to its dynamic beat, and controversial lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
She fell asleep before she got inside from on the road
She dozed off outside without reaching her destination
As devils drove around her at a thousand miles an hour
Fast-moving cars circled her like demons
The dreams of lazy wishing and of promises bestowed
She dreamt of idle desires and empty pledges
Were just enough to give her hands unlikely guiding power
Her slumber influenced her movements in strange ways
From left and right the silent witness watched her as she flew
Onlookers saw her airborne from both sides
No cage around her body to protect her from the world
She lacked any safety measures while flying in the air
A lover in the form of barriers that quickly grew
Barriers embraced her like a lover, appearing out of nowhere
Embraced her as a lover would embrace his wedding girl
The barriers held her lovingly like a groom would his bride
With glass he kissed her on the lips the wishing-dreams now changed
She collided with glass, changing her dreams to wild desire
To hyperactive craving beyond wishing known on Earth
Her yearning became intense and almost otherworldly
The gravitation of her slow desire rearranged
Her subdued desires shifted everything around her
The planets and the insects and the wealthy demons' worth
Her gravitational pull affected celestial bodies, tiny bugs and powerful entities alike
And in that half a second that she finally had her want
For a brief moment, she fulfilled her desire
Not waking, she was like a queen above the summer tar
While still asleep, she felt regal as she soared over the hot pavement
With dream-built sceptre to her side and fools there to her front
She held a make-believe sceptre as she flew, with imaginary followers before her
She grinned, that falling empress for the fifteen meters far
She fell to the ground smiling, feeling like a powerful ruler even in defeat
Contributed by Hannah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.