They signed with Murderecords, the label of fellow Haligonians Sloan, in 1994 in time to release their Smart Bomb EP, which featured songs such as Benvie's "French Inhale" and Plaskett's "Hated It". The former would get some rotation on MuchMusic, which then held a reputation for more "alternative" programming, while the latter would end up in the Kevin Smith film Mallrats.
Following the release of the band's second EP, The Great Pacific Ocean, in 1996 the group signed with Elektra Entertainment which released their first full-length album in 1997, Sweet Homewrecker. The Memphis recorded album features many great tracks showcasing the maturing songwriting talents of Plaskett, Benvie and McGettigan. The album proved a disappointment from Elektra's standpoint however, and Thrush Hermit were bought out of their contract.
After their foray into the United States market, Thrush Hermit returned north to release their final album Clayton Park on Sonic Unyon Records in 1999. While indisputably the band's best record, Thrush Hermit amicably disbanded in 1999. Plaskett is now a solo artist. Benvie released a solo record under the moniker "Tigre Benvie", and McGettigan began producing records by such acts as his old band mate Plaskett, and other Canadian rock acts such as The Flashing Lights. Benvie and McGettigan are now the main members of Camouflage Nights, which features a revolving door cast of musicians.
Violent Dreams
Thrush Hermit Lyrics
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They're reoccurring
Straight through the winter
I wake up sweating
The floorboards splinter
The paint is peeling
These violent dreams, they're so revealing
A little payback for everyone
It supplies some heavy sedation
To calm this cold calculation
These violent dreams
They get worse I get better
You know they're the only thing
That keeps me together
These painful thoughts and twisted motives
They grow in cracks they swarm like locusts
They shake my body and wrack my conscience
They over gear, the gears malfunction
The lyrics to Thrush Hermit's song "Violent Dreams" describe the recurring, disturbing dreams that plague the singer throughout the winter. The dreams are so vivid that the singer wakes up sweating and the damage from the dreams seems to seep into the waking world with splintered floorboards and peeling paint. Despite the unsettling nature of the dreams, they serve as a comforting presence for the singer as they are the only thing that keeps them together.
The lyrics touch on themes of damage, payback, and sedation as the singer seems to yearn for a release from the cycle of violent dreams. The dreams are like a heavy sedation for the singer's cold calculation, perhaps referring to the singer's detached emotional state. The violent dreams may serve as a way for the singer to cope with their inner pain and twisted motives, as the dreams grow and swarm like locusts, over-gearing and malfunctioning the singer's mind.
Line by Line Meaning
These violent dreams
The singer dreams about violent events happening to them.
They're reoccurring
These dreams happen repeatedly.
Straight through the winter
They've been continuing for some time.
I wake up sweating
The dreams are intense.
The floorboards splinter
The dreams are so violent that they cause physical damage.
The paint is peeling
The dreams are causing psychological damage.
These violent dreams, they're so revealing
The dreams are exposing the singer's true feelings and desires.
It's like it's damage for damage done
The violent dreams are a form of revenge or justice for past wrongs.
A little payback for everyone
The dreams are retribution for actions taken by many different people.
It supplies some heavy sedation
The dreams have a numbing effect on the artist.
To calm this cold calculation
The dreams are a way for the singer to cope with their detached and rational mindset.
They get worse I get better
The dreams become more intense but the artist becomes more able to handle them.
You know they're the only thing
The singer has no other coping mechanisms.
That keeps me together
The dreams are necessary for the singer's mental stability.
These painful thoughts and twisted motives
The dreams are a manifestation of the singer's innermost thoughts and desires.
They grow in cracks they swarm like locusts
The dreams are spreading and overwhelming.
They shake my body and wrack my conscience
The dreams have a physical and emotional impact.
They over gear, the gears malfunction
The violent dreams are overpowering and causing the singer's mind to break.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOEL PLASKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind