First and foremost, Transmatic showcases frontman Joey Fingers perceptive take on the fragility of human relationships. He loads his songs with multiple meanings, keeping the personal details veiled under layers of sharp metaphors. Although the Indianapolis foursome prefers to let listeners take their own meanings from these songs. Even as the lyrics take on the world with a healthy grain of salt, Baldauf, bassist Andy Carrell and drummer Kirk Fredrickson never allow the music to get dragged down by the darker side of cynicism. They compliment Fingers acute storytelling with soaring songs that build on one catchy riff after another.
Transmatic was produced by Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, Everclear), in a process that deeply affected the band members.
Ball And Chain
Transmatic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was me, the twins with nothing on and nothing's wrong
Are we going straight to heaven?
I think it's necessary, to find exactly where we come from.
[Chorus]
Don't advertise what you want to hide, don't bring me down.
You finish what you start or it all breaks up now.
Feeling less than bulletproof
Singing "Dixie come and save me"
The neon blurs more than my eyes can contain.
Oh now you're gonna crash to early
I'm stoned, I'm empathetic
Claimed that you wanted this as much as me now.
[Chorus]
And I'm feeling like, your ball and chain
This ain't no way to make you happy.
We are getting high just to get through the night
All seasick, wake up poolside.
Well it's no problem, yeah, it's not a crime
To believe in things defined
And if I fade away, I'm blind
I'm blind.
Is that what you wanted?
I don't wanna recognize
That's what you wanted
I don't want to recognize
That I'm feeling like your ball and chain
This ain't no way to make you happy (are you the one for me?)
We are getting high just to get through the night
All seasick, wake up poolside. (I want you to be mine)
Is that what you wanted?
I don't want to recognize
That's what you wanted
I don't.
I don't.
I don't.
The lyrics of Transmatic's "Ball and Chain" seem to be exploring the idea of being trapped in a relationship that is not fulfilling. The imagery of rolling by the pool and watching falling stars sets the scene of a seemingly idyllic paradise, but the lyrics above suggest that there is something deeper going on.
The opening lines "Rollin' by the pool the falling stars are not condescending" seem to imply a sense of feeling small, insignificant or unworthy, as if the stars above are looking down on the singer. This is perhaps further emphasized by the line, "the twins with nothing on and nothing's wrong," as if other people have nothing to worry about, but the singer does. The line "are we going straight to heaven?" could be interpreted as a question about the value of life and what truly matters, and suggests a desire to make the most of it.
The chorus warns against hiding or concealing one's true self or intentions, and stresses the importance of following through on commitments. The second verse hints at a sense of danger, using words like "bulletproof," "neon blurs" and "crash," suggesting that the paradise-like surroundings are at risk of being destroyed. The repeated line, "I'm feeling like your ball and chain; this ain't no way to make you happy" implies that the singer is not happy in the relationship, despite their efforts. Overall, the lyrics seem to convey a sense of frustration, uncertainty, and the desire to break free from something that is holding the singer back.
Line by Line Meaning
Rollin' by the pool the falling stars are not condescending.
While enjoying life by the pool, we realize that the universe is not judgmental towards us.
It was me, the twins with nothing on and nothing's wrong
We were free and comfortable without any burden or guilt.
Are we going straight to heaven?
We wonder if our current lifestyle will lead us to the afterlife that we envision as heaven.
I think it's necessary, to find exactly where we come from.
We believe it's important to determine our roots and origins.
Don't advertise what you want to hide, don't bring me down.
Don't pretend to be someone you're not, and don't try to ruin my happiness.
You finish what you start or it all breaks up now.
Follow through on your commitments, or it will lead to a breakdown of our relationship.
When we're so close to home, I know we are.
I can feel that we're approaching a point of familiarity and comfort in our relationship.
Feeling less than bulletproof
Feeling vulnerable and fragile.
Singing 'Dixie come and save me'
Requesting a savior or something to lift us up from our troubles.
The neon blurs more than my eyes can contain.
The bright lights are overwhelming and confusing.
Oh now you're gonna crash to early
You're going to hit rock bottom before things get better.
I'm stoned, I'm empathetic
I'm under the influence and in touch with my emotions and the emotions of others.
Claimed that you wanted this as much as me now.
You said you were just as invested in this relationship as I am.
And I'm feeling like, your ball and chain
I feel like I'm holding you back and preventing you from being happy.
This ain't no way to make you happy.
This is not the ideal situation to bring joy into your life.
We are getting high just to get through the night
We're relying on substances to help us cope and make it through the night.
All seasick, wake up poolside.
We're feeling disoriented and nauseous the next morning, despite being in a comfortable setting.
Well it's no problem, yeah, it's not a crime
We're assuring each other that our current situation is not a big deal and is not illegal.
To believe in things defined
We believe in definitive ideals and principles.
And if I fade away, I'm blind
If I lose my sense of self or identity, I am lost.
Is that what you wanted?
Are you happy with the way things are going?
I don't wanna recognize
I don't want to acknowledge or admit.
That I'm feeling like your ball and chain
I feel like I'm holding you back and preventing you from being happy.
This ain't no way to make you happy (are you the one for me?)
This is not the ideal situation to bring joy into your life, and we're questioning if we're compatible.
We are getting high just to get through the night
We're relying on substances to help us cope and make it through the night.
All seasick, wake up poolside. (I want you to be mine)
Despite our issues, I still desire a committed relationship with you.
Is that what you wanted?
Are you happy with the way things are going?
I don't want to recognize
I don't want to acknowledge or admit.
That's what you wanted
You're content with the current situation.
I don't.
I don't feel the same way and am not content with our current situation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michelle Richardson
Please upload the entire cd:)
Joseph Figurelli
Thank you so much for uploading!!! Been searching for this.. Much appreciated
suiSide1134
please upload more!
David Aleksoski
I can't believe they disbanded
Tanfo
@Philip Carrell This is just sad. I have their CD. Knowing this, this makes it more impossible to be on Spotify.
brad rode
Philip Carrell thanks for the update, I hated to see it and always wondered why the split up. Good to at least know the reason
Philip Carrell
Hi David, My brother, Andy Carrell, was the bass player and one of the main song writers for Transmatic. The reason they disbanded was because Virgin Records did not uphold their end of the 5 CD contract that was signed. Since the band was on the hook for 5 CD's, 1 a year, and the record company was jacking them around, and part of the contract stated that Transmatic could not play on stage or record without Virgin Record's approval, and they weren't giving it, the only recourse was to sue Virgin Records. Since Virgin Records has awesome lawyers and the band couldn't afford that kind of representation, there was only one thing left to do.......each go their own way. Andy is currently playing with the Curtis Grimes Band ( https://www.curtisgrimes.com/ ), while Zack formed the band Virgin Millionaires. Kirk and Joey are both working regular jobs, though Joey has been doing some recording lately.
In10s
@SGfigs07 i could upload more of their tracks....