The two main influences on the band are the Beatles and Black Sabbath, and keyboardist Josh Silver has expressed a love of Pink Floyd--evidence of which can be heard in the atmospherics of his production techniques.
The band arose from the ashes of the band Carnivore and gained popularity with their songs "Black No. 1" and "Christian Woman" from the Bloody Kisses album. The album was the first in Roadrunner Records' catalog to go both gold and platinum. They have successfully toured with Pantera, Life of Agony, and dozens of other established and up-and-coming bands, as well as taking part in Ozzfest. The band had VHS and DVD documentary releases in addition to their CD releases and contributions to movie soundtracks and compilations.
Steele died of sepsis caused by diverticulitis (initially reported as heart failure) on April 14 2010 at the age of 48.
Singles and video-featured songs
Black No. 1 - 1993
Christian Woman - 1993
Cinnamon Girl - 1996
Everyone I Love Is Dead - 1999
Everything Dies - 1999
I Don't Wanna Be Me - 2003
Love You to Death - 1996
My Girlfriend's Girlfriend - 1996
Profits of Doom - 2007
September Sun - 2007
Summer Breeze - 1993
Discography
Slow, Deep and Hard - 1991
Origin of The Feces - 1992
Bloody Kisses - 1993
October Rust- 1996
World Coming Down - 1999
Life Is Killing Me - 2003
Dead Again - 2007
Members
Peter Steele - Vocals, bass guitar and songwriting (1990-2010)
Josh Silver - Keyboards (1990-2010)
Kenny Hickey - Guitar and backing vocals (1990-2010)
Johnny Kelly - Drums (1994-2010)
Sal Abruscato - Drums (1990-1993)
Who Will Save the Sane?
Type O Negative Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Psychotropic science fare
But who will save the sane?
Some beings
Just can't change
Now crawl on by
With a fake tear in your eye
Isn't he strange?
Pseudogasmic chemistry
Necromorphic apathy
But who will save the sane?...
Physical laws unapplied
Hamper my quest
Unsurreal world
Of unfailed HIV tests
Der Ubermensch warning
Of pi (techno junkies)
3.141592653...
Come on boy
Tell me, tell me
Tentative ambulance
Date bound for G Ward
Beartrap psychiatrist bait
Chew my paw off
Unmercilessly we will take you
Away to slumber
But only if you can recite
Avogadro's number
Now crawl on by
With a fake tear in your eye
And think
Wasn't he strange?
The song "Who Will Save the Sane?" by Type O Negative touches on the idea of societal norms and the thin line between what is considered normal and abnormal. The opening lines refer to the advancements in science and technology, and how it has become a part of everyday life. However, with all these advancements, there seems to be an absence of understanding and care towards those who may be struggling with their mental health. The next few lines mention how some people are incapable of changing, which ultimately leads to their downfall. The chorus then questions who will help these individuals, and why they are left to their own devices.
The rest of the lyrics mention various scientific concepts, including chemistry, physics, and math, and how they all relate to the world we live in. The final lines mention being taken away to "slumber," hinting at being institutionalized, and the last line has the singer being seen as strange, adding to the overall theme of societal norms.
Overall, the song seems to critique society's approach to mental health and how people who are different, whether scientifically or mentally, are often ostracized and left to suffer. It's a commentary on how society should care more and do better for those who are struggling with their mental health.
Line by Line Meaning
Periodic tableware
References the periodic table, a tool used in chemistry to organize elements according to their atomic structure
Psychotropic science fare
Refers to the study of drugs that affect the mind, often used in psychiatric treatment
But who will save the sane?
Asks who will protect those who are mentally stable, in a world that seems obsessed with mental illness or drug dependency
Some beings / Just can't change
Acknowledges the fact that for some individuals, it may be impossible to overcome their issues or see things from a different perspective
Now crawl on by / With a fake tear in your eye / And think / Isn't he strange?
Suggests that society often judges or mocks those who are considered different or abnormal, even as it claims to be sympathetic or empathetic
Pseudogasmic chemistry
Refers to the idea that scientific advancements or therapies may be hyped up or sensationalized in a way that obscures their true benefits or limitations
Necromorphic apathy
Describes a state of emotional and physical detachment, as if the person is disconnected from the living world or living a life of emptiness
Physical laws unapplied / Hamper my quest
Suggests that sometimes the laws of nature can get in the way of scientific discovery or progress
Unsurreal world / Of unfailed HIV tests
Contrasts the surrealism or strangeness of the world with the reality of medical testing or treatment
Der Ubermensch warning / Of pi (techno junkies) / 3.141592653... / Come on boy / Tell me, tell me
May be a reference to Nietzsche's concept of the superman or the idea that technology and math can be seen as a way to transcend human limitations
Tentative ambulance / Date bound for G Ward / Beartrap psychiatrist bait / Chew my paw off
Implies that psychiatric treatment can sometimes feel like a trap, with patients losing their grasp on reality or their sense of agency
Unmercilessly we will take you / Away to slumber / But only if you can recite / Avogadro's number
Suggests that psychiatric treatment can feel like a punishment or a form of brainwashing, with patients being forced to adhere to certain rules or beliefs
Now crawl on by / With a fake tear in your eye / And think / Wasn't he strange?
Concludes the song with the same refrain, underscoring the idea that individuals who are seen as different or aberrant are often reduced to caricatures or objects of fascination
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER THOMAS STEELE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind