From the sleeve notes for the latest release End Titles...Stories For Film released in July 2008, the current line-up is stated as James Lavelle and Pablo Clements, also a member of the Psychonauts.
The original line-up was James Lavelle, Tim Goldsworthy (now a member of DFA) and Kudo (Major Force West, Skylab). This incarnation released several EPs and singles, usually involving collaborations with other Mo'Wax affiliated artists.
In 1998, after the departure of Goldsworthy and Kudo, Lavelle enlisted US producer DJ Shadow to help complete UNKLE's debut album, "Psyence Fiction". On this album they collaborated with a variety of guest artists including Thom Yorke (Radiohead), Mike D (Beastie Boys), Badly Drawn Boy and Richard Ashcroft (The Verve). The album contained songs which merged indie-rock with hip hop.
In 2003 UNKLE released "Never, Never, Land". At this time UNKLE consisted of Lavelle and new collaborator Richard File, and the album also featured Ian Brown (The Stone Roses), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), Mani (The Stone Roses, Primal Scream) and others.
A third album entitled "War Stories" was released in July 2007. It features collaborations with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Ian Astbury (The Cult), Autolux, Robert Del Naja (Massive Attack), The Duke Spirit, and Gavin Clark, and is far more strongly rock-influenced than previous releases. The album was preceded by an EP, Nights Temper, of which a limited pressing was released in May 2007.
Lavelle has also released several mix albums and remixes under his own name and under the name UNKLEsounds (together with Richard File).
UNKLE is known for remixing music from artists such as Explosions in the Sky, Massive Attack, and Oasis.
Joy Factory
UNKLE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somehow you lost the wind,
Come up, come up for air
In your mind you have feet ten (?)
You're sure, you're sure your soul
Goes up and in and down
The only dream you own
No ordinary joy,
You will always miss your mark
All the way,
So in the factory
I knew you messed it up
With me.
And now you're missing more
And now you're missing more,
And now you're missing home.
Uncross your eyes and breath
You'll be missing in your skin
Forget where you come from
Imagination always wins
It's locked in the froze
The day passing blue
Too much for everyone
Just try for you
It's no ordinary joy,
You will always miss your mark
All the way
So in the factory
I knew you messed it up
For me.
It's no ordinary joy
You always missed your mark
All the way down.
So in the factory
I knew you messed it up
For me.
The lyrics of UNKLE's song Joy Factory seem to suggest a feeling of disorientation and lostness, with the repeated refrain "you will always miss your mark" and the imagery of being unable to find home or breath. The lines "uncross your eyes and breath" and "forget where you come from" hint at a state of being overwhelmed and needing to disconnect in order to move forward. The idea of a joy factory suggests something manufactured or artificial, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for trying to force happiness or fulfillment. The phrase "imagination always wins" seems to offer a glimmer of hope - perhaps suggesting that finding joy requires tapping into something deeper and more intuitive than mere external circumstances.
Overall, the song seems to explore themes of dislocation, confusion, and the search for meaning and fulfillment in a world that can feel artificial and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
So much, you can't get home
You are lost and unable to find your way back home.
Somehow you lost the wind
You have lost your direction or purpose in life.
Come up, come up for air
Take a moment to pause and reflect on your situation.
In your mind you have feet ten (?)
You feel like you have the ability to achieve anything you can imagine.
You're sure, you're sure your soul
You have a strong sense of confidence in yourself and your abilities.
Goes up and in and down
Your soul has experienced highs and lows, but ultimately comes back to a balance.
The only dream you own
The dream you have for yourself is the only one that truly matters.
Wears you out
The pursuit of your dream is exhausting and draining.
No ordinary joy,
The happiness you seek is not easily attainable or typical.
You will always miss your mark
You will never quite achieve the level of success or fulfillment you desire.
All the way,
Your journey towards your dream is long and arduous.
So in the factory
In the midst of the mundane and monotonous routine of life.
I knew you messed it up
You made a mistake or wrong decision that negatively impacted your pursuit of happiness.
With me.
I was affected by your mistake and the consequences.
And now you're missing more
You have lost even more than before.
Uncross your eyes and breath
Take a moment to focus and relax.
You'll be missing in your skin
You will feel disconnected from yourself and your true desires.
Forget where you come from
You have lost touch with your roots and the values that define you.
Imagination always wins
Your creativity and imagination are powerful tools that can lead you to happiness.
It's locked in the froze
Your happiness is frozen and unattainable.
The day passing blue
The days feel long and dreary, lacking any excitement or joy.
Too much for everyone
The pursuit of happiness and personal fulfillment can be overwhelming and challenging for anyone.
Just try for you
However difficult it may be, you must keep trying to find your own path towards happiness.
You always missed your mark
Despite your efforts, you have never quite achieved the level of happiness and fulfillment you desire.
All the way down.
Your journey has been long and difficult, but you have not given up hope.
So in the factory
Even in the midst of the dull routine of life.
I knew you messed it up
You made a mistake or wrong decision that negatively impacted your pursuit of happiness.
For me.
I was affected by your mistake and the consequences.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Carla Azar, Eugene Goreshter, Greg Charles Edwards, James Gabriel Leo Lavelle, James Hosmer Griffith, Pablo Spencer Clements
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alex Neo
Lyrics...
So much, you can't get home
Somehow you lost the wind,
Come up, come up for air
In your mind you have feet ten (?)
You're sure, you're sure your soul
Goes up and in and down
The only dream you own
Wears you out
No ordinary joy,
You will always miss your mark
All the way,
So in the factory
I knew you messed it up
With me.
And now you're missing more
And now you're missing more,
And now you're missing home.
Uncross your eyes and breath
You'll be missing in your skin
Forget where you come from
Imagination always wins
It's locked in the froze
The day passing blue
Too much for everyone
Just try for you
It's no ordinary joy,
You will always miss your mark
All the way
So in the factory
I knew you messed it up
For me.
It's no ordinary joy
You always missed your mark
All the way down.
So in the factory
I knew you messed it up
For me.
Jorge Hernandez
I wonder....what were talking about Dart Vader and the Storm Trooper??
Leo Tron
i dont cnow what he tackab.. but staf/liric`s & video is great !!!
Grison
it's written "u.n.c.l.e"; hum
Haryel Toretos
unKle with K