In 1999, the band appeared on a split CD release with Swedish band Dozer. The Unida portion was titled The Best of Wayne-Gro EP. Later that year, they released their debut full length album entitled Coping with the Urban Coyote on the now defunct Man's Ruin Records.
Relations with their next record company in New Jersey, American Recordings, ended with legal problems. Their second album, The Great Divide, was originally scheduled for release in 2001 but is now in limbo. The album has surfaced on the internet in bootleg form. In a 2002 interview, bassist Scott Reeder spoke out about the delay in getting the full-length album released.
"Everything was set to come out on American via Columbia Records, and you know, we've been meeting a lot of people who've been working on it," he explained. "The artwork was done, everything was looking really good, and then, I guess, (American owner) Rick Rubin had a falling out with Sony, moved the whole label over to Island Def Jam, and apparently, after months of being just strung along — 'Oh, yeah, the release date got bumped back a little bit' — finally we found out that somebody at the label didn't like the record, so they didn't want to deal with it. The lawyers had to go back and forth for months and months and months — a chess game where every move takes two months... 'You have sixty days to reply to this letter'...and...so we just got out of the deal, a month ago."
Since the delay, John Garcia has released three studio albums and one live album with Hermano and toured with the band in the latter half of 2008. In 2004, Unida appeared on the High Times Records' High Volume: The Stoner Rock Collection, contributing the track Left Us To Mold. Garcia is also working on a solo album. Arthur Seay (principal song writer, guitarist) and Mike Cancino (Drums) along with their longtime friend Eddie Plascencia (who also has been filling the bass duties in Unida recently) have started a new band called House of Broken Promises (H.O.B.P.). H.O.B.P. have also filmed a video with Rick Kosick (from Jackass fame) to coincide with the release of their forthcoming album "Using the Useless".
Unida's song "Black Woman" was featured on the soundtrack to the skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Underground.
Thorn
Unida Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Never wanted to slap your girl, she's your money
I said love, only love
You spread your wings and you fly with the best
It's so bloody, it's so bloody
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
Take your time, take your hate out
I can tell you, it's a lady's game
You take a life of shit
Oh man, you almost went insane
Love, only love
No one cares, and you lie to yourself
It's the wrong place, it's the wrong face
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
Love, only love
You spread your wings, and you fly with the best
It's so bloody, it's so bloody
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
The song “Thorn” by Unida is a reflection of the complex, confusing and sometimes brutal nature of love. The lyrics touch on themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the desire to escape from the pain of love. The opening lines are particularly poignant, as they speak to the conflicting emotions of wanting to say goodbye to a friend or slap a loved one, highlighting the frustration and anger that can come with the intensity of love.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of love in surviving life’s challenges. However, it’s clear that love is not always a source of comfort, with lines such as “take your hate out” and “you almost went insane” underscoring the pain and struggle that love can bring. There is a sense of desperation in the lyrics, as the singer seems to be searching for a way to reconcile the contradictory feelings that love can bring.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it repeats the phrase “love, whoa love, you wanna survive”. The repetition of this line is haunting, as it speaks to a profound desire to find a way to endure the trials of life. Overall, “Thorn” is a complex and emotional song that captures the many nuances of love and its impact on our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you wanna say goodbye to your best friend, your buddy?
Are you willing to end your friendship with your closest companion?
Never wanted to slap your girl, she's your money
You never intended to harm your partner, as they are a source of financial support.
I said love, only love
The key to happiness lies in love alone.
You spread your wings and you fly with the best
You'll succeed by surrounding yourself with the highest achievers.
It's so bloody, it's so bloody
Despite the beauty of flying with the best, the journey will still be challenging and difficult.
Take your time, take your hate out
Take the time to work through your negative emotions.
I can tell you, it's a lady's game
Despite the societal belief that love is a man's game, it's actually female-dominated.
You take a life of shit
You may endure difficult times in life.
Oh man, you almost went insane
Those difficult times may push you to the brink of madness.
No one cares, and you lie to yourself
In times of hardship, it may feel as though nobody else cares about your struggles and you may even deceive yourself.
It's the wrong place, it's the wrong face
You may feel as though you're in the wrong place at the wrong time and as though nobody else understands.
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
Love is essential for survival and happiness.
Love, only love
Once again, the key to happiness is love.
You spread your wings, and you fly with the best
Success still comes from surrounding yourself with high achievers.
It's so bloody, it's so bloody
The journey to success is never easy.
Love, whoa love, you wanna survive
Once again, love is essential for survival and happiness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind