Their debut release Voltage and Violets came out in 1986 on Mordam Records. Since that album there have been five others before this new one. Then after six albums Victims Family disbanded in 1994 or so it seemed. In 1996 Ralph Spight and Larry Boothroyd continued playing together under their new moniker Saturn's Flea Collar releasing a single and an album on Alternative Tentacles. Then they recruited a new drummer and formed The Hellworms and released Crowd Repellent in 1998.
With the departure of Hellworms drummer, Ralph and Larry decided to revive the VICTIM'S FAMILY name as an umbrella under which to play both old and new material from all three bands. After months of frustrating drummer auditions, David Gleza (ex-of My Name) was recruited and the trio began writing and Apocalicious was recorded.
Apocalicious features all new songs and shows the band branching out adventurously into areas they have explored since their inception such as punk, math rock, progressive and jazz-core. Living up to the album's title, Apocalicious breaks new ground without disappointing.
Abuse
Victims Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
something's in the road
obstacles for me
something's in my throat
some things bother me
some things don't
other things might
my life's a sinking boat
i'm not gonna rot, i'm not gonna stink like rotting
playing happy games
keeping up a smile
keeping myself happy
just for a while
making ugly music
writing stupid words
why do you want to listen?
don't you get disturbed?
aren't you getting tired?
don't i make you sick?
isn't your stomach turning?
doesn't my face need to be kicked?
self-abuse, from me to you, to cover myself
to cover the truth, no self-worth,
i'm eating dirt, and i'll get smart
and eat my words
and eat my words
and eat my words
and eat my words
and eat my words
The song "Abuse" by Victims Family is a raw and emotional expression of the singer's inner turmoil and self-deprecation. The opening lines convey a sense of impediment and frustration, both physically and metaphorically. The obstacles in the road and in the throat symbolize the challenges and barriers that the singer faces in life, some of which bother them more than others, and their sinking boat represents their life that is slowly going under. The plea of not wanting to drown or sink suggests a desire to hold on to life, despite the difficulties they are facing.
The second half of the song focuses on the singer's attempts to keep up appearances and remain happy, even though they are struggling inside. They acknowledge their own flaws by making ugly music and writing stupid words, but they question the listener's motives in wanting to listen. The repeated questioning of whether they make the listener sick or if their face needs to be kicked highlights their own insecurities and their belief that they are not worthy of attention or appreciation.
The song ends with a powerful declaration of self-abuse, eating dirt, and eating their words, implying that the singer is willing to endure anything to cover up the truth and hide their flaws.
Overall, "Abuse" is a poignant reflection on the battle against one's own demons, the feeling of worthlessness, and the struggle to find purpose and meaning in life.
Line by Line Meaning
something's in the way
There is an obstacle in front of me that is preventing me from progressing.
something's in the road
There is a physical obstruction in the path I am walking on.
obstacles for me
I am facing difficulties or challenges in my life.
something's in my throat
I am struggling to speak my truth or communicate my feelings.
some things bother me
Certain things in my life are causing me distress or discomfort.
some things don't
Other things in my life do not bother me.
other things might
There are still other things that could bother me in the future.
my life's a sinking boat
My life is currently in a state of decline, and I am struggling to keep it afloat.
don't let me drown, don't let me sink
I need help and support to keep going and prevent myself from giving up.
i'm not gonna rot, i'm not gonna stink like rotting
I refuse to let my life deteriorate to the point of decay or failure.
playing happy games
I am putting on a facade of happiness, even though I may not truly feel that way.
keeping up a smile
I am forcing myself to appear happy and content, even if I am not.
keeping myself happy
I am attempting to maintain my own happiness, despite the challenges that come my way.
just for a while
I can only maintain this facade for a short period of time before it becomes exhausting.
making ugly music
My art or creative output may not be conventionally appealing.
writing stupid words
My words may not be inherently intelligent or insightful.
why do you want to listen?
I am questioning why someone would want to engage with my creative output.
don't you get disturbed?
I am concerned that my art or music may be triggering or unsettling to some listeners.
aren't you getting tired?
I am wondering if my audience is growing weary of my art or music.
don't i make you sick?
I am questioning whether my creative output is actually repellant or harmful to listeners.
isn't your stomach turning?
I am asking if my art or music is causing visceral discomfort or revulsion in my audience.
self-abuse, from me to you, to cover myself
I am engaging in self-destructive behavior that may also harm those around me, as a means of coping with my struggles.
to cover the truth, no self-worth,
I am using this behavior to mask my true feelings and hide my perceived lack of personal value.
i'm eating dirt, and i'll get smart
I am willing to struggle and endure difficult circumstances in order to learn and grow.
and eat my words
I am willing to accept criticism or learn from my mistakes in order to better myself.
and eat my words
I am willing to accept criticism or learn from my mistakes in order to better myself.
and eat my words
I am willing to accept criticism or learn from my mistakes in order to better myself.
and eat my words
I am willing to accept criticism or learn from my mistakes in order to better myself.
and eat my words
I am willing to accept criticism or learn from my mistakes in order to better myself.
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@xianzi1786
When your mother met your father, she considered him as a capable man who would be a good provider.
She used her feminine charms to attract him and they married. Much biology and human evolution needs to be explained but there is no time.
When your mother became pregnant, your father followed normal male responsibility procedure and worked hard to provide for woman and child.
The pregnancy process repeated and one more child resulted. Your father worked even harder to provide.
He progressed with his skills and he obtained promotion.
In this typical situation where the woman looks after the home and children, she controls the finances because she purchases the food and has a major say in the purchase of the car, the home and other major purchases. Women have more time for this and fathers allow control to go to the mother. That is why the market cater to women. That is why women are the main consumers in society and why advertising focuses on women.
As children grow older, they become able to get themselves to school, feed themselves and clean their own rooms. The mother supervises more.
The father continues to work hard so that the mother can supply the childrens needs, the children have a room to themselves, a desk, a bed, a computer. The mother controls the home and controls the home content and the home management. The children see this. They ask for things and the mother provides. She gets all the credit for buying them things, and all the credit for helping with their problems and their needs.
The father is out working, he does many more things and helps many more people with far more complex situations, he gets home tired and doesn't have always have the patience for advice and care to the children.
At home, he gets credit for nothing. For this reason, children think the mother is number one, especially male children.
(You are lucky in that you didn't have an abusive mother, such mothers are very bad for children because the father is not home to protect them from her.)
Your mother had had a much easier life than your father. Looking after the home with two children means that she had much more free time and much less stress.
Your father paid all the childrens comforts and fun - but he got no credit. At his workplace however he attained respect from his work ethic and his income increased.
Younger women recognised him for his talent and work ethic, in later years these younger women could see that he had an older, overweight, nagging wife and that his children were becoming independant.
@Seagull_J.Livingston
@@annngggxsame thing : my grandpa was abusive then my father too.
My father abused us and mom especially so much.. and mom chose to stay because she saw nowhere to go, because the system then the 90' then the 2000 didn't show they'd do much- eventually some fines few months in jail and back to the same house so he can abuse some more..
He often abused me beating me in the head or head against the wall.. or broke my nose..
Once he strangled me in such fury.. he almost killed me.. I wanted to stop him hitting my mom. I was 18..
She never left and nowadays both me and my sis ( we're having our lives, we left house when we were in our early 20) have intensive anxiety and ptsd...
My mom is a shiprek physically and psychologically ( emotionally) and recently ( last year) she was diagnosed with MS ( multiple sclerosis) with cerebral demielinisation... that's practically cerebral lesions.. i am so angry.. so so angry.. more than 30 years of narcissistic abuse.. I saw her often with head bruised ...
Sigh....
Now she's 63.. and .. not sure how much she'll hold on..
He's still there, drinking like a pig and smoking. Even though he knows this is a nuisance to mom's health...
And obviously "no one can intervene" as you're told by those in charge of protecting you.. because she didn't fill a complaint..
He abused her emotionally that she thinks she's nothing without him, or that she won't be able to manage the simplest thing without him...
I rarely went back home since and I miss mom and we talk on the phone often. But I hurt so much because of all this and it's like she's not realising how much her decision or rather said nonnactuon ever since we were kids.. to leave him.. practically fucked up her life but also the life of her children.
So my message to mothers and wifes and partners out there : don't stay " for the children" with an abusive partner, that's a cheap excuse. You need to address your doctor, police etc immediately when he hit you becaus eyou have proof, bruises and so on. Then and only then - unfortunately- the system can step up and do something. But dont stay until is too late. You deserve to be loved and have a peaceful life..
Take care of yourselves...
@Sabrina-jm4dc
One thing she left out. Abusers always make you feel like its your fault and you are the crazy one.
@benjaminben6200
Very true
@Kerrviii
Absolutely
@aljeanmaeangelesvlog3542
True, they didn't accept explanation, and didn't accept their fault. I am struggling with it now for almost 3 years
@fooddrugadministrator4079
Read my comment and tell me if I’m right
@nzurimoja1845
Exactly!
@RaeAmelia
The part where she said she didn't think of herself as a victim; she was a strong, independent woman who was helping a troubled man...I think I just woke up to my current situation.
@sweiland75
Tiger Lily She was an enabler.
@Sadcartoongirl
Rae Amelia
yeah and your icon speaks for its self XD
@jaredwhite2992
+Rae Amelia huh...sounds exactly like 50 shades of grey. interesting.