The band formed in 2000 when most of the members were still in their teens. They were first signed to indie label Bettie Rocket and released two albums before signing to Tooth & Nail in 2002.
The band broke up in July of 2004, but in a deal with Tooth & Nail, singer/guitarist Seth Roberts' new band Eager Seas, who were signed to the same label, released their first album under the name Watashi Wa before leaving the label. The band made it clear that they were parting ways with the label peacefully, but also that the band would be changing their name after the release in order to separate themselves from the fiasco attached to the names of both Watashi Wa and Eager Seas.
Clear
Watashi Wa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With bread and wine, friends by your side
And time beneath your glove
You dream of time like that to always stay
But no soon days would ever stay
And tunes will always change
And Your touch is near
And Your sound, so sound
You're always clear, so clear
Your voice is clear
Your sound, so sound
Now feel the times when all we knew was pain
Where loved ones hearts were locked by scars
And soon their name has changed
But these are times when soon you'll see what came
In all this pain there's wholeness found
In One who stays the same
And He's always here
And His touch is near
And He's sound, so sound
He's always clear, so clear
And His voice is clear
And He's sound, so sound
Oh, oh, oh...
And all the pain
Such lessons in such pain
Such hope in so much pain
How can I call this pain?
You're always here
AndYour touch is near
And Your sound, so sound
You're always clear, so clear
And Your voice is clear
And Your sound, so sound
Oh, oh, oh….
The lyrics of Watashi Wa's song Clear describe two different times in life: the time when everything felt easy and full of love, and the time when pain and heartbreak took over. The first stanza paints a picture of a time filled with good food, good company, and a sense of comfort - but this is described as a distant memory. The second stanza speaks of a different kind of time, where loved ones are distant and scars have taken hold. The lyrics communicate how hard it is to hold onto the good times when life is hitting hard, and how valuable it is to find hope in the midst of pain. Ultimately, the song affirms a belief that there is something and someone beyond ourselves that holds us and keeps us strong.
Throughout the song, the lyrics keep returning to the image of something or someone who is "always clear". This appears to be a reference to a consistent and unwavering hope that can be held onto, even when things are tough. The lines "You're always here / And Your touch is near / And Your sound, so sound" suggest that this hope and this sense of comfort is something larger than the singer themselves - perhaps a divine presence or a sense of peace that comes from spirituality. This is supported later in the song with the lines "In all this pain there's wholeness found / In One who stays the same", which imply that there is grounding even in the midst of chaos and heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
I rhyme of time when all we knew was love
I reminisce about a time when love was all we knew
With bread and wine, friends by your side
Sharing food and drinks with friends by your side
And time beneath your glove
Feeling in control of time
You dream of time like that to always stay
You wish for that time to last forever
But no soon days would ever stay
Unfortunately, those good times don't last
And tunes will always change
Things are always evolving and changing
But You're always here
God is always present
And Your touch is near
God's guidance and protection is near us
And Your sound, so sound
God's voice is firm and reliable
You're always clear, so clear
God's message is always clear and understandable
Your voice is clear
God's message is easy to hear
Now feel the times when all we knew was pain
Reflecting on a time of suffering and pain
Where loved ones hearts were locked by scars
Where the wounds of loved ones made it hard for them to love
And soon their name has changed
Their identity has been transformed by their experiences
But these are times when soon you'll see what came
However, in hindsight, these times will teach us valuable lessons
In all this pain there's wholeness found
Pain can lead to growth and healing
In One who stays the same
God is a constant presence amidst changing circumstances
And He's always here
God is always present
And His touch is near
God's guidance and protection is near us
And He's sound, so sound
God's voice is firm and reliable
He's always clear, so clear
God's message is always clear and understandable
And His voice is clear
God's message is easy to hear
And all the pain
All the suffering we endure
Such lessons in such pain
However, these difficult experiences teach us important lessons
Such hope in so much pain
And can even bring hope amidst the pain
How can I call this pain?
Should I even refer to these experiences as pain?
Oh, oh, oh...
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.