1) An Irish rock ban… Read Full Bio ↴Whipping Boy could refer to two different acts:
1) An Irish rock band who were active in the 1990s. They came to public attention with the critically acclaimed Heartworm album. They had been together a number of years at this stage, and had already released a low-key debut, Submarine. Despite its critical acclaim, Heartworm sold poorly and the band was subsequently dropped from their label, Columbia Records. They released a self-financed, self-titled follow up album, which again got huge critical acclaim. However, without the backing of a major record company the record once again flopped. The band had already grown disheartened with their experience and had broken up in 1998, 3 years before they could afford to release their final album. Despite little commercial success, Whipping Boy frequently appear in "best album" and "best band" polls in their native Ireland, and have gained celebrity fans such as Billy Corgan and Lou Reed (who said if the band's single We Don't Need Nobody Else isn't a huge hit, he knows nothing about music).
Whipping Boy consisted of members:
* Colm Hassett (drums)
* Myles McDonnell (bass guitar)
* Fearghal McKee (vocals)
* Paul Page (guitar)
The band reformed in September 2005 announcing 2 Irish dates around Christmas, and the possibility of recording another album.
2) A hardcore punk band from Palo Alto, California. The band was created in 1982, made up of students from Stanford University. Their sound featured lightning-fast melodies, tight, chunky rhythms, and violently incoherent vocals. They espoused a radically anti-government view that caught the attention of Dead Kennedys' Jello Biafra and led to his support. Their first LP, "The Sound of No Hands Clapping" was produced by DK's Bassist, Klaus Fluoride. The band enjoyed moderate success, and a national tour in 1983 was capped by the release of the psychedelic "MuruMuru" in 1983. This abrupt change in style was not welcomed by Whipping Boy's fanbase, and after several personnel changes and the release of another record, "The Third Secret of Fatima," the band broke up in 1986. Incendiary frontman Eugene Robinson is now in the experimental rock band Oxbow.
Personality
Whipping Boy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone who looks just like Koo Stark
And people grow old, they get bored
They forget to take a risk
Sunken dreams for Mr Field
Sold out to the Longman Oz
Solid days and liquid nights
Red boy loved our pavement fights
Now in the dark they'll be left waiting
Waiting to be told
And in the dark they'll be left waiting
With nothing left to hold
I wish I were in a bright green field
Staring at the bright blue sky
Like genius revealed, I am ignorant of what she feels
Red guitars and broken hearts
Scarecrow bleeds what no-one needs
Ticket man must play the clown
All our lives spent Underground
'Cause in the dark they'll be left waiting
Waiting to be told
And in the dark we'll all be waiting
With nothing left to hold
The fantastic thing about the female is that she was
Put on this earth to be admired and adorned not
Abused, or so the Senator said, one night in
J.J. Smyths where all the punks had played and the
Jazz men have their day. While the cat was sitting
In the corner, sniffing out his 20%
A sniffing and a licking
A drinking and a thinking
About how his life was spent
And then he'd fly, fly into a rage
Because his mind became delayed
And he'd start accusing every one of us
That he'd been betrayed
'Cause in the dark he's been left waiting
Waiting to be told
In the dark he's been left waiting
With nothing left to hold
And in the dark we'll all be waiting
Never to be told
The song "Personality" by Whipping Boy is a contemplative reflection on two themes: the first being the search for someone with a unique and captivating personality for a marriage partner; the second is the sadness and sense of waiting that comes with growing older and the fading of certain dreams. The first verse expresses a desire for a partner with a striking personality, someone who looks like Koo Stark, a British actress and one-time girlfriend of Prince Andrew. The second verse, however, reflects on the passing of time and the way that dreams and risks can become less important as one ages. The lines "Sunken dreams for Mr. Field / Sold out to the Longman Oz" suggest a sense of disappointment and maybe even betrayal, as someone realizes that they have given up or lost important parts of themselves in pursuit of a more conventional life.
The chorus of the song, "In the dark they'll be left waiting / Waiting to be told / And in the dark we'll all be waiting / With nothing left to hold," provides a bleak picture of those whose dreams have not come to fruition, and who feel that they are waiting for something that will never arrive. The final verse depicts a moment in a bar, where a cat sniffs around for something to drink, while a person contemplates their life and flies into a rage at the feeling of betrayal. The lines "And in the dark we'll all be waiting / Never to be told" leave the listener with a sense of uncertainty, that maybe there is no one to tell us anything, that life is just a long series of disappointments that we must endure.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to marry a personality
I seek a partner for their personality, not their looks.
Someone who looks just like Koo Stark
Physical appearances are not important to me.
And people grow old, they get bored
People tend to lose excitement as they age.
They forget to take a risk
People become afraid to do new things.
Sunken dreams for Mr Field
Mr Field's aspirations remain unfulfilled and buried.
Sold out to the Longman Oz
Mr Field gave up his dreams and settled for a mediocre life.
Solid days and liquid nights
Days and nights blend together without much change or excitement.
Red boy loved our pavement fights
The artist reminisces about the fights they had in their youth.
Now in the dark they'll be left waiting
Those who refuse to take risks and pursue their dreams will be left in the dark and regretful.
Waiting to be told
They are waiting for direction or motivation from someone else rather than taking action themselves.
With nothing left to hold
They will be empty-handed and unfulfilled.
I wish I were in a bright green field
The artist longs for a peaceful, idyllic setting free from stress and disorder.
Staring at the bright blue sky
Their focus is on the beauty and simplicity of nature around them.
Like genius revealed, I am ignorant of what she feels
While they may be awe-inspired by nature, they are oblivious to the emotions of those around them.
Red guitars and broken hearts
Steeped in the imagery of heartbreak and despair.
Scarecrow bleeds what no-one needs
The artist is recognizing their own pointlessness and futility.
Ticket man must play the clown
The person in charge must entertain, even if it's at their own expense.
All our lives spent Underground
A possible reference to their unrecognized or ignored dreams.
'Cause in the dark they'll be left waiting
Once again emphasizing the regret that comes with not taking chances.
The fantastic thing about the female is that she was
A sudden shift in subject matter, focusing on women and the admiration they deserve.
Put on this earth to be admired and adorned not
The artist argues that women should always be treated with respect, rather than being mistreated.
Abused, or so the Senator said, one night in
A vague reference to a past conversation in which an authority figure reinforced the importance of respecting women.
J.J. Smyths where all the punks had played and the
A location where music is played, indicating a sense of community and mutual respect among music enthusiasts.
Jazz men have their day. While the cat was sitting
More musical imagery, depicting the artist enjoying the simple pleasures of nightlife.
In the corner, sniffing out his 20%
A reference to someone who is always on the lookout for what they can get or gain.
A sniffing and a licking
Continuing from the previous line, the actions of the person referred to are being described in animalistic terms to underscore their sense of greed.
A drinking and a thinking
The person in question is portrayed as reflecting on their life choices and motivations.
About how his life was spent
They are ruminating on their life and what they have accomplished, perhaps with a sense of regret.
And then he'd fly, fly into a rage
Driven by their dissatisfaction, the person may suddenly become enraged and lash out.
Because his mind became delayed
Their inability to understand or process their feelings causes them to become angry.
And he'd start accusing every one of us
This person's bitterness leads them to lash out at others, regardless of their actual culpability.
That he'd been betrayed
They feel as though they have been wronged by those around them, rather than taking responsibility for their own experiences.
And in the dark we'll all be waiting
Final repetition of the chorus, underscoring the sense of futility and regret.
Never to be told
The sense of emptiness and regret will never be fully resolved.
Contributed by Layla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jeffchavarria4219
Heartworm top 10 best 90s albums
@markdaly1903
This is one of the best songs of the 1990s. the best irish album of the 1990s
@yesindeedmyman
Haunting stuff. Talk about being taken back 20 years in a few seconds! Beautiful...
@ianking9000
absolutely fantastic
why did you have to stop.
@markdaly1903
record company got too involved in thier album. which was never released
@k.obrien6911
❤❤❤❤❤😪
@crankyoldfart
Listen to the intro of this song and then listen to the intro of 'Perfect' by Smashing Pumpkins. The exact same!
@tommasoguarducci4619
I want to marry a personality
Someone who looks just like Koo Stark
And people grow old, they get bored
They forget to take a risk
Sunken dreams for Mr Field
Sold out to the Longman Oz
Solid days and liquid nights
Red boy loved our pavement fights
Now in the dark they'll be left waiting
Waiting to be told
And in the dark they'll be left waiting
With nothing left to hold
I wish I were in a bright green field
Staring at the bright blue sky
Like genius revealed
I am ignorant of what she feels
Red guitars and broken hearts
Scarecrow bleeds what no-one needs
Ticket man must play the clown
All our lives spent Underground
'Cause in the dark they'll be left waiting
Waiting to be told
And in the dark we'll all be waiting
With nothing left to hold
The fantastic thing about the female
Is that she was put on this earth to be admired and adorned not abused
Or so the Senator said, one night in J. J. Smyths
Where all the punks had played and the jazz men have their day
While the cat was sitting in the corner, sniffing out his 20%
A sniffing and a licking
A drinking and a thinking
About how his life was spent
And then he'd fly, fly into a rage
Because his mind became delayed
And he'd start accusing every one of us
That he'd been betrayed
'Cause in the dark he's been left waiting
Waiting to be told
In the dark he's been left waiting
With nothing left to hold
And in the dark we'll all be waiting
Never to be told