The original members of Y&T were Dave Meniketti (lead vocals and lead guitar), Leonard Haze (drums), Phil Kennemore (bass), and Joey Alves (rhythm guitar). Haze was replaced by Jimmy DeGrasso in 1986. Alves was replaced by Stef Burns in 1989. The band officially disbanded in 1991, although they continued to perform sporadically. They officially reunited in 2001 with a lineup of Meniketti, Kennemore, and Burns alongside Leonard Haze. Burns eventually went on to join the pop rock outfit Huey Lewis & The News and was replaced by John Nymann. Nymann was an old friend of the band who had sung backup for the group before. In 2006, Haze was asked to step down, and he was replaced by Mike Vanderhule.
The band's signature hits include "Summertime Girls", a Van Halen like piece of cheeky arena rock that reached #55 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985, and ""Mean Streak." That latter track hiked up to #25 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart due to its aggressive, heavy style. Y&T's 1984 album, 'In Rock We Trust', has been their highest selling release, reaching #46 on the Billboard Album Charts and selling over 450,000 copies; the spirited album came very close to Gold status.
Main Website: http://www.yandtrocks.com/
Voices
Y&T Lyrics
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Inside my mind's a battle zone
There's a war that rages in my head
And I can't hear what you said
All these voices - scream in my head
Voices - from all the things that you've said
And seven times I walked away
Wishing that they'd set me free
All the demons that I can't escape
All these voices - scream in my head
Voices - from all the things that you've said
The lyrics of Y&T's "Voices" paint a vivid picture of a person struggling with their inner demons. The opening line "Don't talk to me, leave me alone," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is battling his own mind, which has become a "battle zone." He is unable to concentrate on what is happening externally, because he is trying to quiet the voices in his head. The way these lyrics are written, it is clear that the person has been struggling for some time, as it says the war "rages" in his head; it's not a temporary situation.
The chorus of the song is where the lyrics truly hit home. The "Voices" that the singer speaks of are not just internal but external as well. Every word that has been spoken to him, especially negative words, has left a mark on his psyche. He describes these Voices as "screaming" inside his head, and they won't let him escape. The singer has tried to distance himself from these Voices seven times, but it hasn't worked.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't talke to me, leave me alone
Please don't disturb me and give me some time alone.
Inside my mind's a battle zone
My mind is chaotic and filled with conflicting thoughts.
There's a war that rages in my head
My mind is a battle ground for opposing forces.
And I can't hear what you said
I'm too preoccupied with my own thoughts to pay attention to what you're saying.
All these voices - scream in my head
I'm constantly hearing a barrage of thoughts and emotions in my mind.
Voices - from all the things that you've said
Your words are contributing to the noise in my head.
Seven sins, the voices scream
The internal voices are dwelling on my past mistakes and negative actions.
And seven times I walked away
I've attempted to distance myself from these negative thoughts, but they persist.
Wishing that they'd set me free
I want to escape from the grip of these negative thoughts and emotions.
All the demons that I can't escape
These thoughts and emotions feel like a curse that I can't seem to shake off.
Contributed by Henry Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.