Earth Day

This is doubtless an overintelectualization--is that a word?--of the song, but it appears to be an example of postmodern music. It's ironic/sardonic and playful, aware of itself as music without attempting to convey any deeper message--that is, it is self aware without being self reflective--and uses complexity and technicality for no other reason than that it can. It's meaningless yet intricate. Now, if it were really postmodern, it would incorporate some element of pop culture or other musical genre. But, alas. still, its quite entertaining, it serves its purpose!! A lot of SYL/Devin Townsend Band has this wonderful self-depricating sense of humor, similar to Type O Negative. It's musical masturbation, but dammit, they're good musicians and they can, so, why not? Then again, perhaps its not true that their music is entirely lacking in a message. Like Deftones, they seem to concentrate on emotionality. Alien is not particularly good, as far as lyrics go, while its not at all terible, it's certainly not the best. still, its effective, its emotional, it draws you in.

Right right, bye bye for now!! Hurrah for progressive metal!!!!

Zora

Oh man, what a great song. How is it that nobody has commented on it? I hardly see any comments on any of Devin's songs. In my eyes, he is one of the most talented musicians in rock today.

Well, by interpreting the meaning of this song i pretty much agree with zora But I'll try to go a little more into detail.

So the message is „There is no message“, or maybe there needn't be a message in music at least.

Devys music entirely focuses on emotions, impressions and feelings and this is the only thing music can do. Music itself can not tell any messages or something. Music is in the fore in Devys songs. (A lot of them would work pretty well even without any lyrics i think) He also may be a little pissed by how stupid, pulpy and repetitious many lyrics nowadays are (and so am I^^)

The result of this mixed with devys great sense of humour is „Earth Day“

Of course devy is very ironical, with the lines „Eat your beets, recycle...recycle... Don't eat your beets, recycle...recycle“ he makes fun of songs that try to tell you what to do or what not to do (who the fuck cares about fucking beets?)

„Babe, you better not ever think, Staring into the drink...get out of my mind... Cause I may not be the one to say, is there no other way we could do this another day?“

in other words: You don't always have to think about the music, and don't sit there sadly staring into your drink get off of me just enjoy the music, let's talk about anything problematic another day

„I saw God“ I'm not sure about this one, and I'm not able to write any useful interpretations down, maybe someone can help?

„She said...'If you don't believe me, guaranteed you'll never leave me' On your way, and out of my time But I didn't even know if it was true or just a result of chemicals“

Here he makes fun about love songs

„Shut up and think of something more important to say... 'Sometimes I think that in every straight there's a gay!'“

Wow great passage! I think the first one is self-explanatory. Second one is a little more tricky or maybe I just don't get it „straight“ because English isn't my native language. This line would fit in so many ways just great it shows that he has the right to make fun of other song writers, who are unable to hold a candle to him! Sometimes he thinks that in every heterosexual is a homosexual, I often get the same feeling while listening to cheesy love songs. Just think of „hero“ by Enrique Iglesias for example. Maybe Devin also complains about the lack of objectivity How can anyone reasonable claim to love anyone 'til his dying day at the age of 25? C'mon that's pathetic. But I don't want to go to far, so i better carry on

„Something or nothing a whole either way it's a way, it's a way, it's a way, it's a way, it's a way“

Devin reminds of his way of making >>music<<

„It's like your birthday, it's on Earth Day, Like a child you're born again, little child you're bored again... It's your worst fucking day, it's on Earth Day... Little lies to cover up...please make your mind up“

The messages of songs are so minor he scoffs above them by simplifying their content

its your birthday and its on earth (wow) sometimes you feel great like newborn sometimes you're bored your worst day is also on earth. Some little lies are always there but nothing really important ... make your mind up and see through!

„Man Overboard (I'm so far away) Man overboard (I'm so far...) But fuck it! ...I really don't care Fuck! Listen to me! Just shut the fuck up!“

Something terrible happens but he can't do anything about it... (making fun of those who sing about usual topics like: „famine in the 3rd world , corrupt politicians, emission, war and so on and so on ...) But he doesn't care, this is music and nothing else , so listen to him and shut the fuck up!

„Peace, Love, Joy Man overboard (I'm so far...) Hate, hell, war Hate, love, love, hate, love, hate...destruction!“

Again usual topics and ... his answer ... destruction!

„So just shut your face and take a seat Because after all, you're just talking meat...and music? Well, it's just entertainment folks.“

My favourite part of the song i think, very self-explanatory It's just entertainment folks!!!!!!!

I'll end here, enough typing for today =) I think the remaining parts are repititions anyway

Devin surely is a little paradox here but we all know about his bipolarity

<3<3<3 for this song Devin!

+1 to that, Advent.

I could listen to this song all day. Truly epic.

I find it truly amazing that Devin Townsend hasn't seen more international success. Something is amiss with the music business when someone who makes music this epic and this incredible don't make it.

I don't know man. Devin is my fucking hero. I saw him in concert and it was godly. I agree with Advent up there....he is definatly one of the most talented musicians today. And this song is the song that got me into his music actually. Bueatiful song.

I missed my chance to see Strapping Young Lad at Ozzfest '06. I wasn't to upset at the time, because I had never heard of them. I pretty much had the idea that they were a comedy band because someone told me 'they have a song were they talk about how much they suck!' While I definitely see comedy as an aspect in both SYL and Devin Townsend, that is only one small part contained in some of their songs. Somehow Townsend manages to make songs that you can laugh at if you want to, or take totally serious if you want to. And it seems his own shit is even more off the wall (coincedence that he's also bipolar?). As for why its not popular, it may have something to do with his own description of it. He says hes not that good at music, but he has his moments, and that his music may not be "for everyone." Well everyone here seems to think he's a musical prodigy.

As for this song...wow. That's a tough one. I decided to have fun and build my interpretation of it as a response from who the speaker is talking to... (here I may be the voice of devin townsend, someone he's talking to, a child, who knows) ...so you're telling me to eat my beats, then don't eat my beats? Are you trying to get me to break down in tears, or hit you? Or were you just testing me to see how much I would follow your words when telling me to 'eat my beets,' when really I should 'not eat my beats!' Fuck!

And I should be a good little boy and recycle too, right? I see...you want me to what's best. Sometime's that's just hard to figure out.

Oh, oh, there's no message. So you WERE just fucking with me. Bastard....

(I may be the voice of someone else now...perhaps someone he has feelings for, who is intoxicated at the moment) What? What's wrong with how I'm thinking and what I'm doing? I'm not making you uneasy, am I? The reason you're uneasy is not because of what I might do. It's because of what you might do, with me. There's no way you're going to stop what you do. And you feel no one else can understand why, because there are things only you know.

And then ends that conversation...

So who knows why you do what you do? Either way, it's YOUR way.

Wish you said something differently to me? You always think about that, but then tell yourself to forget it. You made your choice and it was fine.

Like a child, you have that much less complication in your life because of your choice. But you also do not have me. Cover it up with lies that you are happy with your decision. But inside you scream at your past self to make the decision you should have made. Now you drown in this full realization...denial becomes even stronger.... Hey, Don't get mad at me because you fucked up! This whole song means nothing. It's just entertainment. I dug too deep. You're mad at me (the listener)! Since I figured it out...I guess you gave up the lie Everything blows to you now, you see no light... you've given up

Well if you want to fix things it's up to you They may never be the way you planned them...

DID YOU EXPECT THE CHOICE TO BE MADE FOR YOU?

This is probably one of my favorite songs that has ever been created.

This took a few listens to get into but by the time I did, it was fucking amazing.

This is one of the better songs to play for a first time listener to Devin's music. It is very catchy, and portrays many of his attitudes in music very well. Unfortunately, I have no idea about the meaning. Maybe the message is, "There is no message"?