Song History
The song title came from a interview with Les Claypool (Primus) from some guitar magazine in the early 90's, the title was "20th Century Schizoid Man". I'd always liked the title but updated it for the new millenium.
The lyrical
inspiration came from a Guitar World article from February 1993 about the
life of Syd Barrett, the Pink Floyd guitarist. I was intregued by the quote from Barrett, from a 1971 rolling stone interview, "Everyone is supposed to have fun when they're young. I don't know why, but I never did".
Eventually I put the two ideas together, through the "Never had fun as a child" line, it has no other connection to the Syd Barrett story. The opening line is a nod to the book "Illusions" by Richard Bach, (go read it, I highly recommend it).
I didn't know until after the song was recorded that there are songs called 20th and 21st Century Schizoid man by King Crimson. Doh! Since I found this out I have gone out and bought a King Crimson album (to see what I'm up against). If I had known i would have named it something different.
The music was written \ recorded mostly between Feb and July 2004. The lyrics were started in August 2002 and finished in July 2004. The whole thing was mixed, remixed then mixed again during August \ September 2004. (Plus since I'm still not happy with it probably re-recorded in 2006)
Lyrics
Always argued my limitations
Never argued against my fears
Always questioned my way of thinking
Never looked ahead, ahead with hope
Always restless and impatient
Never rode the waves of delight
Always worry too much about nothing
Never relaxed, nor have some fun
Chorus
and I'm turning into the thing I hate the most
High ideals but I'm not even close
I seem complete but I'm thinking that I'm broken
Turning into the 21st century schizoid man
Always bottled up my emotions
Never held back all of the rage
Always leaving too much unspoken
Never edgy, too highly strung
Chorus
and I'm turning into the thing I hate the most
High ideals but I'm not even close
I seem complete but I'm thinking that I'm broken
Turning into the 21st century schizoid man
And I never had fun as a child
Nervous wreck behind my smile
Happy go lucky or so they said
Feel inside like I'm the living dead
Hiding secrets, hiding lies
Tortured soul, crimson disguise
Torn between my wants and needs
I bare this soul for you to read
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21st Century Schizoid Man (192kbit 5.29MB)21st Century Schizoid Man (128kbit 3.52MB Soundclick encoded)