New Skin

Album: S.C.I.E.N.C.E (1995)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd explained this song's meaning in a press release: "I attribute a scab to the present state of society. The way the scab looks in its worst state is gross and chaotic and horrible, but when it breaks away, there's a brand new piece of skin that's stronger than before. It's like creation out of chaos." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Tim - Pittsburgh, PA
  • The song dates back to 1995, when Incubus released it on an EP called Let Me Tell Ya 'Bout Root Beer. They recorded a new version for their second album, S.C.I.E.N.C.E, after signing with Epic Records. It stayed in their setlists through 2002, including their September 15 and 16 shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City in 2001, the first major concerts following the September 11 attacks.
  • The spoken part ("Up to the Twentieth Century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see, and hear...") is a quote from the author Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983).
  • While the rest of us were watching Seinfeld and Friends, Brandon Boyd was reading Buckminster Fuller and reminding us that television was rotting our brains. Check the lyrics:

    Fallacious cognitions
    Spewed from televisions
    Do mold our decisions


    Another track on the album, "Idiot Box," is specifically about television.

Comments: 5

  • Luke from Manchester, UkAnd "ahhh" means thought.
    "Arrrrrgh" is frustration or anger.
  • Luke from Manchester, UkStop doing that "putting numbers after exclamation points" crap (eg: "wow!!!!1111"), you look dumb.
  • Tara from Dallas, Tx"until the 20th century, reality was everything humans could touch, smell, see,
    and hear. since the inital publication of the charged electromagnetic spectrum, humans
    learned that what they can touch, smell, see, and hear...is less than one millionth of reality"

    and then brandon starts singing...

    "Fallacious cognitions,
    spewed from televisions,
    do mold our decisions.
    So stop and take a look,
    and you'll see what I see now."

    and he proceeds to yelllllll!!!!!!!!!111111111

    hahaha i love that because brandon can't explain chaos. but he does come to the conclusion that chaos has already been seen? and here is where he gets frustrated. and he says to us, "it's all been saved" maybe referring to "saved" as a biblical spew of what has been uncovered by what he seeeeeeeeees nowww ahhhhhhh1!!!!1111111#@123!2342

    WHEN WILL WE BE NEW SKIN?
    what is he asking?

    it's new skin that makes chaos clear.
  • Mike from Edinburgh, ScotlandThe sample (though I don't know exactly where the audio came from) is a quote by Buckminster Fuller. I'm sure you can find it elsewhere on the web, but one version is found here: http://www.junkfoodforthought.com/quotations/R.htm
  • Nate from Aurora, Ilcrazy, awesome song...weird and wakes me up
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.