The Argus
"The Argus" is a song by Ween from the 2003 album Quebec.
Song Details[edit | edit source]
Recording[edit | edit source]
The lead vocals are sung by Gene Ween, who also plays guitar on the track. Dean Ween plays guitar and bass. The drums are played by Josh Freese. Glenn McClelland is credited with playing piano and keyboards.[1]
Concept[edit | edit source]
According to Dean Ween, the "Argus" concept was inspired by a building they saw called "Argus International":
Up the street from Claude’s house on route 31 in Hopewell, NJ was this very big rundown factory with this crazy, almost satanic symbol on the face of the building and the name of the place was ARGUS INTERNATIONAL. That’s what started it all.[2][3]
The name "Argus" belonged to several characters in Greek mythology[4], most famously Argus Panoptes (the "all-seeing" Argus), servant of the goddess Hera. Usually depicted as a giant with eyes all over his body that could see in all directions, Argus had the ability to stay awake at all times. He was killed by Hermes while guarding Hera's prisoner, Io, after Hermes lulled him to sleep and set Io free.[5]
For another song using the "Argus" concept, see "Argus 2".
Live Performances[edit | edit source]
"The Argus" dates back at least to the summer of 2002, when it was played by Gene Ween at a solo acoustic show.[6] The following year, Ween introduced the song with the full band in the fall of 2003 on the Quebec tour, after which they played it heavily for several months. A 11/7-9/2003 recording from this period can be heard on the album Live in Chicago. In later years, "The Argus" has been played on a more occasional basis.[7]
Gene Ween has played "The Argus" numerous times individually, including both solo acoustic and with his band Freeman.[8]
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Official lyrics were printed in the Quebec liner notes:
Yesterday we lost our lives, tomorrow we were born
Fortunes smiled upon us, sacrifice the Argus
All that he might help us see
Magna eyes that track for miles, looking for disease
Puzzled by the mountains, tricked by the sea
And the Argus is practiced compassion
With an eye on you, as one is on me
Will the god eye grant his forgiveness
And allow he that's lived, a reason to see
Counting days and building walls, bells ring so's to warn
All the signs that guide us, chosen by the Argus
Tell me he has chosen you
Led by form we shed our soul
Trusting like a child
See the dark face that saved us
Drink from his empty eyes
And the Argus is practiced compassion
With an eye on you, as one is on me
Will the god eye grant his forgiveness
Letting droplets of light erupt from the sea
Lying in beds of garlic and orchid, he closes an eye, which closes another
And in sleep he dreams of watching and looking and feather clouds dancing
He curls up his lid and sleeps...
Swirling with visions on man's confusion
All of the work done just to appease him
The Argus he cries, though love has its place in the sun
It's only man's fear that carries him on[9]
Song Themes[edit | edit source]
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
Argus Panoptes (Greek mythology)
- Mythopedia: https://mythopedia.com/topics/argus-panoptes
- Ancient Origins (good selection of artwork): https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/argos-panoptes-001044
More uses of the name "Argus"
- Wikipedia (disambiguation): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Quebec liner notes
- ↑ https://genius.com/Ween-the-argus-lyrics
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/deanweengroup/posts/the-first-version-of-the-argus-we-did-this-on-a-4-track-at-my-house-up-the-stree/774123102669228/ The post is apparently set to private and no longer accessible.
- ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_(Greek_myth)
- ↑ https://mythopedia.com/topics/argus-panoptes
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=201
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=201
- ↑ https://brownbase.org/every_time_played.php?band=all%20bands&song_id=201
- ↑ Quebec liner notes