i think my favorite is the kneading dough in the bakery to get by in fiji mermaid and the groan that follows
I know - what a genius moment. Ten Stories is so impressive lyrically. Like pretty much everything else they do. But to weave all of those perspectives and philosophies into a narrative that's can be understood on a surface level but has you learning new things several years later is a fascinating achievement.
i know i've said it before, but i am of the personal opinion that Aaron is far away the best lyricist that i have ever read. i tried to dedicate myself to uncovering most of the meaning in the songs throughout their discography in past years and always found myself frustrated (in the best way!) at just how truly complex and layered everything is. even just now in re-reading Fiji Mermaid and how it exposes the phoniness of the circus worker's attempts to carry on without the animals by including imagery of famous hoaxes and the german word ersatz for inferior substitute (rough)! i 100% agree that their music is timeless in the sense that you can come back to it over and over again, and find/learn entirely new things.
I can't personally name a better lyricist. He's my favourite but as you say, his competence is on another level compared to every other artist I've heard. I'm trying not to exaggerate but there's no one else that comes close for me.
Carousels has a moment in it that still shakes me to my core to this very day and I'm not a religious person at all. Oh, Christ when youre ready to come back I think I'm ready for you to come back But if you want to stay wherever exactly it is you are Thats ok too Its really none of my business
And satan turned to me: Have you thought much about that cry? Eloi, Eloi Have you thought much about that cry? Have you thought much about that cry? Have you thought much about that cry? Have you thought much about that cry? Have you thought much about that cry? Eloi, Eloi Eloi, Eloi Lama sabachthani Eloi, Eloi Eloi, Eloi Elliot Eloi Eloi.
I remember seeing them play live before Brother, Sister coming out and they played this song. The way he danced around and pantomimed "bending lamp posts down to the ground" is imprinted in my mind.
i love how similar yet opposite CFUTF and PH are. CFUTF is the tale of a young man struggling with sexuality, faith, death, depression, and all manner of issues while PH is that same man, now 10 years older and married, dealing with those same issues just in different contexts. struggling with the prospect of marriage, aaron flat out admits the divorce was planned for their marriage even began, continuing struggle with faith, death of a father who played a large role in his life, leading to him being depressed about how cyclical his own mental health seems to me, but finally coming to terms with it all in Rainbow Signs.
theres something about the chorus melody thats absoluting grating to me and yes, well need to get together sometime, and do battle
come into my workplace and we'll just fucking duel idk what sparked me to start noticing the parallels, but yeah PH kinda feels like the *10 years later* kind of response to CFUTF. Aarons life is kinda cyclical, even after 10 years hes still dealing with many of the same issues just under a new lens. hes often pondered on previous releases if he'd be happier married instead of being in turmoil as a single, sexually frustrated, almost priestly form of abstinence. now hes married and he spends a good chunk of time on PH showing mixed emotions to being married, much like he had mixed emotions when he was single. whereas before his depression and obsession with death came from his suicidal thoughts and general feeling of hopelessness save for his devotion to God, now it comes from the actual tangible death of his father and how often the belief in God can sometimes feel like a bandage solution for someone that needs surgery so to speak. Its hard to keep your faith when you lose someone you love and when you realize that the only thing keeping you in this human shell is your devotion to God and to the Christ.
wow way to not have a nuanced discussion with me and instead just completely shut me down ya know what jakob im sick of this so im just going to say it: Three Cheers is trash
jakob pls dont be mad at me you know how much i love three cheers and enjoy having you as a friend im just bantering