Though his name is sometimes assumed to be a pseudonym due to its similarity to German composer Kurt Weill, it is in fact his birth name, as given by his parents Donna and Charles Vile.
Vile began his musical career in 2003 creating lo-fi home recordings with frequent collaborator Adam Granduciel. The duo subsequently formed the indie rock band The War on Drugs in 2005. Vile departed following the release of their debut studio album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008.
Vile's music has been likened to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Tom Petty. His first album for Matador, titled Childish Prodigy was released in October 2009. Prior to signing with Matador, Vile released two albums, God Is Saying This To You and Constant Hitmaker, on Mexican Summer and Woodsist, respectively. He plays both solo shows as well as shows with a backing band called The Violators.
Smoke Ring For My Halo, released in March of 2011, is Kurt Vile's fourth album and second official release for Matador Records. Uncut placed the album at number 14 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011" and garnered Vile the iTunes #Rewind2011 Singer/Songwriter Album of the Year. Vile followed up the widely acclaimed album with the six-song EP release, So Outta Reach, in November of the same year. The EP was composed of tracks originating from the same sessions that birthed Smoke Ring for My Halo. So Outta Reach includes the single 'The Creature', acknowledged as one of Vile's best, and a driving rock cover of Bruce Springsteen's 'Downbound Train'.
Wakin On A Pretty Day
Kurt Vile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta think about what I wanna say
Phone ringin off the shelf
I guess he wanted to kill himself
Wakin on a pretty day
Don't know why I ever go away
It's hard to explain
My love in this daze
You can say I've been most all around
But honey I ain't goin' nowhere
Don't worry 'bout a thing
It's only dying
I live along a straight line
Nothin' always comes to mind
To be frank, I'm fried
But I don't mind
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
Been diggin'
Layin' low, low, low
I'm diggin' in
Layin' low, low, low
Dig, dig in
To these lives that we are livin'
Livin' low
Lackadaisically so
Risin' at the crack of dawn
I gotta think about what wisecrack
I'm gonna drop along the way today
Phone ringin' off the shelf
I guess somebody got somethin' they
Really wanna prove to us today
Wakin on a pretty day
For any place
No use sayin' nothin'
To explain it
To my loved ones today
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah
In Kurt Vile's song "Wakin On A Pretty Day", the singer wakes up early in the morning and starts his day by pondering over his thoughts and the things he wants to say. He receives a call from a friend who may have called him to express his suicidal tendencies. The singer contemplates the beauty of the day and how he wants to stay in one place forever. He describes his current state of mind as "fried" but also mentions that he doesn't mind being that way.
The singer then talks about the different things he has done and the places he has been to, but ultimately declares that he isn't going anywhere. He feels peaceful in the simplicity of his life and accepts the inevitability of death. The second verse follows a similar theme as the first, where the singer talks about his day and the random phone calls he receives.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be in a state of reflection and contemplation. He seems to be at peace with his life and content in the present moment. The song's lyrics suggest that the singer values the simplicity and peacefulness of life and doesn't feel the need to constantly move and experience new things.
Line by Line Meaning
Wakin in the dawn of day
Starting the day early in the morning
I gotta think about what I wanna say
Planning on what to say
Phone ringin off the shelf
Receiving a call
I guess he wanted to kill himself
Assuming that the caller is suicidal
Wakin on a pretty day
Starting the day on a nice day
Don't know why I ever go away
Wondering why he ever leaves home
It's hard to explain
Unable to put it into words
My love in this daze
Feeling love in this dreamy state
You can say I've been most all around
Travelled to many places
But honey I ain't goin' nowhere
Not planning on going anywhere else
Don't worry 'bout a thing
No need to fret
It's only dying
Death is inevitable
I live along a straight line
Living a simple life
Nothin' always comes to mind
Not always thinking anything specific
To be frank, I'm fried
To be honest, feeling exhausted
But I don't mind
But it's okay
Been diggin'
Doing some soul-searching
Layin' low, low, low
Keeping a low profile
Dig, dig in
Digging deeper
To these lives that we are livin'
To the life that we have
Livin' low
Living simply
Lackadaisically so
In a relaxed, lazy manner
Risin' at the crack of dawn
Waking up very early
I gotta think about what wisecrack
Planning a witty remark
I'm gonna drop along the way today
That he'll say later on
Phone ringin' off the shelf
Receiving another call
I guess somebody got somethin' they
Assuming someone has something to say
Really wanna prove to us today
Desperately trying to prove something
For any place
Anywhere
No use sayin' nothin'
No point in saying anything
To explain it
To try to make it understood
To my loved ones today
To his loved ones
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Kurt Samuel Vile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gren Marton
on Wheelhouse
Sometimes I talk too much but I gotta get it out
But I don’t wanna talk, I only wanna listen
My baby talks soft, my ears are always ringing now
Humming a sad song when I’m alone
But you gotta be alone to figure things out sometimes
Be alone, when even in a crowd of friends and not so
Sometimes of whom you just can’t distinguish but
Thank god for the former, yeah
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside
There’s a desert down below the earth’s core
A hidden staircase in the house that you reside in
A little something from the cupboard over there
A little medicine, it’s a medication situation
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside