Psych Folk generally favors acoustic instrumentation although it often incorporates other instrumentation. Chanting, early music and world music influences are often found in Psych Folk. Much like its rock counterpart, Psychedelic Folk is known for a peculiar, trance-like, and atmospheric sound. Its lyrics are often concerned with such subjects as the natural world, love and beauty and try to evoke a state of mind associated with the effects of psychedelic drugs.
Early Incredible String Band, Donovan, Fairport Convention, (see electric folk), The Pentangle, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Synanthesia and perhaps most prominently, Syd Barrett are all prominent early examples of Psych Folk artists. Notice that all of these musicians are from Britain, where psychedelic music often had a stronger folk element.
American bands include early The Byrds, Love, Bermuda Triangle Band, and Pearls Before Swine.
New musical artists continue to draw on this tradition, although many of them would not necessarily describe their own music as Psych Folk (the term Freak Folk has gained favor). Current 93 whose new folk direction of 1988’s Earth Covers Earth rekindled the acid/freak folk styles of such groups as the Incredible String Band. Indeed the album cover is a post-punk parody of the Incredible String Band’s album, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. David Tibet, the main, and most consistent performer of Current 93 has continued predominantly with this style (his variation also called Apocalyptic folk) to this day, having collaborated with folk singer Shirley Collins.
Since the 1990s, this style has included existentialist pairing Pinkie Maclure & John Wills, known as Pumajaw in Scotland. Also the Georgia-based Elephant 6 Recording Company, which includes bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, has been known to release Psych Folk records.
Michael Gira has also assisted in a sort of Psych Folk revival. Gira may have named his newest project Angels of Light after San Francisco hippie Hibiscus' transcendental theatre group of the same name (though another possible source of the name is the Psychic TV associated project Thee Angels Ov Light Meet Thee Angry Love Orchestra. in interviews he says he cannot remember where he got the name from) and is responsible for guiding the career of new Psych Folk stars, Devendra Banhart and Akron/Family. Julien Aklei is an underground Psych Folk luminary, giving the genre a fresh and lighthearted color with her fairy-pastel point of view.
Fools
The Dodos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's been squandering, he's been squandering
And we don't do a thing, 'cause we're busy and think
We're just wandering, we're just a-wandering like fools
His son is his prize, he tells a few lies
He's got his father's eyes, it's in his father's eyes
And he thinks in his mind that he's just getting by
But he's a compromise, he's just a compromising fool
And the stance that we take isn't much to bear
Yeah, we leave things to change on their time
And our failure to care for it leaves us blind
'til we're tired and we're crazed in the mind
Now he lies on his back, and they tell him it's that
It's just a heart attack, it's just a heart attack
Too late to return to the ones that you've earned
No they don't give it back, no they don't give it back to fools
And the stance that we take isn't much to bear
Yeah, we leave things to change on their time
And our failure to care for it leaves us blind
'til we're tired and we're crazed in the mind
I've been, I've been silent
The Dodos's song Fools critiques the human tendency to ignore problems that we know are present. The first verse describes how many fathers have wasted their lives on meaningless things, while their children do nothing to stop them. The children believe they are wandering through life without direction, but in reality, they are foolishly ignoring the problems around them. The second verse focuses on one father and son's relationship, highlighting how the son is doomed to repeat his father's mistakes. He may believe he is just getting by, but in reality, he is compromising his values and squandering his potential.
The chorus serves as a commentary on our collective ignorance and apathy towards societal problems. The stance we take isn't much to bear, as we leave things to change on their own, rather than actively trying to solve the issues at hand. Our lack of care for these problems, whether it be societal injustice or environmental degradation, leaves us blind to the consequences of our actions. By the end of the song, it's too late to change, and we are left alone with our regrets.
Overall, the Dodos's song Fools serves as a warning against the dangers of complacency and inaction. It's easy to ignore problems around us, but in doing so, we become complicit in their perpetuation. We must take an active stance and work towards creating positive change in our communities, before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Our fathers have been entangled in things
The previous generation has made mistakes that have affected the current generation
He's been squandering, he's been squandering
The father has been wasting resources and opportunities
And we don't do a thing, 'cause we're busy and think
The current generation is too wrapped up in their own lives to try to fix the mistakes of the past
We're just wandering, we're just a-wandering like fools
The current generation is aimless and lacks direction
His son is his prize, he tells a few lies
The father puts too much value on his own son and is not truthful
He's got his father's eyes, it's in his father's eyes
The son is taking after his father's mistakes and traits
And he thinks in his mind that he's just getting by
The son believes he is doing okay, despite being a compromise
But he's a compromise, he's just a compromising fool
The son is not living up to his full potential and is making poor decisions
And the stance that we take isn't much to bear
The current generation is not doing much to fix the mistakes of the past
Yeah, we leave things to change on their time
They are waiting for things to change on their own, rather than taking action
And our failure to care for it leaves us blind
Their lack of concern for the future has led to them being oblivious to what's happening
'til we're tired and we're crazed in the mind
They will continue to be exhausted and delirious until they take action
Now he lies on his back, and they tell him it's that
The father is dying and they tell him it's due to a heart attack
It's just a heart attack, it's just a heart attack
The father is dying from a medical event, but it's also due to the mistakes of the past
Too late to return to the ones that you've earned
It's too late for the father to make amends for his mistakes
No they don't give it back, no they don't give it back to fools
The consequences of the mistakes of the past cannot be undone
I've been, I've been silent
The artist has been complicit in the mistakes of the past and has not spoken up
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDERS SVEN BAGGE, ARNTHOR BIRGISSON, HENRIK JOHN JANSON, KAREN ANN POOLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
VirtuaSavage
"Fools"
Our fathers have been entangled in things
He's been squandering, he's been squandering
And we don't do a thing, 'cause we're busy and think
We're just wandering, we're just a-wandering like fools
His son is his prize, he tells a few lies
He's got his father's eyes, it's in his father's eyes
And he thinks in his mind that he's just getting by
But he's a compromise, he's just a compromising fool
And the stance that we take isn't much to bear
Yeah, we leave things to change on their time
And our failure to care for it leaves us blind
'til we're tired and we're crazed in the mind
Now he lies on his back, and they tell him it's that
It's just a heart attack, it's just a heart attack
Too late to return to the ones that you've earned
No they don't give it back, no they don't give it back to fools
And the stance that we take isn't much to bear
Yeah, we leave things to change on their time
And our failure to care for it leaves us blind
'til we're tired and we're crazed in the mind
I've been, I've been silent
GANGA SINGH Rathore
This song gives a feeling of freedom
You feel like a fresh breeze of air splashes your face and make you alive again
my boy
You mean this whole album
Matt_Attack
Crazy how GoPro can shed new light on an eight year old song.
Rampaging Weasel
+Sebastian Alba 7 years and 5 months*
Felonious Jabronius
+Rampaging Weasel lol you're a hero bud
Sean Philippe Tan
Yes! Yes! Yes! :)
Dogtown
+Sebastian Alba Welcome. You can be proud to know The Dodos, one of the most underated band in the world. They are the definition of real music and passion.
VirtuaSavage
"Fools"
Our fathers have been entangled in things
He's been squandering, he's been squandering
And we don't do a thing, 'cause we're busy and think
We're just wandering, we're just a-wandering like fools
His son is his prize, he tells a few lies
He's got his father's eyes, it's in his father's eyes
And he thinks in his mind that he's just getting by
But he's a compromise, he's just a compromising fool
And the stance that we take isn't much to bear
Yeah, we leave things to change on their time
And our failure to care for it leaves us blind
'til we're tired and we're crazed in the mind
Now he lies on his back, and they tell him it's that
It's just a heart attack, it's just a heart attack
Too late to return to the ones that you've earned
No they don't give it back, no they don't give it back to fools
And the stance that we take isn't much to bear
Yeah, we leave things to change on their time
And our failure to care for it leaves us blind
'til we're tired and we're crazed in the mind
I've been, I've been silent
really sorry
I'v been obsolent
JacVic07
Thank you!