Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician T… Read Full Bio ↴Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician Tommy Walter, as well as the name of the band in which he plays. He began playing music at a young age, first with the bass guitar and then the French horn. He attended University of Southern California, followed by the Pacific University. Teaching classical music theory, Walter began working with various Los Angeles-area musicians.

Walter soon began working with a singer-songwriter who went by E and drummer Butch Norton as The Eels. After a promising debut, Walter left the band due to differences with E. He formed a short-lived band, Tely, who released a CD that was distributed on the internet. He was also in the touring band for the Ken Andrews solo project ON, though in the end the band saw little touring. Later he went on to form Abandoned Pools and recorded a solo album, Humanistic, in 2001. Humanistic actually features a couple of songs that were once performed by Tely, like "Start Over."

In 2002 they performed the theme song for the short-lived MTV animated series Clone High. Many of their songs can be heard in the background during the show.

Walter teamed up with drummer Bryan Head and guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme in 2004 to record "Armed to the Teeth," the follow up to Humanistic. In June of 2005, they released an EP, consisting of a few songs from the new album along with b-sides and demos, called The Reverb EP. This was followed by the full album in September 2005.

In January of 2006, Walter wrote in his blog that Universal Records had stopped promoting the album. However, he has included several song snippets on his MySpace and has said he is writing songs for a new album.

In March of 2010, Walter announced via Twitter that he would enter the studio to work on a third Abandoned Pools album after five years of hiatus.

In mid-May 2011, via the Abandoned Pools' MySpace page, two new songs, "Marigold" and "In Silence" from the upcoming album, "Sublime Currency" were made available for streaming and download, or iTunes, as well as a full length demo of the first album, "Humanistic." The third studio album was expected to be released in late 2011, but is now due out sometime in 2012. On Friday, January 27, 2012, the Abandoned Pools' Facebook page posted: "Announcement coming on Monday." (January 30th)

Aliens
Abandoned Pools Lyrics

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It's like we're in
A haunted mansion
The ghosts and ghouls are everywhere

Let's just get out of here
Before they get too near
Back at our house, the sign reads
Chaos ends here

Aliens we are
And aliens forever be
Why should I believe in anything
Aliens we are
And aliens forever be
Why should I believe in anything
You say to me

It's like we're in
A hall of mirrors
With mass delusion everywhere

I can't just play along
Until everyone is gone
Silently slipping away into oblivion

Aliens we are
And aliens forever be
Why should I believe in anything
Aliens we are
And aliens forever be
Why should I believe in anything
You say to me

Let's shake it off and get back to it

You don't have to be a super genius
All that I need you to be
Is right here with me

Aliens we are
And aliens forever be
Why should I believe in anything
Aliens we are
And aliens forever be
Why should I believe in anything
You say to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Aliens" by Abandoned Pools convey a sense of detachment and isolation, as if the singer feels like an outsider or a foreign entity in their surroundings. The comparison to being in a haunted mansion or a hall of mirrors suggests a feeling of unease and disconnection from reality, surrounded by ghosts, ghouls, and mass delusion. The repeated refrain of "Aliens we are and aliens forever be" reinforces this theme of not belonging or fitting in, questioning the need to conform or believe in societal norms or expectations.

The urgency to escape from the haunted mansion or the hall of mirrors before the "ghosts and ghouls" or mass delusion get too close reflects a desire to avoid being consumed or influenced by negative influences or false realities. The mention of a sign at their house that reads "Chaos ends here" implies a longing for a sense of peace and stability, a sanctuary away from the chaos and confusion of the external world.

The lines "I can't just play along until everyone is gone, silently slipping away into oblivion" suggest a feeling of reluctance to participate in the illusions and games of society, choosing instead to quietly retreat into obscurity or insignificance. The singer refuses to blindly follow the beliefs or words of others, questioning why they should believe in anything that is said to them.

The final verse offers a sense of hope and solidarity, as the singer encourages shaking off illusions and returning to a sense of authenticity and connection. The acknowledgment that one does not need to be a "super genius" but simply be present and supportive reinforces the idea that true companionship and understanding can transcend societal norms and expectations. The repetition of the refrain underscores the importance of staying true to oneself and resisting the pressure to conform to beliefs or values that do not resonate with personal truth.

Line by Line Meaning

It's like we're in
It feels as though we are stuck in

A haunted mansion
An eerie place with unsettling spirits

The ghosts and ghouls are everywhere
The haunting presence is all around us

Let's just get out of here
Let's escape from this place

Before they get too near
Before the spirits come too close

Back at our house, the sign reads
Upon returning home, the sign declares

Chaos ends here
The chaos stops at this point

Aliens we are
We are outsiders

And aliens forever be
And will always remain as such

Why should I believe in anything
Why should I trust or have faith in anything

You say to me
That you tell me