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)
The Haunted House
Abandoned Pools Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sew your eyes and burn the witches
Open up the gates of shadowlands
We're living in the time of jackals
Lay aside your cares and hassles
Running down the hallways of a mansion
Let's go out in the magic hourLet's spend the night in a haunted house
Till the morning
Let's go wake all the residents
Let's say goodnight to the present tense
Till the morning
Till morning
In mourning
I'm home again
I'm home again
Through the trees we're running faster
Barely we will skirt disaster
Escaping by the skin of our teeth
Stop the car and dim the headlights
Up the hill beyond the streetlights
Far below the city bites its own head off
Let's go out in the magic hour
Let's spend the night in a haunted house
Till the morning
Let's go wake all the residents
Let's say goodnight to the present tense
Till the morning
Till morning
In mourning
I'm home againI'm home again
And somewhere you're out there watching
Let's go out in the magic hour
Let's spend the night in a haunted house
Till the morning
Let's go wake all the residents
Let's say goodnight to the present tense
Till the morning
Till morning
In mourning
I'm home again
I'm home again
The lyrics of Abandoned Pools's "The Haunted House" evoke a sense of urgency and escapism, as the singer seems to be in a state of turmoil and seeks solace in a mysterious setting. The song opens with a call to action, urging the listener to start afresh by purging and burning bridges, metaphorically shedding the past and leaving behind any negativity. The act of sewing eyes and burning witches suggests a visceral need to cleanse oneself and rid the mind of harmful influences. The imagery of opening the gates of shadowlands implies entering a realm of darkness and mystery, where the singer finds a sense of belonging in the chaotic and unpredictable world they inhabit.
As the song progresses, the lyrics shift to a more rebellious and adventurous tone, with the singer embracing the idea of living in the time of jackals and disregarding mundane concerns. The mention of running down the hallways of a mansion conveys a sense of exhilaration and freedom, as if the singer is reveling in the thrill of uncertainty and danger. The repeated refrain of "Let's go out in the magic hour" suggests a desire to escape reality and immerse oneself in a world of fantasy and wonder, while acknowledging the fleeting nature of such experiences.
The imagery of running through the trees and narrowly avoiding disaster paints a picture of a tense and precarious situation, where the singer is constantly on the edge of danger. The act of stopping the car and dimming the headlights signifies a moment of pause and contemplation, perhaps reflecting on the transient nature of life and the looming sense of mortality. The reference to the city biting its own head off conveys a feeling of self-destruction and chaos, mirroring the internal turmoil of the singer.
Overall, "The Haunted House" explores themes of escapism, rebellion, and introspection, with the singer seeking solace and release from the pressures of everyday life. The haunted house serves as a metaphor for the dark and mysterious aspects of the human psyche, offering a sanctuary for the singer to explore their fears and desires. The repeated refrain of "I'm home again" suggests a sense of returning to oneself and finding a sense of belonging in the midst of chaos, while acknowledging the presence of unseen forces watching over them.
Line by Line Meaning
Start the purge and burn the bridges
Initiate a cleansing process and sever ties with the past.
Sew your eyes and burn the witches
Close yourself off to harmful visions and eliminate negativity.
Open up the gates of shadowlands
Invite the unknown or darker aspects of existence to be explored.
We're living in the time of jackals
We exist in a turbulent era characterized by selfish, predatory behavior.
Lay aside your cares and hassles
Put down your burdens and dismiss your worries for a while.
Running down the hallways of a mansion
Hastily navigate through the vast complexities of life.
Let's go out in the magic hour
Venture forth during that enchanting time just before dusk, when possibilities feel endless.
Let's spend the night in a haunted house
Choose to embrace the eerie and unknown circumstances of life.
Till the morning
Until dawn arrives, and with it, reality.
Let's go wake all the residents
Rouse the spirits of the past, confronting memories long dormant.
Let's say goodnight to the present tense
Bid farewell to the current moment, transcending into reflection or nostalgia.
Till the morning
Until the break of day, when clarity may return.
Till morning
Continuing through the night, embracing transitions.
In mourning
In a state of remembrance or grief for what was lost.
I'm home again
I have returned to a familiar or comforting state after wandering.
I'm home again
Revisiting a place of solace, finding stability once more.
Through the trees we're running faster
Navigating through life's challenges with increased urgency and determination.
Barely we will skirt disaster
Just managing to avoid catastrophic outcomes in our journey.
Escaping by the skin of our teeth
Narrowly dodging danger or calamity in our escapades.
Stop the car and dim the headlights
Pause our progress and soften our perspective for a moment of reflection.
Up the hill beyond the streetlights
Seek solace away from the illumination of everyday life.
Far below the city bites its own head off
The chaos of urban existence self-destructs in its relentless pace.
Let's go out in the magic hour
Return to that surreal moment when the clock paints the world in twilight.
Let's spend the night in a haunted house
Engage with the mysteries and past echoes still lingering in the shadows.
Till the morning
Persist through the darkness until light grants clarity.
Let's go wake all the residents
Stir up the spirits of what once was, reigniting lost histories.
Let's say goodnight to the present tense
Wave farewell to the now, allowing memories to surface.
Till the morning
Continuing this journey until a new dawn reveals itself.
Till morning
Enduring through the night, holding tight to our experiences.
In mourning
Acknowledging loss as we tread carefully through our memories.
I'm home again
Feeling the comfort of familiarity as I return to my own center.
I'm home again
Rejoining a place of safety and belonging, reclaiming my identity.
And somewhere you're out there watching
There is an awareness of an unseen presence, someone observing my journey.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Tommy Walter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind