After playing in New York and touring the US and Europe from 2009–2010, in the summer of 2010 McMahon released the Murder Dull Mind EP, a collection of the apartment recordings made while in Beijing, on Sacred Bones. This past January, he began recording for his second full length, Through Donkey Jaw, his first proper recordings in almost five years. Where Murder Dull Mind was sparse, mostly acoustic and almost all first-take improvisation, this new work contains many more fully-realized sounds and songs; it is very much the winter to Murder Dull Mind’s summer.
L.A.
Amen Dunes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Power is something you believe in, something you gain
At 19, I was king, so supreme, down to Judea
Memory don't mean much to me, still don't go away
High up in the Hollywood Hills, I'm barely awake
Got my arms around some clown who's barely awake
Doesn't we look stupid now? Tears trickle down our face
At 10, I light my first cigarette, and drive down to L.A.
Some say fake it, I don't know, man
Stomp it, take it, cool it down, baby
I've been trying to make it for years and years and years
Watch them years go by on fire
(This is your time)
(Their time is done, it's over)
(I'm sick and tired)
Poor girl
(Screw ups, this is your time) yeah baby
I'd remember saying
(Now go out there and take it)
All this time, you barely know I'm alive
Yeah that's all, it's all or nothing at all
Oh, my baby, been a year since I've been through
Got the fever so bad, I know you do too
Nobody needs to know if you show up I'm in town
Come 'round early, put your feet up, we'll joke around
She looked so pretty, cigarette in her mouth
She'd grown mature, man, she filled out
Come on baby, you know I'm trying to cut it out
But you're so bad, I'll never put you down
About five hours out of my mind I wake up
About a mile of fire to stop, I beg her
Fa la la la la, God fades them out
Blue eye, you lied, I miss you, that's all
Stop Joanne
Stop Joanne
Stop Joanne
Stop Joanne
Stop Joanne
Stop Joanne
Quick talk is like no talk, he can just space off, look in his eyes
Crocodile, detour, new tears they start in my eyes
Six star-loaded rose-froze Black Star, you got off fine
It's ten o'clock you ought to stop the detour, you know, baby, it's time
Big talking, spaced off, you got your big man, he's fine
Because she told me, cross on back, the river's fine
Drop five dollar, you get the skinny girl, I get the real fire
That's all, that's all
(Not me, not me) that's all, that's all
(Not me, not me)
(Not me, not me) that's all, that's all
(Not me, not me)
(Not me, not me)
(Not me, not me)
(Not me, not me) that's all, that's all
(Not me, not me)
(Not me, not me) that's all, that's all
The song “L.A.” by Amen Dunes seems to be a reflection on the excessive and often self-destructive culture of Los Angeles. The singer seems to be struggling with his own addiction and vices, as well as with the seedy underbelly of Hollywood, and the song expresses a sense of desperation and futility in trying to escape it all. The opening line “Throw the saint in the fire, baby, long day” immediately sets the tone for a song that is both dark and mysterious, while the chorus of “Stop Joanne” repeated several times throughout the song seems to suggest a kind of desperate plea for help or resolution.
One of the prominent themes in the song is power, with the lyrics “Power is something you believe in, something you gain” suggesting that power is something that can be earned through belief or assertion. However, this ideal seems to be discredited as the singer reflects on his own failed attempts to “make it” in L.A. and the superficial nature of the relationships around him. The recurring line “At 10, I light my first cigarette, and drive down to L.A.” also seems to emphasize the sense of escape or distraction that L.A. provides for those seeking to avoid confronting their problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw the saint in the fire, baby, long day
After a long day, sometimes you need to let go of your best self and watch it burn.
Power is something you believe in, something you gain
Power comes from within; it is something you believe in and eventually gain.
At 19, I was king, so supreme, down to Judea
At 19, I was untouchable, so supreme that I was akin to royalty in Judea.
Memory don't mean much to me, still don't go away
My memories are hollow, for they do not hold as much value to me as they should.
High up in the Hollywood Hills, I'm barely awake
Perched up high in the Hollywood Hills, I am only just beginning to stir from my trance.
Got my arms around some clown who's barely awake
I am clinging to someone who is barely conscious, a mere shadow of their former self.
Doesn't we look stupid now? Tears trickle down our face
We are mutely acknowledging the weight of our poor decisions and the tears slowly stream down our cheeks.
At 10, I light my first cigarette, and drive down to L.A.
At the tender age of 10, I light my first cigarette and make my way down to Los Angeles.
Some say fake it, I don't know, man
Everyone keeps saying to fake it till you make it, but I'm not exactly sure how that'll help me in the long run.
Stomp it, take it, cool it down, baby
Take life's challenges as they come, and let them pass through you; keep a cool head throughout.
I've been trying to make it for years and years and years
I've been trying to make it or find my place in the world for a long time.
Watch them years go by on fire
As the years pass us by, our dreams (or perhaps, our perceived opportunities for them) seem to burn out and become unreachable.
Poor girl
The girl is in a pitiful state; her situation is despairing.
(Screw ups, this is your time) yeah baby
This is the time to seize our mistakes and embrace our shortcomings unapologetically.
I'd remember saying
I recall saying something important or pivotal, but am unable to recall those words at this time.
(Now go out there and take it)
This is the time to take control, take life by the horns, and make it bend to your will.
All this time, you barely know I'm alive
You have not been aware of my existence, or rather, you did not take notice of me at all this time.
Yeah that's all, it's all or nothing at all
This is the time for an all-or-nothing move; there is no in-between or half measures.
Oh, my baby, been a year since I've been through
A year has passed since I last visited or saw my loved one.
Got the fever so bad, I know you do too
The feverish passion or love burns brightly in me, and I am aware that you feel the same way.
Nobody needs to know if you show up I'm in town
Let's keep our meeting or reunion hush-hush; no one else needs to know that you came to see me in town.
Come 'round early, put your feet up, we'll joke around
Come around early enough, so you can relax and unwind with me; we'll share some laughs and jokes.
She looked so pretty, cigarette in her mouth
She looked beautiful as ever with a cigarette perched between her lips.
She'd grown mature, man, she filled out
She has become a mature young woman, having fully developed in body and mind.
Come on baby, you know I'm trying to cut it out
You know I am making an effort to kick a habit or addiction that I have, possibly including our relationship.
But you're so bad, I'll never put you down
My love for you is unbreakable, even though you may exhibit negative or toxic traits.
About five hours out of my mind I wake up
After losing consciousness for about five hours, I come to.
About a mile of fire to stop, I beg her
There seems to be trouble or danger ahead, and I plead with my traveling companion to help me stop it.
Fa la la la la, God fades them out
As I hum to myself, I realize that any troubles or worries will soon fade away.
Blue eye, you lied, I miss you, that's all
My dear blue-eyed friend or lover, you deceived me in the past, yet I still miss you all the same.
Stop Joanne
The person implores Joanne to stop whatever harmful or detrimental behavior she is engaging in.
Quick talk is like no talk, he can just space off, look in his eyes
Sometimes quick or brief talk can be just as meaningless or empty as no talk at all; he has a far-off, vacant look in his eyes.
Crocodile, detour, new tears they start in my eyes
Like a crocodile, we sometimes take detours in life; this thought evokes new tears in my eyes.
Six star-loaded rose-froze Black Star, you got off fine
In life, things are not always fair or equal; some people are loaded with advantages or stars, while others have to struggle. Either way, this person managed to escape or fare well regardless.
It's ten o'clock you ought to stop the detour, you know, baby, it's time
It's time to stop the temporary detour or delay you're taking in life, so we can continue on towards our goal(s).
Big talking, spaced off, you got your big man, he's fine
You are boastful and possibly spaced out, but you have landed a great man who is doing well.
Because she told me, cross on back, the river's fine
My female acquaintance or loved one reassured me that we can safely cross the river, or that things will turn out okay.
Drop five dollar, you get the skinny girl, I get the real fire
If you give me five dollars, I'll give you the more frail and skinny girl (perhaps for a service or to help someone out), while I will get to keep the more exciting and wild girl for myself.
(Not me, not me) that's all, that's all
This latest occurrence or trait was not my doing or not me at all.
(Not me, not me)
I am adamant that this particular thing was not done by me.
(Not me, not me) that's all, that's all
Once again, I insist that this thing was not done by me and that it is time to move on.
(Not me, not me)
I want to stress again that I did not do or have any part in this thing.
(Not me, not me) that's all, that's all
I cannot stress enough that I played no role in this, and it is time to end this conversation or topic.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Damon McMahon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind