Lazy Projector
Andrew Bird Lyrics


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If memory serves us, then who owns the master
How do we know who's projecting this reel
And is it like gruel or like quick drying plaster
Tell me how long til the pain starts to kill

Is it like pirannahs on the problem
Are we not sure we don't know
You know history repeats itself
And time's a crooked bow
Come on, tell us something we don't know

Now whos the best boy and the casting director
And he edited, splicing your face from the scene
It's all in the hands of a lazy projector
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine

They say all good things must come to an end
Every day the night must fall
How it all came to this
I simply can't recall
Too many cooks in the kitchen
How the mighty must fall
And I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
Oh I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
Oh I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
Breaking up at all





And it's all in the hands of a lazy projector
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine

Overall Meaning

The song "Lazy Projector" by Andrew Bird invites the listener to think about memory, truth, and human error. The opening verse introduces the idea that memory can be unreliable and questions who truly owns the "reel" being projected. There is a sense of uncertainty about whether or not the pain will come, and how much it will hurt. These lines can be interpreted as a commentary on how individuals remember certain events and their associated emotions, with the uncertainty of how intense the pain may be.


The chorus brings up another layer of human error in the equation - a "lazy projector" that forgets, embellishes, and lies. It's unclear whether this "projector" is an actual person or an extended metaphor for the human mind. However, it seems that either way, the projector is responsible for altering the "reel." The second verse expands on this idea by introducing a cast and crew - including a "casting director" and an "editor" - who have a hand in shaping the narrative. This could be a commentary on the idea that the people involved in events have some degree of control over how they are remembered.


The song concludes with the repeated line, "I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all." This line could be interpreted in the context of a romantic relationship or a larger societal context, with the repeated chorus suggesting that misunderstanding and human error are responsible for unnecessary conflict.


Line by Line Meaning

If memory serves us, then who owns the master
We're not sure who is controlling the narrative, and it's hard for us to verify anything based on our recollections.


How do we know who's projecting this reel
We have no idea who's in charge of creating and disseminating the information that we receive.


And is it like gruel or like quick drying plaster
We're unsure about the quality of the information we're receiving, and we're questioning its validity and usefulness.


Tell me how long til the pain starts to kill
We're worried about the possible negative consequences that may result from believing in and acting on false or misleading information.


Is it like pirannahs on the problem
We're wondering if the issues we're facing are being addressed effectively or if we're just flailing around trying to find solutions.


Are we not sure we don't know
We're uncertain about what we don't know and what that means for our understanding of the situation at hand.


You know history repeats itself
We recognize that patterns and cycles often repeat throughout history, and we're concerned that we may be repeating mistakes or falling into familiar traps.


And time's a crooked bow
We understand that time is a complicated and convoluted force that can bend and warp our experiences in unpredictable ways.


Come on, tell us something we don't know
We're frustrated with the lack of clarity and certainty in the information we're receiving and we're hoping for a revelation or breakthrough that will shed new light on the situation.


Now whos the best boy and the casting director
We're questioning who's in charge of deciding what information gets shared and how it's presented, and we're wondering if they're making sound decisions.


And he edited, splicing your face from the scene
We suspect that someone is deliberately altering the narrative and removing important details that would change our understanding of a situation.


It's all in the hands of a lazy projector
We're realizing that the dissemination of information is often controlled by people who aren't invested in accuracy, truth, or fairness, and who may be more interested in taking shortcuts and making things easy for themselves.


That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine
We're recognizing the ways in which the dissemination of information can be compromised or corrupted, leading to falsehoods and embellishments.


They say all good things must come to an end, Every day the night must fall
We understand that everything is fleeting and temporary, and that change and endings are inevitable.


How it all came to this, I simply can't recall
We're struggling to remember the details and events that led up to the current situation, making it difficult to make sense of the present.


Too many cooks in the kitchen
We're recognizing that there may be too many people involved in making decisions or creating a narrative, which can lead to confusion, conflict, and a lack of direction.


How the mighty must fall
We're acknowledging that even powerful people or systems can fail or crumble, and that there are no guarantees of success or stability.


And I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
We're frustrated with a situation that seems to be falling apart or ending, and we're struggling to understand why it has to happen.


Oh I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
We're repeating our frustration and confusion about a situation that seems to be dissolving or disintegrating.


Breaking up at all
We're acknowledging the ending of something important, and we're recognizing the pain and loss that comes with that.


And it's all in the hands of a lazy projector
We're repeating our understanding that the dissemination of information is controlled by people who may not be invested in accuracy, truth, or fairness.


That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine
We're repeating our acknowledgement of the ways in which the dissemination of information can be compromised or corrupted, leading to falsehoods and embellishments.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDREW WEGMAN BIRD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@accade_acaso

If memory serves us, then who owns the master
How do we know who's projecting this reel
And is it like gruel or like quick drying plaster
Tell me how long til the paint starts to peel

Is it like Pyramus or Apollo or an archer we don't know
Though history repeats itself, and time's a crooked bow
Come on tell us something we don't know

Now who's the best boy and the casting director
And the editor splicing your face from the scene
It's all in the hands of a lazy projector
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine

They say all good things must come to an end
Everyday the night must fall
How it all came to this, I simply can't recall
Too many cooks in the kitchen
How the mighty must fall

But I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
Breaking up at all

And it's all in the hands of a lazy projector
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine



All comments from YouTube:

@christopherogden8790

Thank you ! Andrew Bird , man ! Loved this one , and the rest of all of your songs !

@gehmflor

Love his smile at the end!!!

@busyboysonedollarcircus6601

That first chorus whistle through is a golden eyebrow raise

@aaronwimberleymbamsf5776

Thanks AB- really like this timeless classic=]

@apairofkeets

never fails to amaze

@babyhaines86

It is never just in the hands of a lazy projector.

@appselfies

Siempre nos quedará silbar. Grande Andrew "pajaro" . Bo día

@knibbs1325

who else thinks he needs to revisit the album Soldier On?

@Wawadewa

LazzyBird brought me here :)

@accade_acaso

If memory serves us, then who owns the master
How do we know who's projecting this reel
And is it like gruel or like quick drying plaster
Tell me how long til the paint starts to peel

Is it like Pyramus or Apollo or an archer we don't know
Though history repeats itself, and time's a crooked bow
Come on tell us something we don't know

Now who's the best boy and the casting director
And the editor splicing your face from the scene
It's all in the hands of a lazy projector
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine

They say all good things must come to an end
Everyday the night must fall
How it all came to this, I simply can't recall
Too many cooks in the kitchen
How the mighty must fall

But I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
I can't see the sense in us breaking up at all
Breaking up at all

And it's all in the hands of a lazy projector
That forgetting, embellishing, lying machine

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