After years of recording in relative seclusion in the hills of Los Angeles, Ariel Pink (the first non-Animal Collective member on the Paw Tracks roster) made his official Paw Tracks debut with The Doldrums. Recording at home with a guitar, bass, keyboard, and 8-track (the drum sounds were created with his mouth).
Ariel Pink blends Lite FM and warped lo-fi pop into something by turns beautiful and confusing. Some may find his personal yet detached approach highly addictive, while others may be instantly turned off by the obvious lo-fi production and the vocal drumtracks.
In the summer of 2003, Pink passed a CD-R on to New York based band Animal Collective after being introduced by mutual friend Jimi Hey (of All Night Radio and Beachwood Sparks) at one of their shows. Unbeknownst to Pink, Animal Collective had recently started their own record label, Paw Tracks, and several weeks later they contacted him expressing an interest in releasing his music. Pink became the first musician on the label aside from the members of Animal Collective. The next year, the label reissued The Doldrums, an album which had been originally recorded in 1999. Since then, Paw Tracks (now co-owned by Carpark Records) has released two other reissues of Pink's previous recordings, Worn Copy and House Arrest.
Pink has gradually caught the attention of media sources around the United States as well as internationally. As most of his albums are self-made, many of them have never been heard by fans. Almost all of Pink's albums which have been commercially released come from his yet-unfinished "Haunted Graffiti" series and are thus the best known.
Pink's tours have generally been met with much negativity, primarily because his music was never intended to be performed live for commercial audiences. As he explained to LA Weekly:
“People boo me everywhere...They don't even hide their contempt. I'm used to it now...Hey, I'm giving audiences the real thing...For better or worse, I'm out there, and those are the circumstances. People don't like it when it seems like you don't know what's happening, or I'm getting bummed out with certain aspects and I can't hide it. I think people feel that pain and just think it's bad.”
Initially playing shows alone with pre-recorded music, Pink has since employed the efforts of keyboardist Kenny Gilmore, bassist Tim Koh (White Magic), drummer Jimi Hey, and guitarist Cole M. Greif-Neill (Ethnik Klensr) as Haunted Graffiti. However, even with a backing band unfamiliar audiences are generally hostile towards the unrehearsed nature of the live compositions.
In July, the band embarked on Pink's "Thanks Mom, I'm Dead" tour.
One genre that may interestingly define Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is one known as Hauntology.
hold your breath and wait
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't wanna go down to Huntington Beach.
Love you doll, you still love me? No?
What do you mean?
How can you reject a face like this, huh?
Oh, now that's a face I can't reject, all right.
Did you hold your breath and wait now?
Well, okay little girl,
You're the best.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, sounds good.
When my work is done I will be through, ooh
I'll cease playing this number for you
Yes it's true, ooh
Keep playing that number too
Russian roulette
Just a medley ...
Strike at noon
Keep playing that number too
Yes, I'm tending the garden for you
Hey!
Tending the garden (x12)
Over and out
Over and under, keep tying the noose
Baby blue
See I'm tending the garden
I'm tending the garden for you
For you
Cross my heart, hope to die
Holding my breath and waiting
Holding my breath and waiting
(x2)
When the sun comes up I
...
You know I'm tending the garden ...
The sky is blue
The colors bright with every hue
Peculiar petunia
Aloha, I loved you
Summer's blue
Keep playing that number (x5)
Russian roulette
Don't make a baby just yet
...
When is the word is done
You will ... too
Hold your breath and wait,
and wait, little crazy one
(x2)
Hold your breath and wait and wait
And wait, little crazy one
(scatting)
I'm calling you
Summer's blue
Keep playing that number, that number
Hold your breath and wait,
and wait, little crazy one
(x2)
Hold your breath and wait and wait
And wait, little crazy one
Ooh-aah...
The lyrics to Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti's song "Hold Your Breath and Wait" are challenging to interpret. They seem to be somewhat nonsensical and don't follow a clear narrative. They could be interpreted as someone trying to impress or seduce another person. The singer is telling the listener not to reject them and asks if they held their breath and waited. There are frequent references to tending a garden, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for nurturing a relationship. The lyrics also reference Russian roulette and tying a noose, which suggests a darker and more dangerous side to the relationship. The scatting at the end of the song adds to the overall sense of chaos and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Kissy kissy!
Affectionate greeting exchanged between two people.
I don't wanna go down to Huntington Beach.
I do not want to visit Huntington Beach.
Love you doll, you still love me? No?
Addressing a love interest and questioning if they still have feelings for the singer.
What do you mean?
Requesting clarification regarding a previous statement.
How can you reject a face like this, huh?
Expressing confusion and frustration towards a perceived rejection of the artist.
Oh, now that's a face I can't reject, all right.
Agreeing and acknowledging the singer's physical appearance.
Did you hold your breath and wait now?
Questioning if the listener followed the singer's previous commands or advice.
Well, okay little girl, If that's what you want, uh huh You're the best.
Reluctantly agreeing with the listener's request while complementing them.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, sounds good.
Confirming a future meeting with the listener.
When my work is done I will be through, ooh I'll cease playing this number for you Yes it's true, ooh Keep playing that number too
Promising to stop performing after the work has been completed while still encouraging the listener to continue enjoying the artist's music.
Russian roulette Just a medley ... Strike at noon Keep playing that number too
Describing a mix of several different songs, but still asking the listener to keep enjoying the same number they were previously enjoying.
Yes, I'm tending the garden for you Hey! Tending the garden (x12)
Assuring the listener that their loved one is being taken care of.
Over and out Over and under, keep tying the noose Baby blue See I'm tending the garden I'm tending the garden for you For you
Describing a feeling of detachment, while still insisting on taking care of the listener's loved one.
Cross my heart, hope to die Holding my breath and waiting Holding my breath and waiting (x2)
Making a promise and being patient while waiting for results.
When the sun comes up I ... You know I'm tending the garden ... The sky is blue The colors bright with every hue
Continuing to provide reassurance that a loved one is being taken care of and describing the beauty of nature.
Peculiar petunia Aloha, I loved you
Addressing an unusual or different flower and declaring love towards it.
Summer's blue Keep playing that number (x5)
Encouraging the listener to continue enjoying the same song throughout the summer months.
Russian roulette Don't make a baby just yet ...
Using a metaphor for taking things slow or not rushing into starting a family.
When is the word is done You will ... too
Stating that once work is complete, the singer will also be finished.
Hold your breath and wait, and wait, little crazy one (x2) Hold your breath and wait and wait And wait, little crazy one
Asking the listener to be patient and wait for something (unknown) to happen.
(scatting) I'm calling you
Making sounds vocally, followed by declaration of reaching out to the listener (not literally).
Summer's blue Keep playing that number, that number
Encouraging the listener to continue playing the same song throughout the summer months.
Hold your breath and wait, and wait, little crazy one (x2) Hold your breath and wait and wait And wait, little crazy one
Asking the listener to be patient and wait for something (unknown) to happen.
Ooh-aah...
Making a vocal expression to add emphasis or mood to the lyrics.
Contributed by Aria A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrew William
Kissy kissy!
I don't wanna go down to Huntington Beach.
Love you doll, you still love me? No?
What do you mean?
How can you reject a face like this, huh?
Oh, now that's a face I can't reject, all right.
Did you hold your breath and wait now?
Well, okay little girl,
If that's what you want, uh huh
You're the best.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, sounds good.
When my work is done I will be through, ooh
I'll cease playing this number for you
Yes it's true, ooh
Keep playing that number too
Russian roulette
Just a medley ...
Strike at noon
Keep playing that number too
Yes, I'm tending the garden for you
Hey!
Tending the garden (x12)
Over and out
Over and under, keep tying the noose
Baby blue
See I'm tending the garden
I'm tending the garden for you
For you
Cross my heart, hope to die
Holding my breath and waiting
Holding my breath and waiting
(x2)
When the sun comes up I
...
You know I'm tending the garden ...
The sky is blue
The colors bright with every hue
Peculiar petunia
Aloha, I loved you
Summer's blue
Keep playing that number (x5)
Russian roulette
Don't make a baby just yet
...
When is the word is done
You will ... too
Hold your breath and wait,
And wait, little crazy one
(x2)
Hold your breath and wait and wait
And wait, little crazy one
(Scatting)
I'm calling you
Occupy My Life
Seriously one of the greatest songwriters ever
ASMR For Your Soul
yes
Geoff Bordeaux
He is, even though he writes lyrics last. đź—ż
spazzz onem
Tending the garden for you
Geoff Bordeaux
@FAR I’m pretty sure he said so in an interview, but I’ve also read that he also makes songs in individual pieces, rather, he doesn’t know the end result, but is capable of hearing an unfinished song, in pieces, in his head.
Sphi Noyd
a society where this could have been a hit in the 80's would be an interesting society indeed
ed die
What is it? I can feel it on my brain... Love you Ariel
Andrew William
Kissy kissy!
I don't wanna go down to Huntington Beach.
Love you doll, you still love me? No?
What do you mean?
How can you reject a face like this, huh?
Oh, now that's a face I can't reject, all right.
Did you hold your breath and wait now?
Well, okay little girl,
If that's what you want, uh huh
You're the best.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow, sounds good.
When my work is done I will be through, ooh
I'll cease playing this number for you
Yes it's true, ooh
Keep playing that number too
Russian roulette
Just a medley ...
Strike at noon
Keep playing that number too
Yes, I'm tending the garden for you
Hey!
Tending the garden (x12)
Over and out
Over and under, keep tying the noose
Baby blue
See I'm tending the garden
I'm tending the garden for you
For you
Cross my heart, hope to die
Holding my breath and waiting
Holding my breath and waiting
(x2)
When the sun comes up I
...
You know I'm tending the garden ...
The sky is blue
The colors bright with every hue
Peculiar petunia
Aloha, I loved you
Summer's blue
Keep playing that number (x5)
Russian roulette
Don't make a baby just yet
...
When is the word is done
You will ... too
Hold your breath and wait,
And wait, little crazy one
(x2)
Hold your breath and wait and wait
And wait, little crazy one
(Scatting)
I'm calling you
Jack Daddy
Absolute madman
tratata
Sounds like something Syd Barrett would make if he'd double his usual LSD dose.