The only two consistent members are Jon Snodgrass (guitar, vocals) and Paul Rucker (drums). It is a running joke in the band that their bassists never last long, and this gave rise to the title of their fourth album Who Wants To Play Bass? They have at points included Marko Desantis of Sugarcult and Bad Astronaut and Chad Price of ALL and Drag The River.
After a hiatus, they reformed to tour for the second half of 2007.
Back in the Hammock
Armchair Martian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
trim it to the board up treehouse
well this is mended but less of me
and after i said it and gone
then your heart starts to crave it all
crawling beneath
and you never crawl on my knees
you sped up the pain that bleeds
never let me fall before you
after all i'm the one that claimed you
after all i'm the one that claimed you
now that i took your heart
burning down you know i'll burn you all
crawling beneath
and i hate to love you all
back in the hammock up against the wall
i'm giving up on fighting
and you never crawl on my knees
you sped up the pain that bleeds
never let me crawl around you
never let me fall before you
after all i'm the one that claimed you
after all i'm the one that claimed you
after all i'm the one that claimed you
what about the one that sent you off
after all that made you fall
The lyrics to Armchair Martian's "Back in the Hammock" seem to be about a tumultuous relationship between two people. The first verse references someone taking away the singer's happiness or "smile" and leaving them with less of themselves. The line "trim it to the board up treehouse" could mean that this person has reduced the singer to a childlike state, or perhaps to a place where they feel trapped or isolated. But despite this, the singer acknowledges that their heart still longs for this person, even when they're gone. The second verse switches to the perspective of the one who took the singer's heart, implying that they're also struggling with their feelings for the singer. The line "I hate to love you all" suggests a complex mix of emotions. The chorus repeats the idea that the person they're singing to has never shown them the vulnerability and submission of "crawling" before them, which may mean that this person has refused to be entirely honest with the singer or has withheld affection or intimacy. The repetition of the final line "after all, I'm the one that claimed you" could be seen as a reminder that the singer was the one who initiated the relationship, and perhaps feels responsible for its struggles. The final line, "what about the one that sent you off, after all, that made you fall", seems to introduce a mysterious third party who may have caused the original rift between the two lovers.
Overall, the lyrics to "Back in the Hammock" contain a lot of angst and conflict, themed around a relationship that seems to be both passionate and strained. The back-and-forth between the two perspectives in the verses suggests that both people are struggling with their feelings and desires, but also that they're unable to find common ground or communicate effectively. The chorus repeated at the end of the song emphasizes the theme of one-sided submission and vulnerability, and the final line introduces a new element of mystery and intrigue that leaves the song open-ended.
Line by Line Meaning
So you could wipe the smile from my mouth
You have the power to make me sad and take away my happiness.
trim it to the board up treehouse
You can even cut my joy down to the size of a small treehouse.
well this is mended but less of me
While the situation may have improved, it has left me feeling incomplete and lacking in some way.
and after i said it and gone
Once I have said what I needed to say and left, the consequences of our conversation start to sink in.
then your heart starts to crave it all
At this point, you begin to miss everything that we had together.
crawling beneath
Feeling overwhelmed and defeated.
and you never crawl on my knees
You have never been in a desperate, pleading position with me.
you sped up the pain that bleeds
Your actions have only caused my emotional pain to worsen.
never let me crawl around you
You have never allowed me to be vulnerable with you and seek comfort in your presence.
never let me fall before you
You have never been there to catch me when I stumble or fall.
after all i'm the one that claimed you
I made you mine and took responsibility for our relationship.
now that i took your heart
Since I have won your love and devotion.
burning down you know i'll burn you all
If things go wrong, I could cause a lot of destruction and pain.
i hate to love you all
Despite the pain you have caused me, I cannot seem to stop loving you.
back in the hammock up against the wall
Reminiscing about a time when we were carefree and together, even if it was brief.
i'm giving up on fighting
I am tired of trying to hold on to a relationship that may not be worth it.
what about the one that sent you off
I am also curious about the person who caused you to leave me in the first place.
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
decadepast decadepast
This band is just plain underrated