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.
Truce
Armchair Martian Lyrics
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I only picked up what I thought I was missin'.
and I don't know you all too well.
When you're acting I can't tell.
and I could never take a hint anyway.
So laugh with me or fight with me and then just tell me.
There's a truce and a use and a war that can't be won.
Things in the way and I just keep tripping over.
Humor makes it all seem nice.
And I'm a worthless sacrifice.
Fly away again or stand your ground
So laugh with me or fight with me and then just tell me.
There's a truce and a use and a war that can't be won.
And now you can hate me night and day but I'd say that's okay.
With me the jokes never end until we smile from dying once again
So laugh with me or fight with me and then just tell me.
There's a truce and a use and a war that can't be-
laugh with me or fight with me and then just kill me
The lyrics to Armchair Martian's song "Truce" are a reflection on the complicated nature of relationships and the difficulties of communication. The singer admits that they didn't listen when their partner tried to communicate something, and now they're struggling to find common ground. Despite feeling like they don't know their partner well enough, the singer recognizes that they still have a connection that fluctuates between laughing together and fighting. The chorus emphasizes the idea that there are certain situations that can't be won, only temporarily resolved with a truce. Despite this acknowledgement, the singer still hopes for some kind of resolution or understanding between the two.
The verse that reads, "Things in the way and I just keep tripping over. My parallel bent but I still can't get any closer" is particularly poignant. It suggests that even though the singer is experiencing personal growth and trying to move forward, external factors and obstacles are making it difficult to progress. The mention of humor as a coping mechanism further adds to the complexity of the situation. The singer is aware that they are a "worthless sacrifice," which could refer to feeling like they will never be able to fully connect with their partner. The final line, "laugh with me or fight with me and then just kill me" is a dramatic expression of the singer's desperation for some kind of resolution.
Line by Line Meaning
You were only kidding and I didn't listen.
You said something jokingly, but I didn't pay attention.
I only picked up what I thought I was missin'.
I only heard what I thought was important.
and I don't know you all too well.
I don't know you very well.
When you're acting I can't tell.
I can't tell when you are pretending.
and I could never take a hint anyway.
I have trouble picking up on hints.
So laugh with me or fight with me and then just tell me.
We can either enjoy each other's company or argue, but just be honest with me.
There's a truce and a use and a war that can't be won.
There's an agreement, a purpose, and a conflict that cannot be resolved.
Things in the way and I just keep tripping over.
Obstacles keep getting in my way and causing me trouble.
My parallel bent but I still can't get any closer.
I'm trying my best, but I'm still not making any progress.
Humor makes it all seem nice.
Joking around makes everything seem better.
And I'm a worthless sacrifice.
I'm expendable and unimportant.
Fly away again or stand your ground
You can either leave or stay and fight.
And now you can hate me night and day but I'd say that's okay.
You might hate me, but I'm okay with that.
With me the jokes never end until we smile from dying once again
We can keep joking around until we can no longer contain our laughter.
So laugh with me or fight with me and then just tell me.
We can either enjoy each other's company or argue, but just be honest with me.
There's a truce and a use and a war that can't be-
There's an agreement, a purpose, and a conflict that cannot be resolved.
laugh with me or fight with me and then just kill me
We can either enjoy each other's company or argue, but please don't just pretend to like me.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.