The music is a mix of intimate melodic personal songs about death, life and faith. The music is inspired by bands like Pedro the Lion, Low and Red House Painters. Sometimes they sound like Sixteen Horsepower, a band they have toured with.
In 2002 their debut album was released, called Zalig zijn de armen van geest (Blessed are the Poor in Spirit). In 2003 the ep If You Spoke To Me came out, while it was actually recorded before their debut. In 2004 they released a concept album about the disaster of the sinking Estonia in the Baltic Sea in 1994. The album is called The Silja Symphony, after the ferryboat that first arrived at the place of the disaster and saved the lifes of many. Also in 2004, they recorded a live album and a dvd, called The Sound of Someone Watching Me. In 2005 De geluiden van weleer (The Sounds of Bygone Times) came out, with lyrics in Dutch that could have been written in the fifties. The cd is packed in a book with lyrics and paintings. In march 2007 a remix album was released, called Leaves you puzzled. The special edition package contains a puzzle. The album features remixes of ATCOED-songs by Hood, Styrofoam, Solex, Sylvain Chauveau, Dialect, Spinvis, The Dead Texan, Diefenbach, Kettel, Wixel, Marshall Watson, Stafraenn Hakon, 01:00 am, Mormo, Hillmadelow and Donato Wharton. The latest album of ATCOED is called ' troostprijs'. While the title is in dutch, the lyrics are in english. It features a greater variety of instruments, like banjo, wurlitzer and flutes, than the other albums.
ATCOED is also known by their covers of 'Under the Milky' by The Church and 'Bang' by Doe Maar. On De geluiden van weleer, Spinvis sings with Spinvis on the song 'Het hellend vlak'.
Minco has also played in Rollercoaster23, The Spirit That Guides Us and has his personal project, called ME (Minco Eggersman). He works also as a producer for some bands.
Axel has also played in The Spirit That Guides Us and still plays in This Beautiful Mess and Rowing On The Lakes Of Canada. He also works as a producer for other bands, like Brown Feather Sparrow.
Tommy
At The Close Of Every Day Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've probably forgotten me and how you taught me your words so fine
Home sweet home was on your lap, something you wouldn't understand
The shows we did near or for - we drove the globe in your red car
It's needless to say I'm on my own
Since you've got nothing for me to say
But still not thrown away
The times of fame and fortune all have passed or at least I wish
Setting your friend aside while I sek aside your teddybear
It's needless to say I'm on my own
Since you've got nothing for me to say
I was your best friend in the 90'ies
But still not thrown away
But I'm brobably your favorite so I'll keep smiling
For all I can do is put on a happy face
It's needless to say I'm on my own
Since you've got nothing for me to say
I was your best friend in the 90'ies
But still not thrown away
The song "Tommy" by At The Close Of Every Day is a poignant reflection on a relationship between a musician and their instrument. The lyrics describe a guitar, which has been neglected and forgotten in a wardrobe since 1999, when the musician last played it. Despite this abandonment, the guitar still remembers the musician's "words so fine" and the many gigs they played together around the world. The guitar laments being set aside for the musician's teddy bear and left to collect dust, but still holds onto a hope that it was the musician's favorite and will someday be played again. The guitar ends the song with a bittersweet resolution, acknowledging that it is "on its own" but attempting to put on a happy face.
The lyrics of "Tommy" are rich with metaphors and allegory, speaking to the universal human experience of attachment and abandonment. The guitar represents more than just an object, but a relationship and partnership between the musician and their craft. The guitar's personification and pleading tone are reminiscent of a jilted lover, amplifying the power of this metaphor. The song also touches on broader themes of nostalgia and aging, as the guitar reflects on the glory days of touring and fame in the 90s that have since passed.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely in your wardrobe, hanging there since '99
I have been forgotten and left alone in your wardrobe since 1999.
You've probably forgotten me and how you taught me your words so fine
You have likely forgotten about me and how you taught me to sing your beautiful lyrics.
Home sweet home was on your lap, something you wouldn't understand
I used to be your comforting companion, something you no longer appreciate or understand.
The shows we did near or for - we drove the globe in your red car
We traveled the world together, performing shows and taking adventures in your trusty red car.
It's needless to say I'm on my own
It's obvious that I am alone without you.
Since you've got nothing for me to say
You have nothing left to say to me or do for me.
I was your best friend in the 90'ies
I used to be your closest friend and companion in the 1990s.
But still not thrown away
However, I have not been thrown away or discarded by you.
The times of fame and fortune all have passed or at least I wish
The times of fame and fortune have passed, or maybe I just wish they had.
Setting your friend aside while I sek aside your teddybear
You have set me aside, just as you have put your childhood teddy bear away.
But I'm brobably your favorite so I'll keep smiling
Despite being set aside, I believe I am still your favorite, so I will continue to smile.
For all I can do is put on a happy face
Because all I can do is pretend to be happy and hope to be loved once again.
Contributed by Mackenzie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.