Avey Tare met Animal Collective's Deakin (Josh Dibb), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), and Geologist (Brian Weitz) in high school. For years, the four of them swapped homemade recordings, shared musical ideas and performed in different group configurations. Avey Tare recorded the Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished album with Panda Bear, and initially released the recording on the band's own Animal label in 2000.
After high school, Avey Tare and Geologist moved to New York City to attend NYU and Columbia University, respectively. Panda Bear and Deakin had eventually moved to NYC, and the band started to become more collaborative in nature. They finally settled on the name "Animal Collective".
Avery Tare released his first proper solo album, Down There, on October 25, 2010. Eucalyptus followed in July 2017, with the Essence of Eucalyptus EP, featuring remixes from various Animal Collective members, coming the year after. March 2019 brought Cows on Hourglass Pond, his most recent solo venture to date.
Avey Tare's other projects and releases include Terrestrial Tones with Eric Copeland of Black Dice, a split 12" with David Grubbs, an LP with his exwife (ex-Múm) Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir (aka Kría Brekkan) called Pullhair Rubeye, and Avery Tare’s Slasher Flicks with ex-Dirty Projectors member Angel Deradoorian and ex-Ponytail drummer Jeremy Hyman.
Nostalgia in Lemonade
Avey Tare Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In absence of the shade
It tangles spines like buried pines
A sweat-line on parade
On a blanket made with parches that describe the zodiac
With a Norman Rockwell smile and some flarey summer flats
In a court when rubber balls bounce high above the baseball hats
I am running from my notes
My only lemonade
I'm driving in a snowy race
Your sunny dates I chased
Your couple with some twisted straws
There's gonna be some spills
And the ice that you chase after is the last thing in the glass
And the ritual of longing for a thing that doesn't last
Now I'm losing all my focus when my soul goes in the grass
I am one too many close
My only lemonade
My only lemonade
My only lemonade
My only lemonade
My only lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade
The lyrics to Avey Tare's song "Nostalgia in Lemonade" explore themes of longing, memory, and the transient nature of happiness. The opening lines describe a "sweetheart drinking lemonade," symbolizing a simple and innocent pleasure. However, this enjoyment is marred by the absence of shade, suggesting a lack of protection or comfort. The image of "tangles spines like buried pines" and a "sweat-line on parade" evoke a feeling of discomfort or unease beneath the surface.
The following lines introduce a blanket that describes the zodiac, highlighting the idea of nostalgia and the passing of time. The reference to a "Norman Rockwell smile" and "summer flats" invokes a sense of classic Americana and whimsy. However, the mention of a court and rubber balls bouncing above baseball hats introduces an element of escapism, perhaps implying a desire to evade responsibility or reality.
The second verse shifts the focus to a snowy race and the pursuit of sunny dates. The mention of "twisted straws" suggests a desire for connection or novelty, but also hints at the potential for mess and disappointment. The ice being the last thing in the glass symbolizes the fleeting nature of happiness, as well as the notion of grasping onto something that will soon melt away. The reference to losing focus and one's soul going in the grass suggests a loss of direction or purpose.
Overall, "Nostalgia in Lemonade" portrays a bittersweet longing for moments of joy and simplicity, but also acknowledges the impermanence and underlying unease that accompanies them.
Line by Line Meaning
A sweetheart drinking lemonade
A person, filled with affection, consuming a refreshing drink made from lemons
In absence of the shade
In the absence of refuge or protection
It tangles spines like buried pines
It entwines emotions, causing a mix of pain and memories like hidden pine trees
A sweat-line on parade
A visible mark of perspiration displayed openly
On a blanket made with parches that describe the zodiac
On a fabric embellished with patches showcasing the astrological signs
With a Norman Rockwell smile and some flarey summer flats
With a joyful and nostalgic expression, wearing vibrant flat shoes appropriate for summertime
In a court when rubber balls bounce high above the baseball hats
In a playground where bouncing rubber balls soar above the caps worn by baseball players
I am running from my notes
I am trying to escape from the reminders and records of my past experiences
My only lemonade
The sole source of comfort and relief I have
I'm driving in a snowy race
I am engaged in a fast-paced and challenging journey through snowy surroundings
Your sunny dates I chased
I pursued your joyful occasions and moments of happiness
Your couple with some twisted straws
You, as a pair, using unconventional straws for your drinks
There's gonna be some spills
Mistakes and mishaps are unavoidable
And the ice that you chase after is the last thing in the glass
The pursuit of excitement and freshness eventually leads to the depletion of resources and satisfaction
And the ritual of longing for a thing that doesn't last
The recurring habit of yearning for something temporary and ephemeral
Now I'm losing all my focus when my soul goes in the grass
Now my concentration is fading as my inner self becomes absorbed by the natural surroundings
I am one too many close
I am becoming overwhelmed and nearing my limit
Lemonade
The refreshing beverage made from lemons
Lemonade
The comforting and soothing elixir
Lemonade
The source of joy and nostalgia
Lemonade
The bittersweet reminder of fleeting experiences
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: David Michael Portner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind