Penny Dreadfuls
Avey Tare and Panda Bear Lyrics
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Slip through the dust
As the bus pulls away from waving hands
And the child star
“I bought a comic in the mail
And the sign said
The stories will shake the sheep
From off of you”
Just four more stops again
We'll reach our teachers
Hallways in the end
Expect the foulest 'cause
Doubt does not allow it
I see the driver in the glass
This car moving past
While they're standing
"There's no standing!"
The five-year olds eat defeat
Soiled in the seats when, "attention!"
And short attention spans
The boy who sweats when he's caught
Is touching a palm of a pretty sex
Who's cawing, "Where's my baby doll!"
Manny the thief, just lost all his teeth
To his mama, playing baseball
Ahh, oooh
Pick a place and settle
Too fast to fright, he pauses
At who fought the likes of
His older pal
And when they find out who he is
Her eyes were sorry for
Her brother who waited away "go time"
Her dead costume just flipped her for the fall
And watch the pain go through her
The entire body twisted
Soldiers in the coldness
The bully grabs at my hair
And punches they fell toward me
Tells me, "gonna get me now"
The driver pushes the gas
The bully's schemes caught fast
So he spins back
Got his attention now
He hits the brakes and we slide
And his head hits the side
And he screams out
“Creeps, I'll take you all!”
And then he grabs penny dreadful, and looks on the check fulls
And my head sinks, my friends have left my shore
Then there's the stop where Sarah climbs in, she says
“Darling, where's your heart been?
He laughs in his place
She spits in his face and says, “bully, you leave my boy alone!
Everybody came down just to see me leaving
Baby take my hand now can't you see I'm happy?
When the story's mine I think I'll tell it different
It's a shame to hear the sound
When the penny hit the ground
And I want to go back home
When does this bus leave?”
The song "Penny Dreadfuls" by Avey Tare and Panda Bear from their album "Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished" is a vivid portrayal of a chaotic, surreal bus ride. The lyrics describe various characters on the bus, from a child star to a thief to a bully. Time is mentioned as being constantly in motion, slipping through the dust as the bus pulls away from waving hands. The child star mentions buying a comic that promises to shake the sheep off of you, perhaps a reference to the power of stories to challenge and disrupt our preconceived notions. As the bus reaches its destination, the singer reflects on the pain and confusion that has been experienced by many of the passengers. However, there is also a sense of hopefulness, as Sarah offers to take the singer's hand and they contemplate a return home.
The lyrics of "Penny Dreadfuls" are filled with powerful imagery that creates a vivid picture of a scene that is chaotic and intense. The characters on the bus are all flawed in their own ways, which creates a sense of tension and unease throughout the song. However, despite the darkness and confusion, there is also a sense of connection between the characters, as they are all on this bus ride together. The themes of time, storytelling, and the struggle for connection and meaning are all central to the song's message.
Line by Line Meaning
Time'll change
Things will eventually change
Slip through the dust
Pass through life unnoticed
As the bus pulls away from waving hands
Moving away from people who care for you
And the child star
Reference to a celebrity who started young
“I bought a comic in the mail
A child buying something to escape reality
And the sign said
The product's advertisement said
The stories will shake the sheep
The stories will awaken the masses
From off of you”
From your slumber
So gather 'round
Come together
Just four more stops again
Four more destinations until their intended stop
We'll reach our teachers
Referencing the learning from the journey
Hallways in the end
When growing up
Expect the foulest 'cause
Be prepared for the worst outcomes
Doubt does not allow it
Uncertainty suppresses positive outcomes
I see the driver in the glass
Seeing the reflection of the driver
This car moving past
Continuing on the journey
While they're standing
Despite the warning of standing
"There's no standing!"
The driver warning against standing
The five-year olds eat defeat
Young children feeling defeated
Soiled in the seats when, "attention!"
The children making a mess getting caught
And short attention spans
Attention seeking behaviour
The boy who sweats when he's caught
Expressing the feeling of being caught and nervousness
Is touching a palm of a pretty sex
Touching a partner's hand to calm the nerves
Who's cawing, "Where's my baby doll!"
A mother wanting her child's toy
Manny the thief, just lost all his teeth
Manny got what he deserved
To his mama, playing baseball
Implying neglectful parenting
Pick a place and settle
Choosing a home
Too fast to fright, he pauses
Too scared to react in a dangerous situation
At who fought the likes of
Going against someone with upset history
His older pal
Close friend
And when they find out who he is
When identifying someone's true character
Her eyes were sorry for
Feeling bad for someone
Her brother who waited away "go time"
Her sibling who died
Her dead costume just flipped her for the fall
Thinking about past events
And watch the pain go through her
Seeing her sadness
The entire body twisted
Displaying physical anguish
Soldiers in the coldness
Bracing for harsh circumstances
The bully grabs at my hair
Being a victim of bullying
And punches they fell toward me
Getting physical with punches
Tells me, "gonna get me now"
Instilling fear
The driver pushes the gas
Trying to escape the bully
The bully's schemes caught fast
Caught off guard
So he spins back
Confronting the bully
Got his attention now
Making the bully aware
He hits the brakes and we slide
Sudden stop and the effect it had on the passengers
And his head hits the side
The effect of the sudden stop on the bully
And he screams out
Exhibiting frustration and pain
“Creeps, I'll take you all!”
Making threats to the people on the bus
And then he grabs penny dreadful, and looks on the check fulls
Looking at comics to distract him from pain
And my head sinks, my friends have left my shore
Feeling alone and lost
Then there's the stop where Sarah climbs in, she says
A new passenger boards
“Darling, where's your heart been?
Asking about feelings
He laughs in his place
Feeling uncomfortable and nervous
She spits in his face and says, “bully, you leave my boy alone!
Standing up for someone else
Everybody came down just to see me leaving
Fondly remembered by others
Baby take my hand now can't you see I'm happy?
Happiness of being with someone special
When the story's mine I think I'll tell it different
Changing the narrative in hindsight
It's a shame to hear the sound
Feeling remorse
When the penny hit the ground
The sound of something ending
And I want to go back home
The desire for familiarity
When does this bus leave?”
Wondering about the next step
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@superfieldtrip
i think i was in the perfect mood for this song. thanks avey tare and panda bear :]
@thetoyboytoy
thanks.....
@superfieldtrip
i think i was in the perfect mood for this song. thanks avey tare and panda bear :]
@thetoyboytoy
thanks.....