A t… Read Full Bio ↴Bad Books, simply put, is Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra.
A true accident if there ever was one; Bad Books was never an intended nor calculated side project of Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull. Though the two musicians have collaborated and performed together on tour and within the Favorite Gentlemen community of artists for years now, the genesis of Bad Books came from a simple idea to fill space and time off the road by collaborating on a small batch of songs together at the top of the year. With no agenda and no expectations, what was birthed just one week later was Bad Books, a fully realized album encompassing five compositions each from both Devine and Hull, with the members of Manchester Orchestra filling out the sound and the band. The self-titled debut will be released October 19th, 2010 via Favorite Gentlemen Recordings, the record label that was founded and has been run by Manchester Orchestra since 2007.
As songwriters go, Hull and Devine could not be further apart in terms of creative approach. The methodical wordsmith Devine, an English major from Fordham, is known to pine away for great lengths of time just to accurately pin-point one word within a lyric. “I was doing a take of ‘You’re A Mirror I Cannot Avoid’ and stopped myself for fifteen minutes because I was having trouble justifying ending two lines in the same chorus with the word ‘back.’ Just sitting there, staring at the screen, writing different word choices. I asked Andy if he thought it mattered, and he said, ‘Of course it doesn’t.’ Somewhere in that exchange is I think what differentiates us as songwriters. I think Andy trusts his instincts to lead him to the right place in a song, and sometimes I want to outthink my instincts because I’m scared of repeating myself, of resting on my laurels. And I think together, those two approaches meshed really, really well,” Devine said.
Hull echoes that sentiment: “Kevin is very meticulous, where I came in with a few ideas and fleshed them out literally as we were recording. Kevin’s songs were awesome and he was cool enough for me to throw in some ideas to change a part or add a bridge here or there.”
In contrast to previous outputs from Manchester Orchestra and Devine, Bad Books cradles a much more noticeable pop aesthetic and energy than either artist has probably ever showcased before. Nowhere is this more evident than in songs like “You Wouldn’t Have To Ask” and “Holding Down the Laughter”.
Engineered by Robert McDowell (of Manchester Orchestra) with help from drummer Ben Homola, and mixed by Chris Bracco (of Devine’s ‘Goddamn Band’), Bad Books progressed in the most organic and natural way possible. Free from any boundaries or restrictions, Devine and Hull were able to craft a beautiful body of melodies, highlighting arcs of high and low throughout, and utilizing the stark imagery and storytelling for which both of them are known. “There was no governing framework,” Devine says: “No, ‘let’s write these kind of songs and say these kind of things’. We just wrote, arranged and played each song to its end, followed where it led, and I think it brought us both to some pretty unexpected places.”
For Devine, Hull, and the rest of Manchester Orchestra, choosing the direction of the road less travelled resulted in sonic harmonies and woven textures that meshed what these best friends do best. Some accidents were just meant to be.
Pyotr
Bad Books Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel each single thrust that you take
And in silence I watch on from the bastion
Entranced, I make myself look away
And bare breasted making love in the turret
I've never loved nobody other than you
And in silence, I can feel that you quiver
Keep quiet or you know what he will do
I know you think that I am some kind of fool
And I know you would gaze in his eyes forever
I've figured out just how to give that to you
When he found us in the western wing sleeping
You cried at all the things you thought he would do
And I tell you in the heat of the scuffle
Nobody ever takes my eyes off of you
And you know Katherine how you run me my fever
Oh Katherine, tell me was it worth it for him?
These gallows are no place for the stubborn
Just you and your lover as a dark souvenir
She sees me on display inside the museum
Comes every morning and again when she can
Strokes her blistered hand across my glass container
Says its so good to see you back here again
The lyrics to Bad Books' song Pyotr paint a vivid image of a forbidden love affair taking place in a castle. The lyrics are told from the perspective of someone who is watching this affair take place from a distance, perhaps from a nearby tower. The first few lines describe the physical act of making love in the turret: "Bare breasted, you make love in the turret, I feel each single thrust that you take." The singer is entranced by this sight, but also feels conflicted, as they know they are not the one their lover desires.
The second verse reveals more about the dynamics of the affair. The lover is worried about getting caught and tells the singer to keep quiet. When the lover's partner does catch them in the act, the lover is terrified of what they might do. The singer reassures them that they will protect them: "When he found us in the western wing sleeping, you cried at all the things you thought he would do. And I tell you in the heat of the scuffle, nobody ever takes my eyes off of you." However, the singer knows that their lover is not truly in love with them and longs for their true desire: "And I know you would gaze in his eyes forever, I've figured out just how to give that to you."
The final verse takes a surprising turn, introducing a new character - someone who comes to visit the castle every morning to see the singer, who is now on display in a glass container inside a museum. This person strokes their blistered hand across the glass and says "it's so good to see you back here again." It's unclear who this person is, and what the significance of the display is, but it adds an eerie and mysterious dimension to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Bare breasted, you make love in the turret
You are engaged in a sexual activity in a high point of the castle without covering your breasts
I feel each single thrust that you take
I am aware of every movement you make while having sex
And in silence I watch on from the bastion
I observe the activity secretly and quietly from a defense tower
Entranced, I make myself look away
I force myself to divert my gaze despite being captivated by the scene
And bare breasted making love in the turret
You repeatedly show your bare chest while having sex
I've never loved nobody other than you
I have never loved anybody else but you
And in silence, I can feel that you quiver
I sense that you tremble while trying to stay quiet
Keep quiet or you know what he will do
If you make noise, you are aware of the consequences he will inflict
And I know I am not the man you desire
I acknowledge that I am not the man you really want
I know you think that I am some kind of fool
I am aware that you regard me as foolish
And I know you would gaze in his eyes forever
I understand that you could stare at him endlessly with admiration
I've figured out just how to give that to you
I have learned how to provide what you are really searching for
When he found us in the western wing sleeping
When he discovered us sleeping in the area located in the west of the castle
You cried at all the things you thought he would do
You shed tears imagining the torments you believed he would inflict
And I tell you in the heat of the scuffle
During a fight, I assure you fervently
Nobody ever takes my eyes off of you
I never lose sight of you
And you know Katherine how you run me my fever
You know how much you drive me crazy, Katherine
Oh Katherine, tell me was it worth it for him?
Katherine, was it truly worthwhile for him?
These gallows are no place for the stubborn
This place where death by hanging occurs is not suitable for people who resist
Just you and your lover as a dark souvenir
Only you and your partner will remain as sinister memories
She sees me on display inside the museum
She observes me being exhibited in the museum
Comes every morning and again when she can
She visits every day, and whenever possible
Strokes her blistered hand across my glass container
She caresses the glass recipient containing me, even though it has given her blisters
Says its so good to see you back here again
She remarks how pleasant it is to see me on display again
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alexl.9602
I wish there were more songs with this exact sound. no extra beats just...this.
@uglyfromwithin
I could just listen to Andy sing all day. His voice is just pure magic, and his just does all the right things with his songs. Lyrical genius just like Conor Oberst!
@ericfoster5593
I got to see them on the tour for this album with the front bottoms and weatherbox. Top 5 best shows I’ve ever seen.
@MohsenDhafer
هذه الاغنية من المفضلات لدي، القصة، العواقب، الحوار، اللحن، النبرة... مرت سنين واشوفني ازور هنا
@caseyhardiman6847
I am still here, too. Cheers, mate ❤️
@GiantsFan660
As a history nerd, I love this song.
@Capn_Jack
Same
@alexvanwallaghen6324
Really need more songs like this. The guitar and vocals is enough. This and "Back Of Your Old Church" are insane.
@sntjana9348
I may have been five years late to this, but the emotion behind this song scares me. That desolate feeling, the sound of a lonely electric guitar and ragged voice that sounds a bit on the edge of tears. Brought me back to the first time I heard Bon Iver, Keaton Henson, etc.
@rennamix
I discovered Bad Books before Manchester Orchestra. Recognized Andy’s voice immediately! Pyotr is my absolute favorite song and to know it’s inspired from history of man. Wow!