Since Streetlight's inception, BOTAR has been on hiatus. Kalnoky has promised to release new music for both of his projects in 2006. Streetlight have often played the song "They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint On The Inside Of Your Eyelids" at their New Jersey shows.
From The Botar Website-
"BOTAR is about to start recording its first full length. The plan is to release it around the same time or slightly after Streetlight gets its record done. But we're dealing with you-know-who here so expect it sometime before the end of our current decade"
BOTAR's next album came out on 9/9/08 via the Streetlight Manifesto myspace:A few years ago, when BOTAR (Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution) released it's first (and so far only) record, there was a mention in the liner notes of a large project called "99 Songs of Revolution". This is a collection of 99 cover songs, spanning all kinds of genres, all kinds of artists. Now, a few years later, it's all going down. And here are the details. Some of them, at least.
The 99 Songs of Revolution Project will consist of 8 full length records. Two from SM, two from BOTAR, and two each from two other SM related groups. Yes, this is indeed the record that Victory mistakingly posted as coming out in Oct of 08. Not sure how they got that date, but it was never even a possibility. The first SM record for 99SOR will be out in early 2009, simultaneously with another of the 8 CDs (no, not the BOTAR one). Victory will be putting out the CDs and mp3s and Pentimento will be releasing and distributing the vinyl. We are aware of our reputation to take forever to release records and miss our self imposed deadlines, so we are not giving anyone solid dates, not even our labels. Early 09 release, that's it. We are, though, working hard on it. The demos are all but done and we head into the studio to begin tracking in October. Our upcoming tour schedule, as you know, is borderline impossible/insane, so cut us some slack.
This will be a nice way for us to get into the studio and put out some "new" music as well as tide you guys over until our next full length. It's been a project that's been on the back burner for too long, and it's time to do something about it. Stay tuned to this site as well as the Pentimento site for more info over the coming weeks. Also make sure to keep peeking in on our other sites, as we're in the middle of working on a few projects that have been dormant for way too long.
They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece T
Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They provide the paint for the picture perfect masterpiece that you will paint on the insides of your eyelids; can you possibly see anything you want to see? No (Hell No!) “There’s nothing wrong with the way I see” and he wanted to be a soldier in the next great war he wanted to kill and fight and maim but not be told what he was fighting for. And that’s the way it’s gonna have to be my friend, and that’s the way it’s gonna have to be my friend.
I passed a man on the corner in the city yesterday singing, “Yada yada yada and tomorrow it’ll end.” I never thought I’d live to see another sunny day but I’m here and I feel I'll be here until the end.
So watch your mouth, or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Hold your tongue, or you’re gonna catch a bullet in the head. Watch your mouth, or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Don’t die for anything less than the best of life.
The things he said went to your head, you never tried to understand: "What they take you will never take back, 'cause they take what they take when they can cause they can from you. You follow me and you follow me but you never ask why and I wonder what you’re under could this be another piece of the, “I don’t care I just do what they say because they say what to do in a matter-of-fact way.” Don’t stop because you might get burned and you might just learn to stand on your own two feet and I think that it’s neat how you learn to repeat everything that you hear in the street so well. [Learn to repeat everything that you hear so well 2x]
And everyone was resting because they thought it was the end and even if it wasn’t they decide they’d pretend and somewhere in the distance I could hear him whispering “You can fight all you want they will win in the end.”
Sometimes in the evening when I’m lying in my bed, I am taken to the forest to the isolated shed, and I wake with is words resonating in my head and I can’t stop thinking about the gist of what he said.
So watch your mouth, or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Hold your tongue or you’re gonna catch a bullet in the head. Watch your mouth or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Don’t die for anything less than the best of, everyone settles for the rest not the best of, I will die for no less than the best of life.
The lyrics of "They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece" by Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution are a reflection on the power structures that permeate society and the conformity and apathy that often result from it. The first stanza introduces a nameless man living in the woods who warns the singer of the dangers of speaking out, leading to feelings of powerlessness and uncertainty about the future. The chorus speaks to the idea that society feeds us illusions and preconceived notions about success and happiness without giving us the tools to achieve them. The line "don't die for anything less than the best of life" serves as a call to action, urging the listener to resist complacency and fight for what they truly believe in.
The following stanzas are full of imagery that emphasizes the themes of conformity and the struggle for individuality. The man on the corner singing "Yada yada yada" represents the masses who blindly follow a path without questioning where it leads, while the singer's visions of the isolated shed and the forest serve as a metaphor for the struggle for personal identity in the face of societal pressure. The final stanza is a warning against complacency and surrender, urging listeners to demand the best for themselves and not settle for anything less.
Overall, the song serves as a powerful expression of the importance of individuality and resistance in a society that often encourages conformity and uniformity.
Line by Line Meaning
There is a man with no face and a name I don’t remember always in the house in the middle of the woods and he said once “Son, don’t you laugh out loud for they are listening, oh, they are listening. Oh you’ve got to be strong, Oh, you’ve got to keep holding on. It’s now just a matter of time”
I had an encounter with a mysterious man who warned me to be careful with my actions because someone is always watching. He requested me to be resilient and steadfast in my doings as it is only a matter of time before everything falls into place.
They provide the paint for the picture perfect masterpiece that you will paint on the insides of your eyelids; can you possibly see anything you want to see? No (Hell No!) “There’s nothing wrong with the way I see” and he wanted to be a soldier in the next great war he wanted to kill and fight and maim but not be told what he was fighting for. And that’s the way it’s gonna have to be my friend, and that’s the way it’s gonna have to be my friend.
It is impossible to imagine perfection because everything has flaws. Refusing to acknowledge flaws in oneself is counterproductive. One's choices may lead them to be part of a questionable cause - this is often due to a lack of understanding or blindly following the crowd. Eventually, we all have to face the consequences of our decisions, and sometimes that may include fighting a war we do not fully understand.
I passed a man on the corner in the city yesterday singing, “Yada yada yada and tomorrow it’ll end.” I never thought I’d live to see another sunny day but I’m here and I feel I'll be here until the end.
I encountered a man in the city who sang of the repetitive nature of life and how every day is as important as the next. Although I did not think I would make it this far, I have become a survivor and plan to continue surviving until my time comes.
So watch your mouth, or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Hold your tongue, or you’re gonna catch a bullet in the head. Watch your mouth, or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Don’t die for anything less than the best of life.
It is important to be cautious with one's words and actions as they can have severe consequences. Speaking too much or too loudly can lead to deadly consequences. Life is too precious to waste on anything less than the best.
The things he said went to your head, you never tried to understand: "What they take you will never take back, 'cause they take what they take when they can cause they can from you. You follow me and you follow me but you never ask why and I wonder what you’re under could this be another piece of the, “I don’t care I just do what they say because they say what to do in a matter-of-fact way.” Don’t stop because you might get burned and you might just learn to stand on your own two feet and I think that it’s neat how you learn to repeat everything that you hear in the street so well. [Learn to repeat everything that you hear so well 2x]
Some people blindly follow without questioning - this can lead to being taken advantage of. It is important to remain vigilant and think for oneself to avoid getting burned. Repeating what is heard without understanding only leads to a superficial understanding of the situation.
And everyone was resting because they thought it was the end and even if it wasn’t they decide they’d pretend and somewhere in the distance I could hear him whispering “You can fight all you want they will win in the end.”
People often give up easily due to hopelessness - this can lead to accepting defeat without a fight. Even if it is not the end, people pretend it is, which only feeds into the false narrative of defeat. Despite the odds being against us, it is essential to continue fighting for what we believe in.
Sometimes in the evening when I’m lying in my bed, I am taken to the forest to the isolated shed, and I wake with his words resonating in my head and I can’t stop thinking about the gist of what he said.
I often think back to the words of the man in the forest as they continue to resonate with me. His message of caution and resilience has become something I hold dear and continue to think about.
Watch your mouth, or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Hold your tongue or you’re gonna catch a bullet in the head. Watch your mouth or you’re gonna make a grave mistake. Don’t die for anything less than the best of, everyone settles for the rest not the best of, I will die for no less than the best of life.
One's own life is too precious to waste on anything less than the best. It is important to be careful with one's words as they can lead to deadly consequences. Settling for the rest is not enough - we should aim for the best in every aspect of life.
Contributed by Jackson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.