1. Billy Pilgrim (also bi… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists named Billy Pilgrim;
1. Billy Pilgrim (also billy pilgrim) is an American folk-rock duo based in Atlanta, Georgia, consisting of Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush. The band's name was taken from the time-traveling protagonist of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse Five. The name was adopted in 1994; before that the duo simply billed itself as Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush.
Kristian Bush and Andrew Hyra first began working together in 1990. After performing together for about a year they started recording their songs to tape. The self-release St. Christopher's Crossing was recorded in two days in a studio in Knoxville and appeared in 1991[2] (credited to "Andrew Hyra & Kristian Bush") on cassette. The album was released on CD in 1992 when Amy Ray of Indigo Girls helped them with the release costs. Playing hundreds of shows in the Southwest their effort was noticed and they proceeded to record their second album Words Like Numbers under the indie label Sister Ruby. After this they signed to Atlantic Records, naming the group "Billy Pilgrim". [3]
In 1993 Billy Pilgrim recorded their debut album at Nickel and Dime Studios with Don McCollister producing and Hugh Padgham mixing the record. The eponymous album was a moderate success when released in 1994. With the next album, Bloom, the band launched a fall tour, headlining larger venues than they had in the past. Yet in early 1996, the band was dropped by Atlantic. After releasing several albums thru Internet only, the album In the Time Machine became their last effort to date, released on May 12, 2001.[1] Billy Pilgrim released their most recent album in 2021.
2. Billy Pilgrim was the pseudonym used by itsu jitsu netlabel curator Jason Kavanagh between August 1999 and March 2001, all of the Billy Pilgrim material was written and recorded in St. Andrews, Scotland.
In his time as Billy Pilgrim, Jason recorded three albums of electronic music and a handful of 'various artist' compilation exclusive tracks before holstering his sampler and hanging up his patch cords for nearly ten years. In late 2009 he re-emerged from his non-music making slumber as awaycaboose (experimental, ambient, field recording) and Cavity Pitch (noise, harsh noise, power electronics).
Somewhat bizarrely he also took his moniker from the anti-hero of Kurt Vonnegut's seminal novel Slaughterhouse 5, just like the guys above.
I Don't Know Much
Billy Pilgrim Lyrics
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Stuffing them in my jeans
It's old habit, anyways
I don't know what that means
Oh the teachers think there's a problem
Is there something wrong at home?
I made it up that Mama was drunk
Oh but I don't much, anyways
I don't know much, anyways
I don't know much, anyways at all
Billy comes over on Tuesdays
We play video games
And we take turns lying 'bout whose been trying to
Marry our mamas and change our names
Well the doctors think there's a problem
Is there something wrong inside?
Of course there is everyone's got
Some kind of scar to hide
Oh but I don't much, anyways
I don't know much, anyways
I don't know much, anyways at all
The opening lines of Billy Pilgrim's "I Don't Know Much" tell a relatable story of a child's habit of picking up stones and stuffing them in their pockets unknowingly that they are constantly developing a problem-solving approach. But the child is clueless about what it could mean. The lyrics go on to describe how teachers and doctors have questioned the singer's behavior and mental state, but the singer has created false stories and defense mechanisms to protect themselves from scrutiny.
The second verse takes a different turn, with Billy Pilgrim discussing the innocent and imaginative bond of friendship, as two kids engage in video games and telling tall tales about marrying their mothers and changing their own names. However, as with the first verse, the theme of hiding or masking is ever-present, with doctors suspecting something is amiss inside.
Overall, the lyrics seem to be telling a story of a protagonist who is grappling with their complicated inner world, attempting to navigate childhood and adulthood without the tools or resources to fully understand themselves. The singer is struggling to make sense of their environment, often feeling misunderstood or abnormal, but ultimately disconnecting from this reality by creating their own narratives and worlds to live in.
Line by Line Meaning
Picking up stones on Saturdays
On Saturdays, I have a habit of collecting stones and storing them in my jeans.
Stuffing them in my jeans
I put the stones in my jeans' pockets to keep them safe.
It's old habit, anyways
This behavior is not new; I have been doing it for a long time.
I don't know what that means
I do not understand the reason for my actions.
Oh the teachers think there's a problem
The teachers suspect that something is wrong with me.
Is there something wrong at home?
They imagine that my home life may be troubled.
I made it up that Mama was drunk
I fabricated a story that my mother was an alcoholic, so that the teachers would stop questioning me.
Just so they'd leave me alone
I wanted them to stop asking me about my behavior and home life so that I could be left alone.
Oh but I don't know much, anyways
Regardless, I do not know much about myself or my actions.
I don't know much, anyways
There is so much I do not know about myself and the world around me.
I don't know much, anyways at all
I am woefully ignorant of the complexities of life.
Billy comes over on Tuesdays
My friend Billy visits me on Tuesdays.
We play video games
We enjoy playing video games together.
And we take turns lying 'bout whose been trying to
We pretend that someone is attempting to marry our mothers and rename us, taking turns making up stories.
Marry our mamas and change our names
We imagine that our mothers may want to remarry and give us new names, which we find both amusing and alarming.
Well the doctors think there's a problem
Doctors suspect that there may be something wrong with my mental health.
Is there something wrong inside?
They believe that there may be something wrong with my mind or body.
Of course there is everyone's got
Certainly, every person has issues or struggles in their life.
Some kind of scar to hide
People try to conceal their emotional or physical wounds with various coping mechanisms.
Oh but I don't much, anyways
Despite this reality, I still do not know much about my own struggles or the world around me.
I don't know much, anyways
I am often ignorant or apathetic about life.
I don't know much, anyways at all
I have a lot to learn and understand about myself and the broader world.
Writer(s): Andrew Hyra, Kristian M Bush
Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.