Joining lyrics dealing with loss, disappointment and regret with anatomically correct indie pop melodies, the music reflects some of Chesser's influences, who include Robyn Hitchcock, Pixies, Sebadoh, the Beach Boys, Superchunk and the Boo Radleys. Early feedback is that the sound is not unlike REM in some parallel universe, so band members have been told. It's Plain is receiving rave reviews ("...The guitar work and harmonies are beautifully composed and performed..." - Powerpopaholic.com), and is getting airplay as well (93.7 WSTW, Wilmington, DE; XM Radio, and others).
As of early 2009, Chesser has composed material for a second release with the help of his new bandmates and is currently shopping for a studio for the project. The band expects the release to hit store shelves by the end of this year.
Instrumentation
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Steve Chesser, guitar, vocals.
Shawn O'Neill, lead guitar.
Tim Gove, bass backing vocals.
Phil Young, drums, backing vocals.
Discography
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Album: It's Plain, released in summer 2008.
I Want to Know
Bos Taurus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I saw you on the street some day.
Wonder what question you would want to ask of me.
Would I be asleep or would I be awake?
I want to know where we would be
In this made up, would-be fantasy.
Wonder what possessed me, for what reason did I make
Left my hands forever tied?
I want to know who to portray
In this bloody, four-act tragedy.
Wonder what actor you would want to see me play.
Would I steal my scenes or would I
Die on the stage, amid the lights and you…
In the scene of when
I let you down and…we’re through…
This sight, a once unseen event
I've done it again my friends
Right, that's just how life has been…so it seems...
I hope to see you again some day
So you can show me which direction I should take.
Wonder what destiny that you would make believe.
Would I be at sea or would I be on a lake, no land for miles.
And then how dry my pen
In a sea of ink and you?
In "I Want to Know" by Bos Taurus, the singer expresses a desire for answers to questions that have been plaguing them since a past relationship ended. The lyrics suggest a feeling of remorse and a longing to connect with their former partner once again. The first verse asks what the partner might say if they were to meet again after some time has passed. The singer wonders if they would be awake or asleep, suggesting a feeling of numbness or disorientation about the situation. The second verse delves deeper into the relationship, questioning where they might be if things had gone differently. The singer wonders if they made a mistake and should have lied or acted differently in order to save the relationship. The third verse introduces a sense of drama, asking who the singer would be portraying in this tragic play of their life. Would they be a star, or would they fumble and fail? The final lines suggest a feeling of being lost and overwhelmed - their pen feeling dry in a sea of ink - still searching for answers.
Overall, the song seems to be about the difficulty of letting go of a past relationship and the deep longing for closure or a chance to start anew. The repeated phrase "I want to know" emphasizes this feeling of uncertainty and the need for answers. The metaphor of a play or fantasy world adds to the sense of distance from the real world and the hope for a better outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to know what you would say
I am curious about what you would say to me if we meet on the street
If I saw you on the street some day.
I am wondering what would happen if I ever encounter you on a street by chance.
Wonder what question you would want to ask of me.
I am eager to know about the question you may want to ask me.
Would I be asleep or would I be awake?
I am not sure if I will be ready to face the situation or not.
I want to know where we would be
I am curious about where we would stand in an imaginary world.
In this made up, would-be fantasy.
I am referring to an imagined world or an illusion.
Wonder what possessed me, for what reason did I make
I am trying to understand why I made the decision that led to the current imaginary world.
Such a grave mistake? Should I have lied,
I am questioning whether I should have made a different choice to avoid this situation.
Left my hands forever tied?
I wonder if I have closed all my options by making this decision.
I want to know who to portray
I am curious about whom should I play in this play.
In this bloody, four-act tragedy.
I am describing this play as a four-act tragedy full of violence.
Wonder what actor you would want to see me play.
I am wondering which character should I perform to satisfy you.
Would I steal my scenes or would I
I am questioning whether I will perform exceptionally or not.
Die on the stage, amid the lights and you...
I am frightened to embarrass myself in front of you and the viewers.
In the scene of when
I am describing a particular moment on stage.
I let you down and...we’re through...
I am referring to a scene where I let you down, and our relationship is over.
This sight, a once unseen event
I am talking about an event I had never seen before.
I've done it again my friends
I have made the same mistake yet again, as my friends know.
Right, that's just how life has been…so it seems...
I have come to accept this is how life goes.
I hope to see you again some day
I still have hope to see you again one day.
So you can show me which direction I should take.
I want you to direct me to the right path.
Wonder what destiny that you would make believe.
I am curious about the fictitious destiny you would conjure up for me.
Would I be at sea or would I be on a lake, no land for miles.
I wonder if I will be lost and alone in a massive water body with no sight of land.
And then how dry my pen
I am worried that my pen will run dry as I face this turbulent sea.
In a sea of ink and you?
I am uncertain how to express myself when I see you amidst the chaos.
Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.