Former Treepeople frontman Doug Martsch formed Built to Spill in 1992 with Brett Netson and Ralf Youtz as the band's original members. In an interview with Spin magazine, Martsch stated that he intended to change the band's lineup for every album, with Martsch being the only permanent member. After the band's first album, Ultimate Alternative Wavers (1993), the lineup changing idea held true, as both Netson and Youtz were replaced by Brett Nelson (not Netson) and Andy Capps for 1994's There's Nothing Wrong With Love. A compilation album called The Normal Years, consisting of recordings by both the first and second trios, was released in 1996. Between recording albums in 1995, the band gained notoriety by playing on the Lollapalooza tour.
Martsch signed Built To Spill to the Warner Brothers label in 1995. Unlike many artists signed to major labels, however, the deal the band brokered with Warner allowed it to retain a large degree of creative control over future albums. Built to Spill produced its first major label release in 1997 with Perfect From Now On. By this time, the band consisted of Martsch, Nelson, Netson, and Scott Plouf. Perfect From Now On met with critical success and caused Built To Spill to become one of the United States' most recognizable indie rock bands. Before releasing another album, Martsch made Nelson and Plouf permanent members of the band. In 1999, the band released Keep It Like a Secret to continued critical success, and for the first time, significant commercial success. In response to fan requests, the Live album was released in 2000. The band's fifth studio album, Ancient Melodies of the Future, was released in 2001. Martsch also released Now You Know, a solo album with both blues and folk elements, in 2002. After 2002, Warner Bros. records signed the band to another album.
Built To Spill did not tour as a band in 2002 although Doug Martsch performed numerous solo concerts in support of his solo album. From 2003 to 2005, Built To Spill toured extensively with over 150 live performances, playing new songs live as early as 2004. In 2004, the band confirmed rumors that they had recorded another studio album in Portland, OR, titled You In Reverse. The album was not released in 2005 due to difficulties associated with the use of a new recording facility, inefficiencies associated with self-producing the album and time constraints. You In Reverse, the first studio album in five years, was released on April 11, 2006. The band's official lineup for the album featured Martsch, Nelson, Plouf, and Jim Roth, who was formerly a touring guitarist only. Former band member Brett Netson provided guitar work on several songs, Quasi's Sam Coomes provided keyboard work and Steve Lobdell, the owner of the Portland studio, plays on almost every song for the album including guitar, piano, vibes and percussion. Netson rejoined Built To Spill as an official member in 2006 after touring with the band in 2005.
The band announced an April/May 2006 tour in February 2006 in support of the new album. In late March 2006, however, frontman Doug Martsch suffered a detached retina that required surgery, causing the band to cancel its appearance at the South by Southwest music festival and postpone several of their tour dates. The band rescheduled the April and May tour dates in the fall, but most June dates on the West were not postponed. At their June 3, 2006 show, their first of the 2006 tour, Built to Spill played four unreleased songs that were not included on You In Reverse. This show also included the dedication of the song "Car" to former band member Andy Capps who had passed away a few weeks earlier that would continue throughout the tour.
In July 2007, Built To Spill released a new 12" vinyl single with two reggae-esque tracks, "They Got Away" and "Re-Arrange". According to Doug Martsch, BTS is not becoming a reggae band, they just "love to play it".
In 2009 Nelson replayed and recorded one song off of each full length Built To Spill album in ""New Wave circa 1982" style with analogue synthesizers and a drum machine having Martsch resing all of the songs and released it July 2010 through CDBABY,Itunes and Junketboy as The Electronic Anthology Project.Nelson's son (Nicholas) did the art/layout with the titles reworked as anagrams by his wife (Stephanie) he plans on future projects under the same moniker redoing other bands music.
Doug Martsch and original BTS drummer Ralf Youtz are also founding members of the much-loved, but short-lived, band the Halo Benders, with Calvin Johnson.
Youtz and Martsch are also brothers-in-law. (Martsch is married to Youtz's sister).
Ralf Youtz was leader of the Portland, Oregon band Ape Shape. He went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics.
Bret Netson is leader of the influential art/metal Boise band Caustic Resin, which put out a split 10" with BTS in 1995. That album has two different cover photos because a found photo was used without permission for the original version, but the photographer later found out and objected.
Goin' Against Your Mind
Built to Spill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What it takes to outta be a man
I don't care much for that
I don't know why
Just a fight or just a waste of time
Higher queens that no one wants to find
I don't know much of that
I don't care why
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
When I was a kid I saw a light
Floating high above the trees one night
Thought ‘twas an alien
Turned out to be just god
If you're not sure who not to believe
Who has better reasons to deceive
Then they'll be glad'r
That's all they do
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
Goin' against your mind
And he was there
No he was there
The lyrics to "Goin' Against Your Mind" by Built to Spill are a powerful commentary on the pressures that society places on individuals to conform to certain expectations, particularly when it comes to gender roles and beliefs. The first verse alludes to the idea that people often judge others based on their perceived masculinity or femininity, which can be frustrating for those who don't ascribe to rigid gender norms. The line "What it takes to outta be a man" suggests that society has a specific definition of what it means to be male, and anyone who doesn't fit that mold is somehow inadequate. The singer, however, rejects this notion, stating "I don't care much for that / I don't know why." It seems that he doesn't feel the need to conform to societal expectations of masculinity, and perhaps doesn't even understand why it's such a big deal in the first place.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase "Goin' against your mind" multiple times, suggests that the singer is actively defying expectations and going against the grain. This sentiment is further highlighted in the second verse when the singer recounts seeing a "light" as a child and initially believing it to be an alien before realizing it was "just god." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the way society often presents us with false dichotomies or binary choices, making it difficult to know what to believe or who to trust. The line "If you're not sure who not to believe / Who has better reasons to deceive" suggests that it can be challenging to discern the truth when there are so many conflicting messages being thrown your way. The singer, however, seems unfazed by this, stating "Goin' against your mind" once again.
Overall, "Goin' Against Your Mind" is a powerful anthem for anyone who has ever felt pressured to conform to societal expectations. The lyrics encourage listeners to think critically, question authority, and blaze their own trails, even if that means going against the grain.
Line by Line Meaning
People think when you don't understand
People assume that if you don't comprehend something, that means you are not a real man
What it takes to outta be a man
The expectations of what one has to do or be to qualify as a real man
I don't care much for that
The singer is indifferent to society's view of what constitutes a man
I don't know why
The singer can't explain why he's not bothered by social norms surrounding masculinity
Just a fight or just a waste of time
The singer believes that fighting or argumentation is often pointless and futile
Higher queens that no one wants to find
Powerful people that are not necessarily worthy of adoration or respect
Goin' against your mind
The title line of the song, which represents the idea of resisting societal and personal pressure
When I was a kid I saw a light
A personal anecdote from the singer's past about seeing something strange and unexplained
Floating high above the trees one night
The singer describes the nature and location of the strange light he saw as a child
Thought ‘twas an alien
The singer originally believed the unexplained light he saw was an extraterrestrial spacecraft
Turned out to be just god
The singer reveals that the strange light he saw was just an act of nature or possibly related to religion
If you're not sure who not to believe
The singer suggests that it can be challenging to determine which sources of information and opinion are trustworthy
Who has better reasons to deceive
The singer implies that people sometimes lie or deceive for no clear reason or justification
Then they'll be glad'r
Liars and manipulators often enjoy deceiving others and may take pleasure in pulling the wool over others' eyes.
And he was there
A cryptic repetition of the song's title line that suggests the singer has found personal clarity and resolve in going against his mind.
No he was there
A repeated variation on the previous line, further underscoring the idea of finding inner strength through challenging one's own thoughts and beliefs.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kylebroussard5952
This song is right up there with Dramamine by Modest Mouse as one of my favorite melodies in a rock/indie song. Just pure beauty. Feels timeless.
The part at the end really gets me...
"When I was a kid I saw a light... Floating high above the trees one night /
Thought it was an alien, turned out to be just God... /
And no one was there, but he was there..."
It wraps the whole idea of the song together. He cares not about what people say. He cares not about the fighting and proving he's a man. He knows he's a man, and that makes him very small.
Like the melody, lost in time, searching for meaning. But no one is there, no one will stop to look at the light and enjoy it and respect it with him with childish curiosity, they'd rather fight over their own impermanence to prove themselves to one another.
In essence, to truly be a man, like they claim he does not know how to do, you must observe and understand how small you are, and respect that there is a higher power we could never understand. That's why he cares not about what they claim, because he knows they are lost without a light to guide them.
@mvitellaro3322
I was right there next to you!
There is something about Lolla which makes bands bring out their best ....
The backdrop of the Chicago skyline and fans like yourself make the experience second to none....bands like built to spill, alkaline trio , NOFX, raygun , Front242, and pegboy died with my childhood......
It was a beautiful time when music was raw.....going to a show at some small divebar in Chicago is something which will never be duplicated.
We were lucky enough to see something no one will ever be able to recreate.
With music now consisting of a guy with a mouse Helmut pressing buttons and waving his hands in the air is nothing short of embarrassing imo.
Give me one of those beat machines and a chorus of "is this this real life, stab me in the chest" 359x .. ...
Oh, I almost forgot. ... I need a video screen behind me flashing occult illuminati symbols as well so the kids on Molly and MDMA can get their minds blown as without them you would be shaking your head in disbelief how ridiculous it was to spend $100 ticket, $75 molly, $48 bottled water and $8,683.22 emergency room visit due to security pulling you out of the porta john trying to hide from the imaginary demon chasing you.
@bangarang74
been hooked since i was 16. I'm 33 now. Lied to my parents and drove 8 hours to see these guys back in high school. Got away with it!
@MothmanBaddie
bangarang74 worth it!
@harryt92
Fuck yeah, where did you see them?
@saberdogface
You, young man, are going places!
@mathewmacha
Im telling
@Jay369
I hope your parents knew but said nothing as they were and still are fans.
@nolimit6377
I'm listening to this band for the first time right now. Wow.
@Mario89778
Built To Spill and Modest Mouse are fantastic. I'll never let their albums go.
@jasminbesic7266
Skateboarding movies, 2000s, miss those simpler times. This brings me back.
@lucyy4145
This song has been on repeat for me for the past year and I’m still not tired of it. The intro will always be my favorite part.