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.
liar
Built to Spill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
When things are all you think of
And plans are all you make
And thoughts are all you dream of
And falls are all you take
Relax, it isn't fair
Mother Nature's disposition
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
Passing over
Passions pour
Passing everything
I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
It takes up all of your life
These decisions you make
It takes up all of a day
Making them wrong
Well, outside on the patio
A piano's weeping too
Forget about it all for a little while
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I would only be a liar
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I would only be a liar
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor
The lyrics of Built to Spill's song "Liar" are an introspective reflection on the futility of obsessing over plans and thoughts, and the inevitability of life's ups and downs. The singer acknowledges that if he were to say that he's immune to these struggles, he would only be lying to himself and to others. The first verse sets the stage for the rest of the song, with the repetition of the line "I would only be a liar" emphasizing the importance of honesty.
The second verse delves deeper into the themes of the song, describing how the pressure of constantly making decisions and dealing with the consequences can consume a person's life. The line "Making them wrong" highlights the self-doubt and regret that can come with making mistakes. The chorus repeats the opening lines, driving home the message that pretending everything is okay is not only dishonest but also counterproductive.
The song takes a slightly more optimistic turn in the final verse, with the image of a weeping piano providing a moment of peace and escape from the chaos of the world. The repeated refrain of "She don't mind, she don't care" suggests that perhaps nature or a higher power is indifferent to our struggles and that we should let go of our worries and enjoy life's small pleasures. The final repetition of "You see, it seems minor to me" reinforces this idea, suggesting that our problems may not be as big as they seem.
Line by Line Meaning
I would only be a liar
I am being truthful
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I am not lying
I would only be a liar
I am being truthful
When things are all you think of
You are consumed by your thoughts
And plans are all you make
You are constantly making plans
And thoughts are all you dream of
Your thoughts consume your dreams
And falls are all you take
You keep making mistakes
Look out, the world's destroyin' ya
The world is too much for you
Relax, it isn't fair
It's not worth getting worked up over
Mother Nature's disposition
Nature doesn't care
She don't mind, she don't care
Nature is indifferent
She don't mind, she don't care
Nature is indifferent
Passing over
Letting go
Passions pour
Emotions flow
Passing everything
Letting everything go
It takes up all of your life
It consumes your life
These decisions you make
You make decisions to cope
It takes up all of a day
It consumes your day
Making them wrong
But your decisions end up being wrong
Well, outside on the patio
Outside, things are different
A piano's weeping too
Even a piano can feel sad
Forget about it all for a little while
Take a break
She don't mind, she don't care
Nature is indifferent
She don't mind, she don't care
Nature is indifferent
She don't mind, she don't care
Nature is indifferent
And I would only be a liar
I am being truthful
No, I would only be a liar if I told you that
I am not lying
I would only be a liar
I am being truthful
You see, it seems minor to me
To me, it all seems small
You see, it seems minor to me
To me, it all seems small
You see, it seems minor to me
To me, it all seems small
You see, it seems minor
It's not a big deal
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Scott Plouf, James Roth, Brett Nelson, Douglas Martsch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MichaelLMe
I wouldn't be a liar
No I wouldn't be a liar if I told you that
I wouldn't be a liar
When things are all you think of
And plans are all you make
And thoughts are all you dream of
And falls are all you take
Look out, the world's destroyin' ya
Relax; it isn't fair
Mother Nature's disposition
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I wouldn't be a liar
No I wouldn't be a liar if I told you that
I wouldn't be a liar
Passing over
Passions grow old
Passing everything
And I wouldn't be a liar
No I wouldn't be a liar if I told you that
Well I sat on the patio
While the pianos were being tuned
Forget about it all for a little while
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I wouldn't be a liar
No I wouldn't be a liar if I told you that
I wouldn't be a liar
@fiaxtea
I wouldn't be a liar
No, I wouldn't be a liar
If I told you that
I wouldn't be a liar
When things are all you think of
And plans are all you make
And thoughts are all you dream of
Your falls are all you take
Look out, the world's destroying you
Relax, it isn't fair
Mother nature's disposition
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I wouldn't be a liar
No, I wouldn't be a liar
If I told you that
I wouldn't be a liar
Passing over, passions pour
Passing everything
I wouldn't be a liar
No, I wouldn't be a liar
If I told you that
It takes up all of your life
These decisions you make
It takes up all of a day
Making them all
Well, outside on the patio
The piano's weeping too
Forget about it all for a little while
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
She don't mind, she don't care
And I wouldn't be a liar
No, I wouldn't be a liar
If I told you that
I wouldn't be a liar
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor to me
You see, it seems minor
@christiangavey7343
One of the greatest bands ever. For real.
@jpd1592
Someone wrote the lyrics to this song on the walls of my garage in college and that’s how I found this song & so glad I did
@moophette9457
what a legend u-u
@johnwhatsittoya6374
Sweet 😀
@paulkneller1348
Boygenius “not strong enough” has me hearing this every time it plays.
@Dsafe87
My ex got me into this band. She put on this album during my first visit and when this song came on we both stopped talking to listen to it, and since then its still my favorite built to spill song and one of my favorites of all time. Our relationship only lasted 2 years but I'll love this song until I die.
@PRODBLANE
:'(
@user-ru7bv2og7g
Good that you decided to keep the good from that time together
@cherrysunburst828
Possibly my favorite indie rock song of all time
@wesleyalan9179
There's so many by this brand, I cant choose