Califone is the musical project of former Red Red Meat frontman Tim Rutili. Its regular and rotating contributors include many former members of Red Red Meat and some members of other Chicago bands, such as Tortoise. Their music is less rooted in blues-rock than Red Red Meat and is more directly inspired by experimental music and early American folk music as can be found on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music.
Califone's current lineup includes Joe Adamik (drums), Jim Becker (banjo, violin), Ben Massarella (percussion), and Tim Rutili (vocals, guitar, keyboards). Each member is a multi-instrumentalist.
Tim Rutili has collaborated with a number of other artists as well. He joined up with Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock and others in 2002 to release the album Sharpen Your Teeth under the band name Ugly Casanova. Some members also toured with Freakwater and served as a backing band to record the album Thinking of You in 2005. In 2006, Tim Rutili teamed up with Wil Hendricks and Michael Krassner under the name The Unseen Hand to record the soundtrack for Rank, a documentary about bullriding. In the same year Califone worked with animator/musician Brent Green on a series of performance art pieces featuring animation, live music, and spoken word. They are also featured on the soundtrack for the movie Stranger than Fiction.
slow right hand
Califone Lyrics
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Swear on your cloudy eyes
Someone's talking through your mouth
Some monkeys sleep through anything
Easter postcards, cloudy eyes
Just more to stick to, just more slow
Seen you coming, heard the noise
Chew your stitches, airport days
Leave you safe and come back old
The house got small, you taste the same
Some monkeys sleep through anything
Easter island, wicked heel
Cotton thorn, sweet perfume
Seen you coming, heard the noise
Slow right hand
Slow right hand
Slow right hand
Slow right hand
Slow right hand
Slow right hand
The lyrics of Califone's song Slow Rt. Hand are cryptic and open to interpretation. The opening lines "Warm your hands, a smokestack heart, Swear on your cloudy eyes" suggest someone who is trying to warm themselves up emotionally and express their love but feels that their heart has hardened over time. The imagery of a smokestack heart emphasizes the hardening effect of time and the difficulty of opening up to others. The line "Someone's talking through your mouth" conveys a sense of disconnect where the singer is trying to express their true emotions, but the words coming out of their mouth don't reflect their inner thoughts and feelings. The comparison of humans with monkeys who sleep through anything is an interesting metaphor that could mean that some people are oblivious to their own emotions and fail to introspect.
The second verse of the song shifts the focus to Easter postcards, which could represent a nostalgic yearning for a bygone era. The line "Just more to stick to, just more slow" could mean that the singer finds comfort in holding onto familiar things that remind them of the past, but that doesn't necessarily help them move forward in life. The line "To tease you off your slow right hand" suggests that the singer is trying to encourage someone to take action and not be passive in life.
The third verse is more enigmatic and suggests someone who is going through a difficult period of transition. The image of chewing stitches and airport days could represent the singer's physical discomfort and emotional disorientation. The line "Leave you safe and come back old" conveys a sense of loss where the singer feels like they have missed an opportunity to grow and change. The repetition of the phrase "Some monkeys sleep through anything" could mean that the singer is trying to champion the importance of being present in the moment and taking proactive steps to shape one's destiny.
Overall, Slow Rt. Hand is a song that encourages listeners to be present, take action and not be passive in life. The lyrics are deliberately cryptic and open to interpretation, allowing listeners to form their own meaning based on their personal experiences and worldview.
Line by Line Meaning
Warm your hands, a smokestack heart
Prepare yourself for what's to come, steel yourself against any emotional turmoil you may encounter.
Swear on your cloudy eyes
Your inner emotions may be difficult to read, but you must stay true to yourself and your beliefs.
Someone's talking through your mouth
You may feel like you're not in control, that someone else is speaking for you, but you must retain your own voice and speak your own truth.
Some monkeys sleep through anything
Some people are content to ignore the world around them, but you must stay awake and engaged.
Easter postcards, cloudy eyes
The world may be full of pretty distractions, but you must not be fooled by their charm.
Just more to stick to, just more slow
Life is full of obstacles and challenges that may slow you down, but you must keep going and push through them.
Seen you coming, heard the noise
People may underestimate you or not take you seriously, but you must stay focused on your goals and prove them wrong.
To tease you off your slow right hand
Don't let others distract you or derail you from your chosen path.
Chew your stitches, airport days
Life can be painful and difficult, but you must endure and keep moving forward in the face of adversity.
Leave you safe and come back old
You may experience growth and change, but you must not forget where you came from and the people who helped you get there.
The house got small, you taste the same
The world may seem smaller and more limiting than you expected, but you must stay true to yourself and not compromise your principles.
Easter island, wicked heel
Even in beautiful places, there can be danger and darkness lurking beneath the surface.
Cotton thorn, sweet perfume
Life can be both beautiful and painful, but you must embrace it all to grow and learn.
Slow right hand
The journey may be slow and difficult, but you must not give up or lose hope.
Slow right hand
Keep pushing forward, even when progress seems slow or impossible.
Slow right hand
Stay determined and vigilant, even in the face of setbacks and obstacles.
Slow right hand
Be patient and persistent, and you will eventually achieve your goals.
Slow right hand
Don't rush, but don't give up either; success takes time and effort.
Slow right hand
The journey may be long and hard, but it will be worth it in the end.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Temistoclas Hugo Rutili
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Begenisich
easter island, sweet perfume