He has worked with Beck, Heavenly, The Microphones, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Built to Spill among others. He has also produced recordings by many bands.
Calvin Johnson is the founder of K Records in Olympia, Washington, and was one of the major organizers of the seminal International Pop Underground Festival.
His first solo album, "What Was Me", is a quiet acoustic piece about love and loss. On a few songs he sings with no backing guitar, and the effect is haunting.
His second album, "Before the Dream Faded...", is a jazzier piece. It includes multiple collaborators, making it markedly different from his first album. The songs cover an odd range of subjects, such as the size and color of hearts, Lucifer, and falling in love.
He can be found spinning records as Selector Dub Narcotic.
Obliteration Overload
Calvin Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the morning turns cold
The question marks that dot my eyes
Measure the breech from the warmth of the night
When the morning turns cold
I'll keep a lie
I'll keep a lie and a promise to you
I can keep a lie
When a promise is kept
When a promise is kept it matures
When a promise is kept it matures,
A moment it's redeemed endures
And the lie flourishes, flourishes
[incoherent squawking]
Tuck your cuffs into your boots
Tuck your cuffs into your boots, a sharp look.
A sharp lookin' wrangler and I'm wearing your noose
And I'm wearing your noose
You sharpen your spurs
You sharpen your spurs on my heart of stone
Obliteration overload
When the morning turns cold
You tuck your cuffs into your boots
[squawking]
The lyrics of Calvin Johnson's song Obliteration Overload speak of the conflict between truth and falsehood, promises and lies. The writer seems to be grappling with the realization that the truth can sometimes be too hard to bear, and so they resort to telling lies in order to keep the peace with those around them. The opening lines of the song set the scene with a feeling of foreboding; the morning turning cold as if to represent a loss of warmth and comfort. The question marks in the writer's eyes evoke uncertainty, doubt and ambiguity, as if they are unsure of what they really want or how to navigate their situation.
As the song goes on, a promise is made and the writer acknowledges the power of keeping a promise over a lie. However, the lie seems to have taken root and flourished, even though it is not clear what the lie is about. The image of the cuffs being tucked into boots may symbolize the hiding of something or concealment, as if the writer has something to hide. The final lines of the song are somewhat cryptic, with the writer seemingly blaming someone else for inflicting pain on them. The use of the phrase 'obliteration overload' seems to suggest an overwhelming sense of pain, as if the writer's heart has been destroyed.
Line by Line Meaning
When the morning turns cold
The start of a new day brings uncertainty and confusion.
The question marks that dot my eyes
My eyes reflect the doubts and hesitations in my mind.
Measure the breech from the warmth of the night
The contrast between the comfort of night and the discomfort of day is stark.
I'll keep a lie
I'll deceive you, and the more I do it, the more convincing it becomes.
And the lie flourishes, flourishes
My dishonesty grows stronger with each passing moment.
Tuck your cuffs into your boots
A stylish way to prepare for the day's challenges.
A sharp lookin' wrangler and I'm wearing your noose
I appear confident and self-assured, but in reality, I am trapped by my own lies.
You sharpen your spurs on my heart of stone
You cause pain and suffering for me, as I am unable to show genuine emotion or affection.
Obliteration overload
The weight of my dishonesty and emotional numbness is too much to bear.
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.