Cecil is one of the founding members of Doomtree. As an emcee he’s admired for his lyric, cinematic style. He writes about love, vengeance, and redemption—and the spaces where the three convene. His narratives ride on his imagery: sepia flickers of loners, beauties, ghosts, and vagabonds.
As a producer, his sound is nostalgic. He features swooning guitar lines, masterful drums, vinyl crackle, and distant voices. The effect is melodic, often melancholic, and seems to draw on the sentiment of another, more romantic era.
Cecil’s fascination with rap music started when his big sister ran away from home. She left a box of rap cassettes beneath her bed, all intentionally mislabeled to prevent confiscation by her parents. Easy E with a Jon Bon Jovi sticker. N.W.A as Michael Bolton. At eight, Cecil memorized every word, intent on impressing her when she returned.
A few years later, Cecil learned to skate, went semi-pro and spent hours practicing with high school friends Stef (P.O.S.) and Johnny (Paper Tiger). Kai (MK Larada) made the occasional visit, often with a camera in hand. The same varied cast of characters began making music together—some rap, some punk, some rock—and by 2000 the name Doomtree surfaced.
Now, almost a decade later, Cecil has contributed to nearly a dozen releases in the Doomtree Records catalog. His most recent full-length, Rebel Yellow, was re-released by Sage Francis for Strange Famous Records. He's now recording his solo project, Porcelain Revolver.
Solo Projects
False Hopes 7
Rebel Yellow
http://www.doomtree.net/cecilotter/
Le Facteur
Cecil Otter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you feel like all the joy is gone?
When a bitter dream, cracks through your grinning mask:
Look beyond the shattered pieces,
And clear the wreckage.
I got a closet full of broken legs,
That I don't wanna stand on.
It's like, "I don't understand Mom."
The same sad song and dance gone awry,
On demand. On the fly,
Cross the land.
By and by, ride or die.
Left high and dry, run into the sandbar.
Praying for a high tide, or a run-in with the land shark.
A landmark, anything to signify a hope,
That I'll be going back to charting open water.
I can taste it.
Face it, it's time to let the birds out of their cages.
I'm out of my patience, I aint seen a lighthouse in ages.
Pages are cluttered, I'm undercover.
Wishing for a lover while I'm singing for my supper like:
And she dances like the ocean, by candlelight.
A fan of my devotion, a phantom of the floating opera.
And she honored my system, but I'm the victim.
She brought a pox on my wisdom.
Blood-drunk with an incurable hangover,
And I'm unsure if I'll stay sober.
It's like, I know it aint over.
Your heart belongs to me now,
But it's certain to change owners.
And it's that strange odor, more than fishy.
It's got me warped and shifty, fishing in a lost cause.
Lock, stock, and two smoking earlobes.
Some third-grade De Niro with a hero complex,
Zeroed in and signing.
And dancing, for the bullets flying at my feet.
While I feed her hunger, she's harassing me.
But I turn it around. Casually,
Light a match and watch her laugh-factory burn to the ground.
She holds that pose, where no grass grows.
Just a cold black rose, on an old back road.
She holds that pose, where no grass grows.
Just a cold black rose, on an old back road.
And she dances like the ocean, by candlelight.
A fan of my devotion, a phantom of the floating opera.
And she honored my system, but I'm the victim.
She brought a pox on my wisdom.
And she dances like the ocean, by candlelight.
A fan of my devotion, a phantom of the floating opera.
Why should we be at such desperate hast to succeed?
And At such desperate enterprises?
Look beyond the shattered pieces,
And clear the wreckage.
Cecil Otter's song "Le Facteur" is a poignant and introspective piece that explores themes of self-doubt, disillusionment, and longing for hope. The opening lyrics, "Do you feel like no-one needs you? Do you feel like all the joy is gone?" sets the contemplative tone of the song. The lines, "When a bitter dream, cracks through your grinning mask/ Look beyond the shattered pieces, and clear the wreckage," suggests that it's essential to confront one's inner struggles and seek to heal from them.
The second verse describes the singer's struggle with addiction and the fear of relapse. The line, "Blood-drunk with an incurable hangover/ And I'm unsure if I'll stay sober," implies that the singer is battling substance abuse and is uncertain if they can remain clean. The lyrics, "Your heart belongs to me now, but it's certain to change owners/ And it's that strange odor, more than fishy/ It's got me warped and shifty, fishing in a lost cause," suggests that the singer may have lost sight of what truly matters in life and is pursuing something futile.
Overall, "Le Facteur" is a powerful song that encourages listeners to confront their inner turmoil, let go of destructive habits, and find hope amid despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you feel like no-one needs you?
Do you think that nobody values your presence?
Do you feel like all the joy is gone?
Do you feel unhappy and devoid of pleasure?
When a bitter dream, cracks through your grinning mask:
When a negative fantasy shatters the illusion of your happiness,
Look beyond the shattered pieces,
Try to focus on the bigger picture,
And clear the wreckage.
And attempt to clean up the mess,
I got a closet full of broken legs,
I possess a myriad of useless things that I do not want to deal with,
That I don't wanna stand on.
That I cannot rely on or support myself with,
It's planned wrong,
The situation has not turned out as intended,
It's like, "I don't understand Mom."
It's like I am struggling to comprehend what is happening around me,
The same sad song and dance gone awry,
The same negative cycle repeating itself and becoming even worse,
On demand. On the fly,
Being forced to deal with a problem immediately and without prior notice,
Cross the land.
Through various places and obstacles,
By and by, ride or die.
Eventually, enduring through everything for better or worse,
Left high and dry, run into the sandbar.
Finding oneself abandoned and stuck in an unstable situation,
Praying for a high tide, or a run-in with the land shark.
Desperately hoping for a positive change or a stroke of luck,
A landmark, anything to signify a hope,
A sign or symbol providing a glimmer of hope,
That I'll be going back to charting open water.
That I will be able to navigate and control my life again,
I can taste it.
I can almost sense the changes in my life,
Face it, it's time to let the birds out of their cages.
Accepting that it is time to release oneself from personal restrictions and limitations,
I'm out of my patience,
I have reached the end of my endurance and tolerance,
I aint seen a lighthouse in ages.
I haven't seen a guiding light or a beacon of safety in a long time,
Pages are cluttered, I'm undercover.
I feel overwhelmed and burdened with various issues, and trying to hide it from others,
Wishing for a lover while I'm singing for my supper like:
Desiring love and affection even though life is a constant struggle,
And she dances like the ocean, by candlelight.
She moves gracefully and wildly, like the waves of an ocean, in a dimly lit setting,
A fan of my devotion, a phantom of the floating opera.
She approves and enjoys my dedication, and is also mysterious and elusive,
And she honored my system, but I'm the victim.
She respected the way I live and operate, but in the end, I am the one suffering,
She brought a pox on my wisdom.
Her presence has caused harm and negated my knowledge and experience,
Blood-drunk with an incurable hangover,
Intoxicated with a sensation that will not go away,
And I'm unsure if I'll stay sober.
And uncertain whether I can keep this feeling at bay,
It's like, I know it aint over.
It's like I can sense that this is not the end of my problems,
Your heart belongs to me now,
You have put your trust and affection toward me,
But it's certain to change owners.
But it will inevitably and eventually go to someone else,
And it's that strange odor, more than fishy.
And there's something unsettling and unusual about the situation,
It's got me warped and shifty, fishing in a lost cause.
It's made me twisted and unbalanced, searching for something that is impossible to find,
Lock, stock, and two smoking earlobes.
Completely and entirely, with all possible components,
Some third-grade De Niro with a hero complex,
Like a childish and unskilled Robert De Niro with a delusion of grandeur,
Zeroed in and signing.
Focusing intently and agreeing to a circumstance,
And dancing, for the bullets flying at my feet.
And facing fear and danger with a confident and carefree attitude,
While I feed her hunger, she's harassing me.
While I am trying to meet her needs, she is bothering me to do more,
But I turn it around. Casually,
But I flip the situation and handle it easily,
Light a match and watch her laugh-factory burn to the ground.
Spark a flame and enjoy her laughter dying out and disappearing,
She holds that pose, where no grass grows.
She maintains a certain posture and attitude amidst barrenness and lifelessness,
Just a cold black rose, on an old back road.
Just a desolate and dark flower, in a neglected area,
Why should we be at such desperate hast to succeed?
Why should we feel such a pressing need to achieve and prosper?
And At such desperate enterprises?
And resort to desperate measures to get there?
Look beyond the shattered pieces,
Consider the larger picture and context,
And clear the wreckage.
And try to resolve and clean up the resulting mess.
Contributed by Taylor P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FlStudioGerman
i love your playlist!
TheHopLounge
Thank you :) Feel free to share it !