The band formed in Boulder, Colorado in early 2006 to make live music for haunted houses. Frequenting the Broker Inn on the edge of town for empty late-night jazz shows, Polachek, Pfenning and Wimberly were mystified by the 1980's faux-gothic architecture, oak-cabinet aquariums, vacant dancefloors, fake trees, crystal chandeliers and dark velveteen booths. Relocating to Brooklyn in the summer of 2006, the trio continued on to develop a hypnotic yet tongue-in-cheek style, playing shows around Brooklyn and the Lower East Side.
'Evident Utensil', released on 7" vinyl featuring a remix by MGMT, marked Chairlift's first release on Kanine. Chairlift unleashed their first full-length album, "Does You Inspire You", on Kanine Records on September 30th, 2008. The duo completed their sophomore album, "Something" in 2011 for release in January 2012. Recorded between New York and London, they recruited producers Alan Moulder (Depeche Mode, My Bloody Valentine, Nine Inch Nails) and Dan Carey (MIA, Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen) and Carey also mixed the majority of the record. Three singles, 'Amanaemonesia', 'Sidewalk Safari' and 'Met Before' preceded the album's release. "Moth", the third and final album was released January 22, 2016, preceded by the single 'Ch-Ching'.
Make Your Mind Up
Chairlift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't make up your mind
If you want the one who loves you
Or if you want to leave him behind
Well, darling, I've got a present
I made it just for you
In this velvet package
You can make your mind up
You can make your mind up
You can make your mind up
You can make your mind up, honey
Cut it up into powder
Take it like a line
The world will stop and wait for you
For ten free hours of time
You can walk right up to strangers
Frozen in their tracks
Look at their drinks as they're pouring
Look at the skin of their mouths
And you can make your mind up
You can make your mind up
You can make your mind up
You can make your mind up, honey
You can make your mind up
Only you can make your mind up
Only you
can make your mind up
The lyrics of Chairlift's song "Make Your Mind Up" are about a person who struggles to make a decision. The song's narrator says that she has a solution to the person's problem, which she presents as a velvet package containing ten free hours of time. The recipient can use these ten hours to go out into the world and do whatever they please, without any obligations or responsibilities weighing them down. The singer encourages the person to cut up the package into powder and take it like a line, which will make the world stop and wait for them for ten free hours of time. They can use this time to reflect on their choices, or to simply experience the world in a different way.
The lyric's narrator is suggesting that the present of time is priceless and when used wisely, can help to make the hardest decisions easier. If the person is struggling to choose between someone who loves them and someone they want to leave behind, the gift of ten free hours can help them gain a new perspective on the situation. The lyrics suggest that this free time will allow the person to take control of their own life by exploring new possibilities, opportunities or experiences. Ultimately, the decision on what to do with the gift is up to the recipient, but the singer urges them to take advantage of the break from routine and use the time to make up their mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Looks like you've got a problem
You seem unsure about what to do
You can't make up your mind
You're having trouble deciding
If you want the one who loves you
You're considering staying with someone who loves you
Or if you want to leave him behind
You're considering leaving your partner
Well, darling, I've got a present
I have a gift for you
I made it just for you
I created it with you in mind
In this velvet package
It's enclosed in a velvet container
Is ten free hours of time
You have ten hours of free time
You can make your mind up
You're capable of deciding
Cut it up into powder
Divide it into small pieces
Take it like a line
Consume it like a drug
The world will stop and wait for you
The world seems to pause for you
For ten free hours of time
During the ten hours you have free
You can walk right up to strangers
You can approach people you don't know
Frozen in their tracks
Unable to move or speak
Look at their drinks as they're pouring
Observe their drinks being served
Look at the skin of their mouths
Examine the texture of their lips
Only you can make your mind up
Ultimately, the decision is yours to make
Contributed by Samuel S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.