Craig Finn, an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, is the man behind… Read Full Bio ↴Craig Finn, an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, is the man behind Lifter Puller, The Brokerdealer and The Hold Steady. He was also featured on Rhymesayers rapper P.O.S.'s Safety In Speed (Heavy Metal). He released his first solo album, Clear Heart Full Eyes, on January of 2012.

Here is some background information on Clear Heart Full Eyes from the No Future Songfacts . In early 2011 Hold Steady frontman Craig Finn challenged himself to write a new song every day in his Brooklyn apartment for his first solo album. "I had written a bunch of songs that were outside of the norm for The Hold Steady, a little quieter and perhaps more narrative," he said. "I wanted to gain some experience and insight into the process of making a record by working with new people." Finn enlisted producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon) and traveled to an Austin, Texas studio far away from his New York comfort zone. He hooked up with some local musicians there, including members of Phosphorescent and White Denim and sang his vocals live, keeping takes to a minimum and completed recording in a few days. The resulting album, Clear Heart Full Eyes was released on January 24, 2012 on Vagrant Records.

Apollo Bay
Craig Finn Lyrics

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My head was really hurting
I had to take it to Apollo Bay
My head was really hurting
I had to take it to Apollo Bay
All my downtime makes me restless
All my small talk makes me nervous
My head was really hurting
I had to take it to Apollo Bay

Vietnamese and six or seven VBs
Vietnamese and six or seven VBs
All my days stretch out before me
All my nights just get away from me
Vietnamese and six or seven VBs

All twelve apostles can't be seen from the shore
All twelve apostles can't be seen from the shore
Some hide behind the others
There's always people taking pictures
All twelve apostles were convinced that they were walking with their savior

I'm gonna drive around
I'm gonna come down to the coast by myself
I'm gonna drive around
I'm gonna come down to the coast by myself
All my days stretch out before me
And my nights just go to hell

I'm gonna drive around
I'm gonna come down to the coast by myself

Overall Meaning

In this song, Craig Finn describes his state of mind and the restlessness that comes along with it. He talks about his headache, which was so painful that he had to take it to Apollo Bay, a small town in Victoria, Australia. He uses the phrase "take it to Apollo Bay" to suggest that he took himself away from his usual surroundings to find relief from his suffering. As he takes a break from his routine, he realizes that his downtime makes him anxious and his small talk makes him uncomfortable.

Finn uses alcohol and Vietnamese food as a means of refuge from his anxiety. He mentions six or seven VBs which is short for Victoria Bitter, an Australian beer, and describes his days stretching out before him while his nights seem to slip away from him. The use of alcohol and food is a common coping mechanism when one is feeling overwhelmed, and Finn is no exception.

The song ends with Finn's desire to drive around the coast by himself, separating himself from the bustle and noise of daily life. He once again speaks to his restless state of mind, noting that his days seem to stretch on forever while his nights are unbearable. The mention of the twelve apostles is used metaphorically to describe the feeling of being lost and overwhelmed. Even when surrounded by people, it is possible to feel isolated and alone, unable to relate to those around us. Finn's journey to Apollo Bay is a quest for relief from his restless mind.

Line by Line Meaning

My head was really hurting
I was experiencing intense headache

I had to take it to Apollo Bay
I had to go to Apollo Bay for relief

All my downtime makes me restless
I get anxious when I have free time

All my small talk makes me nervous
I feel uncomfortable when making small talk

Vietnamese and six or seven VBs
I had Vietnamese food and drank six or seven Victoria Bitter beers

All my days stretch out before me
I feel like my days are too long and drag on forever

All my nights just get away from me
I lose track of time at night

All twelve apostles can't be seen from the shore
Not all of the twelve apostles rock formations are visible from the beach

Some hide behind the others
Some of the rock formations are obscured by others

There's always people taking pictures
The site is a popular tourist spot and always crowded with people taking pictures

All twelve apostles were convinced that they were walking with their savior
Reference to the disciples of Jesus who were convinced that they were walking with their savior

I'm gonna drive around
I plan to drive around the area

I'm gonna come down to the coast by myself
I plan to visit the coast alone

And my nights just go to hell
My nights are miserable and unpleasant

Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: CRAIG FINN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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