The band members met in the DC punk/indie scene, though their music draws from more faraway sources. The band formed in the fall of 1998 from the ashes of local bands The Impossible Five and Colour, when singer-guitarist Jason Simon, bassist Steve Kille, and drummer Mark Laughlin set out to fuse their love of early 70s hard rock and 60s psychedelia with their love of writers J.R.R. Tolkien and H.P. Lovecraft.
Dead Meadow released their six-song debut in 2000 on Fugazi bassist Joe Lally's Tolotta Records, and a joint vinyl release on Washington D.C. indie label Planaria Records. In 2001 the band released its second album, Howls From The Hills, on Tolotta. Whereas the first self-titled album was recorded in their practice space for a couple hundred dollars and plenty of learning curves, Howls From The Hills was born in a barn in Liberty, Indiana. Their sound fuller without losing its live essence, the band grew to encompass everything from ambient guitar drones to surging psych-funk sludge, blues-folk tunes to barbiturate space-rock, and some southern slow boogie thrown in for good measure.
In spring 2002, original drummer Mark Laughlin reluctantly quit the group, replaced by old friend and previous collaborator Stephen McCarty (whose grandfather's farmhouse is where the band recorded Howls From the Hills). Also in mid-2002 the band found an unlikely patron in Brian Jonestown Massacre's Anton Newcombe, who recorded, produced and printed Dead Meadow's live disc 'Got Live if You Want' it on his "Committee to Keep Music Evil" imprint of the legendary Bomp label. Soon after, they recorded a Peel Session at the Fugazi practice space - the first time the BBC recorded a Peel Session outside their own studios.
Shortly after signing with Matador in 2003, Dead Meadow self-produced 'Shivering King And Others' in the basement studio of the DC Pirate House over five months and during a busy schedule of touring. Along with the heavy rockers and bluesy numbers as on the previous two records, the band went deeper into the psychedelic realm, with chiming acoustic touches and lovely, disorienting ballads.
With the addition of 2nd guitarist Cory Shane and beautifully spacious production, their 2005 album 'Feathers' features songs like "At Her Open Door" and "Stacy's Song" influenced by the droning modal character of Eastern music as by classic rock riffs.
In early 2008, the band released Old Growth on Matador Records. A collection of songs that brought the band back initially to the same farm where their second release Howls from the Hills was created and eventually finished up at the Sunset Sound studio in Los Angeles.
In March 2010 the band released a live film and soundtrack, Three Kings, which was recorded at the final show of the band's five-month "Old Growth" tour.
In August 2010, it was announced that original drummer Mark Laughlin had re-joined the band.
Their album "The Nothing They Need" was released in 2018.
Keep On Walking
Dead Meadow Lyrics
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nothing comes, nothing goes
still the sky is alight
with that great fiery glow
and Lord, I don't know
Houses and homes to the left and the right
each and all stand open wide
Herein the End must surely lie."
I hold my breath, close my eyes
and pass them by
Dead Meadow's song "Keep On Walking" is a contemplative track that is open to interpretation. The song tells the story of a man, who is traversing an empty road, unsure of what lies ahead. The opening lines, "All down this empty road, nothing comes, nothing goes," suggest a stagnant state, where the man's journey is leading to nowhere. Despite this, he notices the sky is alight, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for a glimmer of hope or inspiration. However, the following line, "With that great fiery glow, and Lord, I don't know," is a reminder of his uncertainty.
The man continues down the road, passing by houses and homes on either side. The homes are open wide, inviting him in, but each tells him that the end is inevitable. The line, "Herein the End must surely lie," could be interpreted as indicating that death is inevitable and the man should make the most of the journey. However, the man chooses to hold his breath, close his eyes, and pass them by, perhaps signifying his determination to keep walking despite his uncertainty and the inevitable end.
Overall, "Keep On Walking" is an introspective and haunting song that beautifully blends melancholy and hopeful elements with vivid imagery and emotive lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
All down this empty road
This road is deserted and there is no one around.
nothing comes, nothing goes
There is no movement or activity on this road.
still the sky is alight
Despite the emptiness of the road, the sky is still illuminated and bright.
with that great fiery glow
The brightness of the sky is intense and resembles fire.
and Lord, I don't know
The artist has no understanding of why the sky is so bright.
Houses and homes to the left and the right
There are residences on either side of the road.
each and all stand open wide
All of the houses have their doors and windows wide open.
each and all sayin' "Come Inside
The houses seem to be inviting the artist to come inside.
Herein the End must surely lie."
However, the artist believes that the end of their journey is not inside those houses.
I hold my breath, close my eyes
The artist decides to ignore the invitations and keeps walking down the road.
and pass them by
The singer continues on their journey, leaving the houses behind.
Contributed by Josiah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Justin Wallace
on Darlin'
Darlin', by Dead Meadow
Oh, my darlin'
Oh, my dear
Your lovely form is such that I
Cannot keep it clear
It shifts and shakes out in the haze
Of your fucked up atmosphere
Oh, my darlin'
Oh, my dear
Hope and horror
Faith and fear
These are the only things
These are the strings that keep you near
If you're feeling lonesome
If you are feeling down
I will do what I can
To help bring you round
No need to worry
No need to fear
Oh, my darlin'
Oh, my dear
Hope and horror
Faith and fear
These are the only things
These are the strings that keep you near
Angels in the attic
Ghosts down below
Jealous of a love that they
Could never hope to know