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.
What Needs Must Be
Dead Meadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got my own
Look how it takes to
The warmth of your home
You can't wait you're
All ready to go
Out in the cold wind
Out in the snow
Cards on the table
Cards in your hand
Some people take more
I'm gonna stand
The beat edge of
The diamond queen
Just slipped out
From your shirt sleeve
Waiting a long time
Possibly still
For what few find
Most never will
Waiting to find
What sets you free
Until then,
What needs must be
What more
Yeah what more
They ask is there
And I tell myself
No need to care
Waiting a long time
Possibly still
For what few find
Most never will
Waiting to find
What sets you free
Until then,
What needs must be.
The lyrics of Dead Meadow's song What Needs Must Be describe a sense of conflict and acceptance in the face of difficult circumstances. The first two lines acknowledge that both the singer and the person they are addressing have their own problems to deal with, but then the focus shifts to the person they are addressing, who is "all ready to go" despite the cold and difficult weather conditions outside. They seem determined to forge ahead despite the odds, while the singer remains more cautious and reserved.
The second verse introduces the metaphor of the "cards on the table" and the "diamond queen", suggesting a game of chance or perhaps even a power struggle between the two parties. The singer seems to be willing to take a stand and not let the other person take advantage of them, but it's unclear whether they will be successful in doing so.
The final verse returns to the theme of waiting and patience, acknowledging that some things in life are hard to find and may never be found by most people. The singer accepts that they are still waiting for something that will set them free, but in the meantime they will do what needs to be done. It's a message of resilience and determination in the face of adversity.
Overall, the lyrics of What Needs Must Be suggest a complex emotional landscape of tension and uncertainty, but ultimately leave the listener with a sense of hope and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
You got your trouble
You have your own problems and struggles
I got my own
I have my own set of issues and worries
Look how it takes to the warmth of your home
It’s inviting to seek refuge or comfort from someone else, especially in their home
You can't wait you're all ready to go
You're eager and impatient to leave your current situation or place
Out in the cold wind, out in the snow
You're willing to endure harsh conditions or face difficulties in search of something better
Cards on the table, cards in your hand
Full transparency where everyone clearly shares their intentions or agenda
Some people take more, I'm gonna stand
While some people may be greedy and opportunistic, I'm going to stick to what I believe in and stand up for myself
The beat edge of the diamond queen, just slipped out from your shirt sleeve
You revealed a hidden side of yourself or exposed a valuable trait, in the same way that the Queen of Diamonds is a valuable card but can easily slip from one's grasp
Waiting a long time, possibly still. For what few find, most never will
You've been searching for a long time for something rare or hard to attain, and most people unfortunately never get to experience it
Waiting to find what sets you free. Until then, what needs must be
You're still searching for the thing that will bring you ultimate freedom and happiness, but in the meantime you must do what is necessary to sustain yourself
What more, yeah what more. They ask is there, and I tell myself. No need to care
Others may ask you what else you need or want, but you've realized that material possessions or external factors don't bring true happiness, so you don't need to care about those things
Contributed by Aaliyah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alex
Lyrics:
You got your trouble, I got my own
And look how it takes to the warmth of your home
You can't wait you're all ready to go
Out in the cold wind, out in the snow
There's cards on the table, cards in your hand
Some people take more, I'm gonna stand
The bent edge of the diamond queen
Just slipped out from your shirt sleeve
Waiting a long time, possibly still
For what few find, most never will
Waiting to find what sets you free
Until then, what needs must be
What more, yeah what more
They ask is there
And I tell myself
No need to care
Waiting to find what sets you free
Until then, what needs must be
Milo Zabál
You got your trouble
I got my own
Look how it takes to
The warmth of your home
You can't wait you're
All ready to go
Out in the cold wind
Out in the snow
Cards on the table
Cards in your hand
Some people take more
I'm gonna stand
The beat edge of
The diamond queen
Just slipped out
From your shirt sleeve
Waiting a long time
Possibly still
For what few find
Most never will
Waiting to find
What sets you free
Until then,
What needs must be
What more
Yeah what more
They ask is there
And I tell myself
No need to care
Waiting a long time
Possibly still
For what few find
Most never will
Waiting to find
What sets you free
Until then,
What needs must be.
Gocha Ogbaidze
Steve Kille's bass guitar deserves another round of applause on this one. His bass stays in the shadows here, yet, to me, it overshadows everything else (in a good way).🤘
Heavy Doctor
My favorite part of the song 🖤
HUN Aviation
Fits the song perfectly
mescaliiiiine
This solo is so perfect.
maxwellhowell
Still just a damn good song and a band to remember
Alex
Lyrics:
You got your trouble, I got my own
And look how it takes to the warmth of your home
You can't wait you're all ready to go
Out in the cold wind, out in the snow
There's cards on the table, cards in your hand
Some people take more, I'm gonna stand
The bent edge of the diamond queen
Just slipped out from your shirt sleeve
Waiting a long time, possibly still
For what few find, most never will
Waiting to find what sets you free
Until then, what needs must be
What more, yeah what more
They ask is there
And I tell myself
No need to care
Waiting to find what sets you free
Until then, what needs must be
Brian
Keep coming back years later for the solo... just perfect.
NotDazo
As a hip-hop producer, i dug this up crate digging and what a gem i have to say... I'm 18
Fuzzman109
Just had this recommended to me on Spotify cause listening to similar music. This is amazing wtf. That bass line, then that solo!? I keep replaying this, im hooked
Le Chuck
I know. They are just awesome. Their sound, their feeling, it's like speaking from another universe inside of us.