The Sublimation Hour
Destroyer Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

So you had the best legs in a business built for kicks
But was this changing of the guards really supposed to make you sick?
It's alright
The sublimation hour

Medium rotation, the shock of the new
And a memo from Feldman saying, "everything is true"
It's alright
The sublimation hour

Don't spend your life conceiving
That the widows won't get sick of their grieving
'Til everyone walks out
Hey, isn't that what rock 'n' roll is all about, princess?
Express your bloated self, willful and indignant
In the face of somebody's lord

You try to summon up the spirits live on Face the Nation
But the port authority just taxed incantations
Alright
The sublimate hour

Auction off the temple, it's money well-spent
Hey, are those tears in your eyes as the wind cries, "enlargement"?
Alright
The sublimate hour

Don't spend your life conceiving
That the widows won't get sick of their grieving
'Til everyone walks out
Hey, isn't that what rock 'n' roll is all about, princess?
Confess your bloated self, willful and indignant
In the face of somebody's lord, ah

So put your hands together, I hear it's a must
Until this phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
It's alright
The sublimation hour

I guess the streets will suffice 'til everybody makes nice
But there's a rumor going 'round even Destroyers have a price
It's alright
The sublimation hour





Don't spend your life conceiving

Overall Meaning

"The Sublimation Hour" by Destroyer sings about the music industry and the pressure to constantly innovate and adapt to the shifting trends. The opening lyrics describe a woman who had ideal legs for an industry that is all about speedy impulse decisions - the music industry. The lines, "But was this changing of the guards really supposed to make you sick?" indicate an uneasiness with how the industry changes so quickly that she is struggling to keep up. However, the chorus, "It's alright, the sublimation hour," seems to suggest that this is just part of the process, a phase she has to get through, and it will be okay.


The following verse nods to the media and how it can influence everything, even what is considered new or innovative. The line, "And a memo from Feldman saying, 'everything is true'", refers to Steve Feldman, who was once the vice president of radio promotion at Capitol Records. He was responsible for promoting and pushing for a new band with every hit sing. Even if their music was terrible, he would insist it was a hit.


Later on, the lyrics seem to suggest that the pressure to be innovative can take a toll on people, especially those who are grieving. "Don't spend your life conceiving that the widows won't get sick of their grieving 'til everyone walks out" can be interpreted as saying that the widows of the industry, i.e., those who have lost their influence, won't stop mourning their loss until they see everyone else struggling too. The conclusion of the song suggests that even though the music industry may have a price, and the fakeness of the industry may one day fall, it's all a part of the sublimation hour- a transitional phase, which will pass.


Line by Line Meaning

So you had the best legs in a business built for kicks
You were once a part of an entertainment industry that glorified superficial qualities (like good legs), but was it worth feeling sick when things changed?


But was this changing of the guards really supposed to make you sick?
Did you really think change wouldn't affect you in this industry and make you sick?


It's alright
It'll be okay


The sublimation hour
A moment of transformation


Medium rotation, the shock of the new
New things can be surprising and unfamiliar


And a memo from Feldman saying, "everything is true"
Even if it's not the whole truth, it feels true to you because you're constantly bombarded with it


Don't spend your life conceiving
Don't waste your life imagining or planning for things that are unlikely to happen


That the widows won’t get sick of their grieving
Don't assume that people will never tire of mourning their losses


Til everyone walks out
Until everyone leaves


Hey, isn’t that what rock 'n' roll is all about, princess?
Isn't this what rock and roll is all about, challenging norms and expectations?


Express your bloated self, willful and indignant
Be true to yourself, even if it means being stubborn and angry


In the face of somebody's lord
Even if it means doing so in defiance of a powerful entity or figure


You try to summon up the spirits live on Face the Nation
You try to stir up emotions on TV


But the port authority just taxed incantations
But the government is only interested in profiting from these attempts to influence others


Auction off the temple, it's money well-spent
Sell off something that's meaningful to you, because the money gained from it is worth it


Hey, are those tears in your eyes as the wind cries, "enlargement"?
Are you crying because you fear unforeseeable changes?


Confess your bloated self, willful and indignant
Be honest about who you are, even if it means being stubborn and angry


In the face of somebody's lord, ah
Even if it means doing so in defiance of a powerful entity or figure


So put your hands together, I hear it's a must
Applaud or endorse something, because it's expected of you


Until this phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
Until the Beatles' popularity fades or changes


I guess the streets will suffice 'til everybody makes nice
I suppose we'll manage on our own until people start treating each other with kindness


But there's a rumor going 'round even Destroyers have a price
Even the band Destroyer is susceptible to being swayed by money or influence


It's alright
It'll be okay


The sublimation hour
A moment of transformation




Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Bejar, Jason Zumpano, John Edward Collins, Scott Morgan, Stephen Michael Wood

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found