The current lineup of Dirty Projectors is Dave Longstreth (vocals, guitar, other instruments), Nat Baldwin (bass), Mike Johnson (drums), Maia Friedman (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Felicia Douglass (percussion, keyboards, vocals), and Kristin Slipp (keyboards, vocals).
Based in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with connections to the Portland, OR music scene, the group has produced a distinctive sound of electronic experimentation, melded with traditional instruments and harmonically complex vocals. Their recordings range from Prince-style one-man-recording-studio productions (The Glad Fact), to arranged orchestrations (the "Slaves' Graves" half of Slaves' Graves & Ballads), to basic voice over nylon-string guitar (the "Ballads" half of the aforementioned) to an amalgamation of all these tactics (the 'glitch opera' of The Getty Address and the mixed nature of New Attitude EP). Throughout, Longstreth's aggressively melodic vocals provide a consistent identity for otherwise widely divergent approaches to pop music. Longstreth claims influences ranging from Don Henley to Mariah Carey. The former's influence is most easily seen in The Getty Address album, which is a conceptual opera written from the point of view of Henley as a Spanish Conquistador, though the latter's vocal gymnastics clearly provide a clue to Longstreth's approach. Rise Above is an attempt to re-imagine the lyrics of Black Flag's DamagedDamaged album from memory over complex music that sees influence from the contemporary African blues and funk of such artists as Ali Farka Toure and Konono No. 1.
Members of Dirty Projectors collaborated with Björk to perform an original composition by Longstreth, written for five voices and acoustic guitar, as part of a charity concert to benefit Housing Works, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing shelter for homeless men, women, and children suffering from AIDS.
Dance for You
Dirty Projectors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mind like a prison cell
But feel,
I wondered out, homeless and sad
No thought of where I go
Or how I ever get back
I haven't found it
But I will keep dancing till I do
Uh, uh, uh
I boogie down gargoyle streets
Searching in every face,
For something I could believe
I never knew what Congress is
I wanna feel the breath of a force I can not explain
There is an answer
I haven't found it
But I will keep dancing till I do
Uh, uh, uh
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
There is an answer
I haven't found it
But I will keep dancing till I do
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
Dance for you
"Dance for You" by Dirty Projectors is a song that explores the idea of searching for an answer to life's questions through movement and dance. The lyrics describe a feeling of being lost and disconnected from the world, with references to "cyanide plains" and a "mind like a prison cell". Despite the feeling of isolation and confusion, the singer refuses to give up and instead keeps searching for answers by "dancing till I do".
The second verse of the song continues this theme of searching for answers, as the singer wanders through the streets hoping to find something to believe in. There are references to "Gargoyle streets" and a desire to "feel the breath of a force I cannot explain". Ultimately, however, the song ends with a repetition of the idea that while there may not be concrete answers to life's questions, the act of dancing and moving can offer a sense of purpose and meaning.
Overall, "Dance for You" is a thoughtful and introspective song that encourages listeners to continue searching for meaning and purpose in their lives, even when the answers may be elusive. Through its powerful imagery and evocative lyrics, the song offers a reminder that movement and dance can be a powerful tool for exploring the complexities of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I ran across cyanide plains
I found myself in a lifeless, dangerous place
Mind like a prison cell
Trapped in my own negative thoughts
But feel,
But I have hope
I wondered out, homeless and sad
I aimlessly wandered without direction, feeling lost and unhappy
No thought of where I go
I had no plan or idea of where I was headed
Or how I ever get back
I didn't know how to find my way back to where I was before
There is an answer
I know there is a solution
I haven't found it
But I haven't discovered it yet
But I will keep dancing till I do
I will keep going and not give up until I find the answer
I boogie down gargoyle streets
I dance along dark and eerie paths
Searching in every face,
Looking for any sign of hope or inspiration in the people I encounter
For something I could believe
Hoping to find something to hold onto and trust in
I never knew what Congress is
I haven't been involved in politics
I wanna feel the breath of a force I can not explain
I long to experience an unexplainable power
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Dance for you
I dance for the person I care about
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: David Donnell Longstreth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dirty Projectors
Dirty Projectors' new album 'Lamp Lit Prose' will be released on 13th July 2018.
Order here: http://smarturl.it/LampLitProse
More from Dirty Projectors on YouTube: http://smarturl.it/BestDirtyProjectors
Jacob D
They make songs, which a lot of bands can't do very well. They combine the melody, rhythm, harmony, lyrics to deliver a real message. I love 'em
ezra bell
Sounds like it was recorded in the house with the orchestra as an afterthought. love it. I am so grateful for these brilliant compositions. Everything Longstreth has composed has made it into the deep recesses of my mind and nourishes my soul continually. Thanks for your service dave!
Sam Odak
With these new headphones this already awesome song sounds 30x better! I missed so many small things
Joshua Wright
Dirty projectors are one of the most exiting bands out there, theres nothing generic about them!
killyridols09
I dig the percussion. It has that off the cuff thing going that is their signature.
picnics
This is bloody amazing.. Straight on to the summer playlist!
srvxhendrix
I keep coming back to this track. Really wonderful writing.
Bobtheclamm
His distinct voice is what makes it so good
Simran Ahira
I'm in love with this song, listening to it on loop all day. :)