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.
Imagine It
Dirty Projectors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No caffeine pills on prescription
Just you and simple mud that you've tracked in there
What slips between the creases
Could easily fool or bamboozle you
The oriental rock of the colonialist
Stolen out from under his big brass desk
Or a magic carpet ride on Broad Street
If you can imagine it, imagine it
Burning the midnight oil
So fierce it's trucked in the lap of the powerful
Maybe that's part of your resource
And just as nervous, she's demure as milk
Blank as a bamboo casket
She's a basket of good will
Two red brows, two proud rows
The talking breakfast full of shit blues
The detail's what you lose
In the Peking sunset
To which we pitch our trash dreams
And our friends sit back, zip by
Abiding the only practice with traditious sounds
Or the psychopath among us
Like a serendipis with anti-fashion
A rainbow quilt frayed around the edges is charismatic
Got grease on my hand like Arab oil
Plants my seeds in arid soil
Give me some frown in my terrible toil
But I'll look after you
I'll look after you
The song "Imagine It" by Dirty Projectors is a complex and enigmatic piece of music that is open to multiple interpretations. The lyrics of the song are rich in imagery and metaphor, and they offer glimpses of different themes and ideas. At its core, the song seems to be about the power of imagination and the ways in which our perceptions and beliefs can shape the world around us.
The first stanza of the song talks about throwing something inside your friend's head, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for planting an idea or a concept into someone's mind. The second line talks about caffeine pills on prescription and juxtaposes them with simple mud that you've tracked in there. This could be seen as a commentary on the absurdity of our modern reliance on drugs and technology to solve our problems. The third line talks about what slips between the creases, which could refer to the things that go unnoticed or overlooked. The final line warns that these things could easily fool or bamboozle you, suggesting that our perceptions can be deceptive and unreliable.
The second stanza of the song begins with a reference to the oriental rock of the colonialist, which could be seen as a metaphor for cultural imperialism and the ways in which dominant cultures appropriate and commodify the traditions of others. The line that follows talks about how this rock was stolen out from under his big brass desk, suggesting that the theft and exploitation of other cultures is a way of maintaining and consolidating power. The subsequent lines talk about a street parade to the community college or a magic carpet ride on Broad Street, which could be interpreted as a critique of the superficiality and shallowness of our consumer culture. The refrain of the song, "If you can imagine it, imagine it," seems to encourage the listener to use their imagination to create a more vibrant and meaningful reality.
Overall, the song "Imagine It" is a rich and multi-layered work of art that rewards repeated listening and thoughtful reflection. It challenges us to question our assumptions and to imagine a world that is more just, equitable, and sustainable.
Line by Line Meaning
Throw it inside your friend's head
Share your ideas with your friend, let them contemplate it
No caffeine pills on prescription
No quick or easy solutions to the problems we face, we have to rely on ourselves
Just you and simple mud that you've tracked in there
The dirt and imperfections inside our minds can lead us to new ideas
What slips between the creases
Small details that often go unnoticed can be important and impact us greatly
Could easily fool or bamboozle you
We should be wary of things that seem too good to be true
The oriental rock of the colonialist
Western colonial powers taking and using resources from other cultures
Stolen out from under his big brass desk
Taking resources without permission or acknowledgement
For a street parade to the community college
Using cultural objects or symbols for shallow, surface-level displays
Or a magic carpet ride on Broad Street
Using cultural objects or symbols to create a fantastical or exotic image
If you can imagine it, imagine it
Encouraging creativity and imagination
Burning the midnight oil
Working late into the night to achieve your goals
So fierce it's trucked in the lap of the powerful
The desire for success and accomplishment can lead us to do anything, even be subservient to those in power
Maybe that's part of your resource
Our determination and drive can be a valuable resource
And just as nervous, she's demure as milk
Feeling anxious or unsure, despite outward appearances of calmness
Blank as a bamboo casket
Empty or devoid of meaning
She's a basket of good will
A person who is kind and well-meaning
Two red brows, two proud rows
Raised eyebrows in skepticism or disbelief
The talking breakfast full of shit blues
Empty or meaningless conversation
The detail's what you lose
When we focus too much on the big picture, we may miss important details
In the Peking sunset
Sunset in a foreign or exotic place
To which we pitch our trash dreams
To which we dispose of our worthless or unfulfilled aspirations
And our friends sit back, zip by
While we strive to achieve our dreams, our friends may simply watch from the sidelines
Abiding the only practice with traditious sounds
Adhering to traditional and cultural practices and customs
Or the psychopath among us
The dangers of people with abnormal or harmful tendencies being in our midst
Like a serendipis with anti-fashion
Unexpected or fortunate events happening in spite of societal norms or expectations
A rainbow quilt frayed around the edges is charismatic
Something or someone that is unique and imperfect can be appealing and captivating
Got grease on my hand like Arab oil
Hands-on experience with something valuable
Plants my seeds in arid soil
Working hard to cultivate growth in a difficult situation
Give me some frown in my terrible toil
Challenges and struggles can lead to personal growth and progress
But I'll look after you
Despite the difficulties, we can support and care for each other
I'll look after you
We can rely on each other for comfort and support
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
nialldcrowley
This band constantly astonishes me. I thought I'd seen everything!
bnbsko
yes