Songwriter and audio engineer Ezra Tenenbaum had been casually working on s… Read Full Bio ↴Songwriter and audio engineer Ezra Tenenbaum had been casually working on solo home recordings on his Tascam 8-Track in the vein of Shoes, Emitt Rhodes and Cleaners From Venus, and, in a desire to round out the songs, he enlisted bassist Shane O’Connell and drummer Michael Stasiak (formerly of Widowspeak). As it happened, the trio’s first chance to play together was an audition for the American touring version of Spiritualized (they didn’t get the job). But, the trio kept meeting and working, turning Ezra recording as a solo artist into Ezra, Shane and Michael playing as a band; thus, EZTV was formed.
With a pool of over 30 demos to work with and Jarvis Taveniere of Woods onboard to produce, the band headed to Thump Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, to record their debut LP for Captured Tracks. The result is Calling Out, a cohesive 12-song statement in the long tradition of fully realized debuts, stripped of artifice, but full of hooks and songwriting chops. They’ve got one foot firmly planted in classic American power-pop and college rock while the other utilizes more left-of-the-dial sonic experimentation. The result is a sound that’s both familiar and new, but always about the songs.

Pretty Torn Up
EZTV Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

PRETTY TORN UP

Magic number
Counted blind
Steps between us
Miles wide
Lost the wonder
Nothing adds up

Anymore

Anyone could tell
I was pretty torn up
I was pretty torn up

Over and over
Can't escape
Infinity holds on
The same mistake
Here and I don't
Know why you call
Anymore

Anyone could tell
I was pretty torn up
I was pretty torn up

Dangerous and confused
Tunneled through and through
What else can I do with you

Anyone could tell
I was pretty torn up
I was pretty torn up

I was pretty torn up
I was pretty torn up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of EZTV's song "Pretty Torn Up" convey a sense of emotional turmoil and confusion, using vivid imagery and metaphors to express feelings of distance, loss, and a sense of being trapped in a repeating cycle of pain. The opening lines, "Magic number, Counted blind, Steps between us, Miles wide," suggest a sense of mystery and distance in a relationship, with obstacles preventing connection and understanding between the singer and the other person. The mention of "lost wonder" and things no longer adding up adds to the feeling of disillusionment and confusion within the relationship.

The repetition of the phrase "I was pretty torn up" throughout the song emphasizes the depth of the singer's emotional distress and vulnerability. It indicates a state of being deeply hurt and overwhelmed by their feelings, unable to escape the pain and confusion they are experiencing. The reference to "infinity holds on, The same mistake" suggests a sense of being trapped in a cycle of repeating the same patterns and making the same errors, unable to break free from a destructive pattern of behavior.

The lines "Dangerous and confused, Tunneled through and through, What else can I do with you" express a sense of hopelessness and resignation, as the singer feels lost in a complex and precarious situation with the other person. The use of words like "dangerous" and "confused" evokes a sense of instability and danger in the relationship, highlighting the singer's vulnerability and uncertainty about how to navigate the challenges they are facing. The mention of being "torn up" repeatedly underscores the depth of the emotional pain and turmoil the singer is experiencing.

Overall, the lyrics of "Pretty Torn Up" evoke a sense of emotional turmoil, confusion, and distress in a relationship that seems fraught with difficulty and challenges. The repetitive nature of the phrases and the vivid imagery used throughout the song convey a powerful sense of vulnerability, hopelessness, and inner conflict within the singer's emotional state. The song captures the complexity and intensity of human emotions and relationships, exploring themes of distance, loss, and the struggle to find clarity and understanding amid chaos and turmoil.

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: Ezra Tenenbaum, Michael Dean Davis Stasiak, Shane Michael O'Connell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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