The band’s first full-length album, Soft Targets, was recorded in Los Angeles and Brooklyn in 2005. However, they were loathe to release the album without a permanent drummer—tellingly, a constant snag since EG’s inception. Taking a leap of faith, Matt and Kamara vowed to play a gig every week until their dream drummer found them. One fateful evening, a gig at Brooklyn’s Southpaw brought them a friend in guitar player Kirk Douglass (of The Roots). Douglass became a fan and brought his friend and Gold Crowns bandmate Ricc Sheridan to gigs for the next few weeks. Ricc says, “I awoke from a dream one night, and knew that this was my band.” A rockneck-inducing jam confirmed that the band had found its holiest trinity. They hit the ground running with Big Ricc Sheridan on drums, and the world has been rocking their faces ever since!
Released in October 2006, Soft Targets earned loads of fans and critical acclaim from publications including The New Yorker, SPIN, Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan and Pitchfork. Even more so, the band’s live show quickly drew heaps of attention and gained a steady reputation among critics and fans alike as a veritable rock-n-roll wrecking ball. Earl Greyhound toured relentlessly for the next two years all over the US, Canada and Japan, and autumn 2007 was spent playing theatres as openers for the band’s good friend Shooter Jennings as well as Soundgarden and Audioslave’s Chris Cornell.
S.O.S
Earl Greyhound Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At first I couldn’t place it but now I’m sure of it
And down the street now it occurs to me
There should be pairs of shoes hung from wires in memorial
That’s all I can recollect from east to west
I got to move or get on to where I’m going
so where you gonna go?
I could swear we were close to home
I s.o.s. across the universe
I got this bit rehearsed
Don’t know which signals that I’m throwing talking robotics to nobody
I s.o.s. across the universe
I get you all to watch 'til we get heard
I shut these gates locked these doors braced for more
And it first I couldn’t face it get on with it I told you
I got wherewithal to leap from beach to beach
I got the shoes not the fire of a warrior
So I keep sifting through this sand from fist to hand
And I’ll keep digging at my seat ‘til the waters meet
And below below I hear them s.o.s. beneath from each to each
I s.o.s. across the universe
I get you all to watch til we get heard
Now once the worlds start to roll
I get a little below
Just a little bit too low
Right this way I want to feel this rain
The lyrics of Earl Greyhound's "S.O.S." describe a confusing and disorienting situation where the singer is revisiting a place they have been before but can't quite place where they are. As the verse progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is lost and searching for direction. They begin to throw out "S.O.S." signals across the universe, seeking help either through communication or guidance towards a path forward. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the sense of urgency and desperation in the singer's plea. The song ends on a somewhat hopeful note - the singer wants to feel the rain and move forward but also acknowledges that they have to wait for the world to start rolling again.
The lyrics seem to center around a feeling of isolation and confusion, with the singer grappling to orient themselves in an unfamiliar place. The use of the S.O.S. signal implies a sense of danger or urgency, as if the singer is lost in a place that is not safe or familiar. The mention of shoes hanging from wires as a memorial suggests that the singer is in a place that is familiar, but perhaps one that has changed - this image could be read as a metaphor for the displacement or gentrification of a neighborhood, or even just the passage of time. Overall, the lyrics suggest a feeling of being lost and needing help to find one's way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I pulled these drapes walked these floors once before
I have been in this place before, but I couldn't remember it at first.
At first I couldn’t place it but now I’m sure of it
Even though I couldn't remember this place at first, I am certain that I have been here before.
And down the street now it occurs to me
As I walk down the street, I suddenly realize something.
There should be pairs of shoes hung from wires in memorial
I believe that there should be a memorial in this area with pairs of shoes hanging from wires.
That’s all I can recollect from east to west
I don't remember anything specific about this area except for the memorial with shoes hanging from wires.
I got to move or get on to where I’m going
I need to keep moving forward towards my destination.
so where you gonna go?
Where are you planning on going?
I could swear we were close to home
I have a feeling that we are close to our home.
Or am I on Jupiter just waving my arms at you
I am starting to feel unsure about my surroundings and if I might be on another planet.
I s.o.s. across the universe
I am sending an s.o.s to anyone who might be listening across the universe.
I got this bit rehearsed
I have been practicing this message to send out.
Don’t know which signals that I’m throwing talking robotics to nobody
I'm not sure if my message is being received and if I'm just talking into the void.
I get you all to watch 'til we get heard
I want everyone to keep watching and listening until our s.o.s is heard.
I shut these gates locked these doors braced for more
I have locked up and prepared myself for whatever is to come.
And it first I couldn’t face it get on with it I told you
At first, I couldn't bring myself to deal with this situation, but I pushed through it.
I got wherewithal to leap from beach to beach
I have the courage and ability to move from one place to another quickly.
I got the shoes not the fire of a warrior
I have the tools and resources to handle what comes, but I am not necessarily a warrior.
So I keep sifting through this sand from fist to hand
I am searching through this area and trying to figure out what to do next.
And I’ll keep digging at my seat ‘til the waters meet
I will keep trying and pushing until I reach my ultimate goal.
And below below I hear them s.o.s. beneath from each to each
I hear other people sending out s.o.s messages, and we are all trying to communicate with each other.
Now once the worlds start to roll
When things start to change and progress forward,
I get a little below
I start to feel a bit down and uncertain.
Just a little bit too low
But it's not enough to stop me or give up hope completely.
Right this way I want to feel this rain
I am open to new experiences and embracing what comes my way.
Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Domo Morales
Saw these guys once on a day full of nothing but randomness and they blew my fucking mind!! A man with hair like iggy and shirt cut so low, a girl with feathers floating on a fro and a man with the darkest sunglasses and the coolest gold chain. Truly life was lived that day.
MsLissy09
I met them after the OK Go concert in Milwaukee and they are soooo nice. I really could not believe how incredibly kind they were. It was freezing and Kamara was very concerned. They are awesome!
21DaHoagie12
One of many reasons I still play ‘08 👌back when soundtracks were good and introduced you to awesome stuff like this
Raiden {Jack the Ripper}
@Digital Camaro this song was going to be in Paradise too but sadly got cut before release
Yeti64
I would of never gotten into rock without 08
Digital Camaro
@Daniel Moulder laughs in Burnout
Daniel Moulder
Yup madden 08 introduced me to this
LDave91
This is one of my favorite songs ever. Totally underrated band.
Matt Salvatore
Madden 08, doing training camp drills to this song. helped me get in the zone and pull off some of those difficult ass defensive back drills.
Michael Thompson
Me too man.