They've recorded two albums and one EP under the Electric President moniker, all available under the German imprint Morr Music, with a third to be released in early 2010 on Fake Four Inc. They've had songs on television and in various short films. They both came from DIY ideas of making music, and as such record all their music in a tool shed and a bedroom with a handful of recording gear. Apparently, this gives them cred.
They hope to one day be incredibly rich from their music so they can buy an airplane and set it on fire without ever using it. To burn that sucker simply because they can, and to stand by and drink expensive wine and laugh manically until it explodes.
Nightmare No. 5 or 6
Electric President Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just some light from the moon
Felt your breath on my neck and it made me homesick
I don't mind if it's all in my head
My mind was built for lies
And your laugh sounds like glass, and it cuts right
Through me
You wanted problems? you got 'em
You got enough to break down anyone
You want to prove that you're the tough kind
But no one asks to be a martyr; it just happens to you
You say we've got it wrong, that you're different
Well, call it what you want, it's same difference
You bit off more than you can chew with this
Now we're calling in the debt
No matter if it sinks you
Daylight breaks and the world looks bent
Like I've got shotglass eyes
Pick me up, fix my tie, roll me toward the cliffside
I don't mind if I fall this time
My knees were built for scabs
And my hands meet demands just when no one's asking
Dreaming is not a one way process
We woke just before the dawn, got dressed up among
Birdsong
Then crossed that eternal lawn
Our heads were pointed skyward, and the sun, it warmed
Our backs
And we wandered, not really knowing where it all would
End
We walked 'til the sun went down, walked straight
Toward that violent sound
The waves threw their weight around
And it all felt so simple, like we knew just how to be
And we smiled, 'til the waves came and dragged us out
To sea
Electric President's song "Nightmare No. 5 or 6" appears to be about the struggles of sleeping and dreaming, the feeling of being lost and hopeless. The opening verse describes the artist waking up in a cold, dark room but feeling the warmth from their partner's breath on their neck, which makes them feel homesick. They seem to be aware that their thoughts may not be based in reality, and that their mind is "built for lies." The partner's laugh is described as cutting "right through me," suggesting that there may be tension or a strained relationship.
The second verse speaks to the idea of wanting to be seen as strong and tough, but ultimately feeling like a martyr. The singer appears to feel that they have been given more problems than they can handle, but they are determined to prove themselves. They are described as having "bit off more than you can chew," and there is a sense of some sort of debt or obligation that needs to be repaid. The final verse shifts to a dream-like sequence, where the artists seem to have experienced a beautiful day wandering with a loved one, but then suddenly find themselves pulled out to sea as the waves crash in around them.
Some possible interpretations of the song could include a struggle with mental health or a relationship that is falling apart. The shifting tones and emotions throughout the song reflect the ups and downs of dreaming and the fear of losing control.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up cold and the room was dark
Having awoken, I noticed that the room was devoid of heat and light; it appeared to be very bleak.
Just some light from the moon
The only source of light in the room seemed to be moonlight coming in from a window.
Felt your breath on my neck and it made me homesick
I sensed that you were very close to me, and it brought about feelings of homesickness within me.
I don't mind if it's all in my head
I'm not overly concerned if the things I'm experiencing are just products of my imagination.
My mind was built for lies
I'm accustomed to telling falsehoods and being dishonest with myself.
And your laugh sounds like glass, and it cuts right / Through me
The sound of your laughter is really sharp and piercing, and it seems to hurt me deeply.
You wanted problems? you got 'em
You were actively seeking issues or challenges, and now you have them.
You got enough to break down anyone
The problems that you have are sufficient to completely overwhelm or defeat anyone.
You want to prove that you're the tough kind
You're interested in demonstrating to others that you are a strong, resilient person.
But no one asks to be a martyr; it just happens to you
While you may not have set out to be a martyr, it's something that happens to you anyways, without your intending for it to.
You say we've got it wrong, that you're different
You disagree with our assessment of your character and behavior, and believe yourself to be markedly different from others.
Well, call it what you want, it's same difference
You can call yourself whatever you like, but the reality is that you are still fundamentally the same.
You bit off more than you can chew with this
You took on more than you could handle with the current situation or problem.
Now we're calling in the debt
We're now asking you to repay us for something we did on your behalf, or to deal with the consequences of your actions.
No matter if it sinks you
We don't really care if the things we're requiring of you will cause harm or difficulty for you.
Daylight breaks and the world looks bent
When morning arrives, things look distorted or distorted, like you're looking through a curved piece of glass.
Like I've got shotglass eyes
Your eyes feel sore or pained, as if you've been looking at things through a shot glass all night.
Pick me up, fix my tie, roll me toward the cliffside
Help me get myself together and make myself presentable; it's time for me to face a difficult challenge or situation.
I don't mind if I fall this time
I'm not overly concerned if my efforts fail or if I suffer consequences as a result of my actions.
My knees were built for scabs
I'm used to getting bruises or scrapes on my knees as a result of taking risks or failing at things.
And my hands meet demands just when no one's asking
I'm able to manage my workload or responsibilities without being asked to, or I'm prepared to lend a hand whenever necessary.
We woke just before the dawn, got dressed up among / Birdsong
We awoke early in the morning, just before sunrise, while bird song could be heard outside.
Then crossed that eternal lawn / Our heads were pointed skyward, and the sun, it warmed / Our backs
We walked across a never-ending expanse of grass while looking up at the sky; the sun was shining down on us, warming our backs as we walked.
And we wandered, not really knowing where it all would / End
We aimlessly wandered onwards, unsure of where our journey would ultimately lead us.
We walked 'til the sun went down, walked straight / Toward that violent sound
We continued walking until sunset, heading directly towards a loud, intense noise that we could hear.
The waves threw their weight around
Powerful waves crashed around us, jostling us and causing us to lose our balance.
And it all felt so simple, like we knew just how to be
Despite the chaos around us, we felt like everything was quite straightforward and simple, like we were meant to be there at that moment.
And we smiled, 'til the waves came and dragged us out / To sea
We were happy and content until we were suddenly pulled out to sea by the force of the waves - this was unexpected and alarming.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: ALEXANDER P KANE, BENJAMIN P COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind