Perkins's melancholy songs reflect the personal tragedy he has experienced over the years. His father died of AIDS in 1992. His mother was on board a flight that was flown into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. His debut album, Ash Wednesday, a chronologically sequenced album of songs written before and after his mother's death, was released in February 2007 by XL Recordings with a lead single called "All The Night Without Love". Perkins had help from his elder brother, Oz Perkins, on drums and friend Ethan Gold who produced, arranged, and mixed the album. The album includes backing vocals by Ariana Lenarsky, Shana Levy of indie band Let's Go Sailing, and Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond among others.
His second album, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, will be released on March 10, 2009
Oficial website: www.elvisperkins.net
Doomsday
Elvis Perkins Lyrics
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I forget your sweet face
Till Doomsday fell out again
Man i went wild last night
oh yes i'll pay tonight
but i dont let doomsday bother me
does it bother you?
Will it mean that we wont be friends?
When doomsday rears her ugly head again
And even though you voted that awful man
i'll never refuse your hand
on any given doomsday or the one and only doomsday
Not in all my wildest dreams it never once was seen
that doomsday might fall anywhere near a tuesday
but flight across the skies seein fate before my eyes
there isn't any sense to feel the light
for i dont plan to die
nor should you plan to die
The lyrics of Elvis Perkins's song "Doomsday" dive deep into the idea of the end of the world, both on a larger scale and on a personal level. The opening lines "And while I forget your name, I forget your sweet face, Till Doomsday fell out again" suggest that the singer's memory of someone is fading over time, but the end of the world, or Doomsday, brings that memory back to the forefront of their mind. The idea of forgetting someone's name and face can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life, and how in the grand scheme of things, our time on earth is just a blip. The repetition of "Till Doomsday fell out again" emphasizes the cyclical nature of the idea of an apocalypse, whether it be global or personal.
The chorus of the song brings some levity to the heavy subject matter, with the singer admitting to going wild and paying for it later, but ultimately not letting Doomsday bother them. They ask if Doomsday bothers the person they are addressing in the song, highlighting the different ways that people cope with the idea of a possible end of the world. The line "Will it mean that we won't be friends?" hints at the idea that differing opinions and reactions to the idea of the apocalypse can drive people apart.
The verse "And even though you voted that awful man, I'll never refuse your hand, on any given Doomsday or the one and only Doomsday" brings a political element into the song, suggesting that the singer and the person they are addressing may have differing political views. However, the idea of coming together during a time of crisis, such as Doomsday, outweighs any differences in opinion. The final verse discusses the singer's reluctance to feel the light and plan for death, emphasizing the idea of living in the present rather than worrying about the end of the world.
Overall, "Doomsday" is a thought-provoking song that touches on the universal fear of an apocalypse, whether it be personal or global, and how people cope with that fear.
Line by Line Meaning
And While I forget your name
Despite my memory failing me, I still can't forget you.
I forget your sweet face
I can't remember what you look like anymore.
Till Doomsday fell out again
Until the end of the world arrives once more.
Man i went wild last night
Last night, I let myself go a little too much.
oh yes i'll pay tonight
Tonight, I'll suffer the consequences of my actions.
but i dont let doomsday bother me
Despite the looming sense of an eventual apocalypse, I refuse to let it get to me.
does it bother you?
Are you also troubled by the thought of doomsday?
i know you told me again and again
I remember you warning me multiple times.
Will it mean that we wont be friends?
Does this mean we're no longer going to be friends?
When doomsday rears her ugly head again
The next time the end of the world threatens us.
And even though you voted that awful man
You supported a candidate that I strongly disagree with.
i'll never refuse your hand
But despite our differences, I'll never turn away from you.
on any given doomsday or the one and only doomsday
Whether it's any small apocalypse, or the grand finale, I'll always be there for you.
Not in all my wildest dreams it never once was seen
I never could have imagined, even in my wildest dreams,
that doomsday might fall anywhere near a tuesday
that the end of the world might coincide with an otherwise ordinary Tuesday.
but flight across the skies seein fate before my eyes
Flying through the skies, I can't help but ponder our destiny.
there isn't any sense to feel the light
In the face of such an imminent disaster, there's no point in holding onto hope.
for i dont plan to die
But even so, I have no intention of giving up.
nor should you plan to die
I hope you don't give up either.
Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.