Perkins has been known as Elvis since birth; it is not a moniker he pointedly adopted. Perkins was raised in Los Angeles and New York and took to music at an early age. He briefly learned the saxophone before picking up the guitar in high school and taking lessons with Prescott Niles, one-time bassist for The Knack. While he played in rock bands, Perkins also developed an interest in the classical guitar, and began to compose music in both idioms. He also wrote poetry, and that gradually morphed into lyrics. After a short stint at college, he began to cultivate the idiosyncratic, highly personalized style that distinguishes Ash Wednesday.
"It's been a long journey, long in the coming," Perkins admits, when he discusses the album, and it took a serious detour on September 11, 2001, when his mother, a passenger on the ill-fated American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles, perished in the attack on New York City's twin towers, a day before the ninth anniversary of his father's passing. Ash Wednesday has been shaped in part by this tragic event and its aftermath.
Elvis Perkins toured extensively in 2006 and 2007 in support of Ash Wednesday with his band Elvis Perkins in Dearland, which includes multi-instrumentalists Brigham Brough, Wyndham Boylan-Garnett and Nick Kinsey.
Elvis Perkins in Dearland have just announced the completion of their eponymous debut which will be released on March 10th, 2009.
Doomsday
Elvis Perkins In Dearland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember your sweet face
'Til doomsday, 'till doomsday
Man, I went wild last night
O, I went feeling alright
Doomsday won't bother me
Will it bother you I know you
Told me once and again
When doomsday rears its lovely head again
And though you voted for that awful man
I would never rguse your hand
On doomsday, on doomsday
It never once did seem
That doomsday would fall anywhere near a tuesday
But fly it across the sky
See it fade before my eyes
There isn't any sense to a good by and by
For I don't plan to die
Nor should you plan to die
Nah nah nah nah nah
Nahh nah nah nah nah
Nahhh nah nah nah nah
Nahhhh nah nah nah nah
Nahhhhh nah nah nah nah
Nahhhhhh nah nah nah nah
The lyrics of Elvis Perkins In Dearland's song "Doomsday" are open to interpretation, but they seem to center around the theme of facing the end of the world with both acceptance and defiance. The opening lines suggest a sense of loss, as the singer admits to forgetting the name of the person they are addressing, but still remembers their "sweet face". The phrase "Til doomsday, 'till doomsday" is repeated throughout the song, suggesting that regardless of the impending end, memories and relationships will persist.
The second verse speaks to a sense of release or celebration, as the singer admits to going "wild" and feeling "alright" the night before. Despite the approaching doomsday, there is a sense of detachment, as the singer questions whether it will "bother" them or their companion. The third verse brings in the political realm, as the singer admits to knowing that their companion voted for someone they find contemptible, but still maintains a sense of loyalty and respect. The final lines of the song are repeated and seem to convey a sense of resignation and acceptance of what is to come, while also rejecting any notion of finality or conclusion.
Overall, the lyrics of "Doomsday" reflect a particular perspective on impending doom, one that is equal parts melancholic, celebratory, and resigned.
Line by Line Meaning
Thoguh I forget your name*
Even though I may not remember your name
I remember your sweet face
I can still recall your kind and pleasant demeanor
'Til doomsday, 'till doomsday
For all eternity or until the end of the world
Man, I went wild last night
I had an exciting and exhilarating experience last evening
O, I went feeling alright
I was in a good mood and felt content
Doomsday won't bother me
I won't be impacted by the end of the world
Will it bother you I know you
I wonder if the thought of doomsday troubles you, as I know you well
Told me once and again
You explained it to me before and reiterated it
Does it mean that we won't be friends
Will this difference in views cause us to no longer be friends
When doomsday rears its lovely head again
When the end of the world comes knocking once more
And though you voted for that awful man
Despite your support for a politician I personally disagree with
I would never rguse your hand
I still hold no ill will towards you and would shake your hand with pleasure
It never once did seem
I never perceived that doomsday would arrive unexpectedly
That doomsday would fall anywhere near a tuesday
I never could have guessed doomsday would coincide with a certain day of the week
But fly it across the sky
Let it travel through the sky
See it fade before my eyes
Witness it diminish and disappear as I watch
There isn't any sense to a good by and by
There's no point in endlessly saying goodbye
For I don't plan to die
I'm not intending on dying anytime soon
Nor should you plan to die
I advise you not to make death a part of your plans either
Nah nah nah nah nah
Repetition of a nonsensical phrase
Nahh nah nah nah nah
Repetition of a nonsensical phrase
Nahhh nah nah nah nah
Repetition of a nonsensical phrase
Nahhhh nah nah nah nah
Repetition of a nonsensical phrase
Nahhhhh nah nah nah nah
Repetition of a nonsensical phrase
Nahhhhhh nah nah nah nah
Repetition of a nonsensical phrase
Writer(s): Elvis Brooke Perkins
Contributed by Stella E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bcc1976
At New Orleans Jazz fest in April I discovered this band by accident, stumbling past the stage, hadn't ever heard of Elvis Perkins, and this very song stopped me dead in my tracks. The music was so beautiful and powerful it made me cry. And I didn't even know what it was about. That just goes to show you the power of brilliant music.
@kpm1969
An astonishingly upbeat song about a very sad topic which, yes, is a New Orleans funereal way of dealing with grief. Brilliant and beautiful.
@ademeo29
Saw these guys perform at Levon Helm's Barn on Halloween Night in 2009. It was phenomenal how they layered their many different sounds one by one with practically each song building to crescendo. I have seen hundreds of concerts and this moment sits near the top of my list of most impressive performances. Thank you EPID
@joshjuanfifarek7382
Love this approach to music. Also have always loved Elvis dad. Met him when I was 9 and became pen pals with him to help become a director. Such a rare thing .
@evaccative
Listen to this song every year this time of year. How do we go on, year after year? Thank you Elvis for making this song, its the most poignant song i've heard about this event. Dance and shriek in memoriam.
@hauptmannbalalaika
Doomsday then? What now?
@evaccative
@Ally Hauptmann-Gurski Time to go salsa dancing with our confusion! Memento Mori 💀
@angstbeforebeauty
Great performance ! The drummer is a blast !
@miriamramos2501
UAU ! Muito bom ! Filho do inesquesivel , Tony Perkins ! Gostei ! Por favor um vídeo mais recente ! Obrigada ....aguardo ......
@GeoffTaylor56
OMG, it's just 4 guys! Been listening to this on my iPod for months - always assumed it was a full orchestra. Bravo!