Santa Barbara, CA folker F.J. McMahon cut his sole release, Spirit Of The G… Read Full Bio ↴Santa Barbara, CA folker F.J. McMahon cut his sole release, Spirit Of The Golden Juice, in 1969 following a stint in southeast Asia while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Reflective and contemplative, the album’s outsider, lo-fi folk vibe pulls from his experiences in Vietnam, at times sounding aesthetically like a sonic counterpart to Jim Schoenfeld with traces of both Fred Neil and Tim Hardin scattered throughout. Regarding the album’s namesake, in an old interview with the Lama Workshop, McMahon explains “the song “Spirit Of The Golden Juice” is about my experiences in Vietnam, Thailand and the PI. The “golden juice” is I.W. Harper bourbon which was the fuel of the times.”

one alone together
F.J. McMahon Lyrics

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Se non mi ami almeno odiami
No non parlare adesso ascoltami
Chissà se stai dormendo tipo lullaby
Adesso che guardo dall'alto tutto quanto
Vorrei tu fossi qui
Drammi vecchi come fossili
So già quali saranno i prossimi
Ma ora illuditi e illudimi anche se ciò che dico

Mi lascia nudo come il Cristo che io maledico
Scoppiano i timpani per la pressione
Credo di sfiorare il cielo con un dito
Ma sto toccando il fondo ora mi rendo conto
Era soltanto un sogno
Ma tutto quello che volevo è solo stare lì
Sapevo quanto fanno male i pugni
Non che può uccidere anche una carezza
La tua indifferenza so fare bene senza
Fino a che non se ne andranno a male
Tutti questi giorni
And i feel so lonely i want you
I want you i want you i want you i
These pills i am swallowing and the times goes through
Me me
Questa è l'ultima volta che scherzo
E' da una vita che pago sto prezzo
Sono cresciuto nell'odio e il disprezzo
Ho toccato il punto più oscuro dell'universo
Sono così al buio già da un pezzo
Che la luce ha perso tutto quanto il senso
Ho dato pezzi di me stesso a chi detesto
E dentro non capisco come cazzo sia successo
Sbagliare è umano forse lo capisco
Se ho il diavolo all'interno esiliato giù da cristo
Questo film troppe volte l'ho già visto
Nei miei occhi tutti scatti fermi dentro al limbo
Vuoto il cuore vuoto anche lo spirito persi in un ossimoro
Sbatto la mia testa sopra questo spigolo
Vivo solo nel mio incubo
Siedo in prima fila mentre cado al suolo come Icaro
And i feel so lonely i want you
I want you i want you i want you i
These pills i am swallowing and the times goes through
Me me
Qui il tempo costa caro come questa solitudine
Giocare contro un baro resta sempre inutile
Questo silenzio lascia guance umide ti prego asciugale
Queste parole le ultime il tuo sguardo un fulmine
Sento piombo nello stomaco che pesa tanto
Un cuore senza intonaco che cade sull'asfalto
Lascia crepe cicatrici e qualcos'altro
Ma volo ancora in alto polvere borotalco
Fumo tanto ancora mille paglie
Spogliamoci dall'anima leviamoci le maglie
Ma troppe pare da soli come in bare
Non so come scappare chiuso in una morsa di tenaglie
In questo viaggio sono solamente un'ombra
Quando vai via è il momento che poi tutto torna
E quello che alla fine conta sai che non si compra
Ma cosa importa sarà per un'altra volta
And i feel so lonely i want you
I want you i want you
I want you i

These pills i am swallowing and the times goes through
Me

Overall Meaning

In "One Alone Together," F.J. McMahon seems to be reflecting on the futility and emptiness of certain actions and behaviors. The first stanza speaks to the idea of putting effort into things that ultimately have no real purpose or value - we "cast lines" without meaning, waste time dreaming, and "preen" ourselves (perhaps trying to impress others or be something we're not) as a way of lasting or making an impression. The second stanza delves deeper into the theme of insincerity and superficiality, with references to fishing for compliments (wanting and needing validation but not really believing it), wishing that compliments were genuine, and giving out sentiments (presumably kind words or gestures) for show rather than true care or concern. The final line of the chorus, "all alone and all together now," seems almost paradoxical - we may be surrounded by others or participating in collective activities, but we're ultimately isolated and alone in our experiences.

The second half of the song paints a picture of a world that is falling apart or losing its magic. The carousel is going round (a recurring theme in McMahon's work), but there's no joy or excitement in it - perhaps because the band is playing without a sound, or because the music box has been unwound. This could symbolize a loss of innocence or wonder, or a sense that things we once found beautiful or meaningful are now hollow or broken. The final line, "the Brooklyn bridge is falling down," is an ominous image - the collapse of a major symbol of New York City (and by extension, America) could represent a larger collapse or breakdown of society as a whole.

Overall, "One Alone Together" seems to be a meditation on the ways we distract ourselves or try to find meaning in a world that can often feel pointless or unsatisfying. McMahon's lyrics are poetic and ambiguous, leaving room for interpretation and personal connection.

Line by Line Meaning

Casting lines that have no meaning
Throwing out words and ideas without consideration for their significance or worth

Wasting time and only dreaming
Spending time idly and imagining a different reality that may not come to fruition

Fasting is just part of preening
Abstaining from certain things as a way of displaying self-discipline and self-improvement to gain admiration from others

Lasting can be so demeaning
Enduring through difficult circumstances can be demoralizing and damaging to one's self-worth

Fishing for a compliment
Seeking praise and approval from others

Wishing it was really meant
Hoping that the compliments are sincere and not just empty flattery

Dishing out the sentiment
Giving compliments and expressing affection towards someone else

When only flowers pay the rent
When showing affection and pleasing others is the only way to receive attention and support

All alone and all together now
Existing separately, but still feeling connected to others through shared experiences and emotions

The carousel is going round
Life continues to move forward, even if it feels repetitive and stagnant

The band is playing without a sound
The world can be noisy and chaotic, but sometimes the most significant things are happening silently

The music box has been unwound
The magic and wonder of life has diminished or disappeared entirely

The Brooklyn bridge is falling down
The fall of something monumental and symbolic can leave one feeling lost and directionless

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Alessandro Polidori, Gianmarco Pomponi, Jacopo Ciarlantini, Simone Kircoff

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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