"True Instigator", Fernando's seventh full-length, and first to be
released completely digital, was recorded at Type Foundry in Portland,
Oregon by Adam Selzer (Norfolk and Western, M. Ward). It was mixed by
Jeff Stuart Saltzman (Sleater-Kinney, Stephan Malkmus), Luther Russell
(Richmond Fontaine), Mike Coykendall (M. Ward), and Adam Selzer; the first
two mixing two songs each, and Coykendall and Selzer jointly mixing the
rest of the album.
Featuring a who's who of Northwest musicians, as always, Fernando brought
in Scott McPherson (Beck, M. Ward, Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes, Neill Finn)
on drums, Dan Eccles (Richmond Fontaine) on electric guitar, Joe Chuisano
on bass, backing vocals, farfisa organ, and glockenspiel. As well as Lewi
Longmire on B-3 orgna, Mike Coykendall on piano, acoustic guitar, and
baritone guitar, Paul Brainard (Richmond Fontaine) on trumpet, and Joe
"Sly Pig" Cunningham (The Decemberists, Bobby Bare Jr.) played saxophone
on one track.
The album is a return to form for Fernando, following 2006's heavily
pop-leaning "Enter To Exit" (In Music We Trust) and 2001's stark, acoustic
focus on "Dreams of the Sun and Sky" (Domingo Records). "True Instigator"
offers up straight-ahead rock, alt. country, starkness, and haunting
melodies, bridging the gap between his 1999's "Old Man Motel" (Domingo
Records), arguably Fernando's most straight-ahead rock album to date,
"Dreams of the Sun and Sky", and "Enter To Exit".
Critically lauded, Fernando was named by Magnet Magazine as one of the ten
"Artists To Watch in 2006", proclaiming, "'Enter to Exit' spins like an
especially fine George Harrison record from the late 70s... Long a
musicians' and critics' favorite, Viciconte deserves a wider audience, and
'Enter to Exit' is a fine introduction for the uninitiated". While
Billboard commented, "Portland is home to one of the most intriguing
sounds of the past 20 years of new rock... Upon first listen to 'Enter to
Exit', the brilliant new album from Portland songwriter Fernando
Viciconte, you may feel you’ve uncovered some super secret studio session
between Elliott Smith and Jon Brion."
Other critics shared in the praise, with MSNBC also applauding Fernando as
an artist you need to know, writing, "(Fernando’s) just released the
incredibly accomplished can’t-get-the-songs-out-of-your-head Beatles-esque
pop album, 'Enter to Exit'", and No Depression said Fernando is "utterly
beautiful and convincing. "
Not to be outdone, Paste Magazine wrote of Fernando, "...'Enter to Exit'
nails it, smoothly alternating between infectiously bouncy pop and
wretchedly depressing, country-inflected rock. Supporting every song is a
solid base of classic rock ... The result hooks into you with an
aggressive urgency that’s hard to ignore, and a familiarity so profound it
seems almost like Fernando isn’t just playing music – he’s uncovering
something that’s already in you."
The Longest Wait
Fernando Viciconte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been extracted like a bad tooth
Another version of the truth that you never seem to know about
Because everybody shuts you out and puts you down
You hear them talking behind your back
Heresay about this and that
You say you're gonna to tell em off some day
It never seems to be the right time
It always seems to stay in your mind
It keeps you down
And you're standing right there at the top of the stairs
Searching for the nerve to throw yourself down
You stop yourself because you never were that brave anyway
Your life is the longest wait
And time has sealed your fate
You wake up to another week
You roll over, go back to sleep
Color bars on the tv screen
The best show that you've ever seen
And you never seem to try to hard
Nothing's written in the stars for you
It gets you down
And you're standing right there at the top of the stairs
Searching for the nerve to throw yourself down
You stop yourself because you never were that brave anyway
Your life is the longest wait
And time has sealed your fate
Your life is the longest wait
And time has sealed your fate
The lyrics of Fernando Viciconte's song "The Longest Wait" depict a sense of frustration and stagnation in someone's life. The first verse describes how time seems to move incredibly slowly when you are constantly struggling and feeling like you are always in last place. The line "You've been extracted like a bad tooth" suggests a feeling of being removed or isolated from others. The mention of "another version of the truth" that the person never seems to know about implies a lack of understanding or being kept in the dark by others who shut them out and put them down.
The second verse portrays the person as being aware of people talking negatively about them behind their back. They express a desire to confront these people someday, but they never actually do anything about it. This hesitation reflects a lack of courage and the feeling that the timing is never right. The constant presence of these thoughts keeps the person feeling down and trapped.
The chorus reinforces the feeling of being stuck in life. The image of standing at the top of the stairs symbolizes being at a turning point or a potential moment of change. However, the person lacks the bravery to take that leap and instead stops themselves. They have never considered themselves courageous and as a result, their life becomes an endless wait. Time is seen as something that has predetermined their fate, amplifying the sense of helplessness.
The final verse emphasizes the monotony and lack of effort in the person's life. They wake up to another week, but instead of taking action, they choose to roll over and go back to sleep. The mention of "color bars on the TV screen" suggests a passive existence, where the person finds solace in something uneventful. The line "nothing's written in the stars for you" reveals a belief that their destiny is predetermined and that success or change is unlikely. This pessimistic perspective continues to bring them down, leading to a sense of resignation and the acceptance of a life filled with waiting.
Overall, "The Longest Wait" captures the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of frustration, isolation, and inaction. The lyrics delve into the internal struggles of the singer, highlighting their lack of courage, constant negative thoughts, and the belief that their fate is sealed.
Line by Line Meaning
Time moves at a glacial pace when your fighting for last place
Progress feels incredibly slow when you're constantly struggling to be the last one to succeed
You've been extracted like a bad tooth
You've been forcefully removed from a situation, just like a painful tooth extraction
Another version of the truth that you never seem to know about
There's always a different perspective or truth that you never seem to grasp
Because everybody shuts you out and puts you down
People exclude you and constantly criticize you, making you feel worthless
You hear them talking behind your back
You're aware of people gossiping about you when you're not present
Heresay about this and that
Rumors and gossip circulating about various topics
You say you're gonna to tell em off some day
You mention that someday you'll confront those who speak ill of you
But still you do nothing anyway
Nevertheless, you take no action and remain silent
It never seems to be the right time
There's always a sense of timing being unfavorable
It always seems to stay in your mind
Thoughts of the situation persistently occupy your thoughts
It keeps you down
It continuously brings you down emotionally
And you're standing right there at the top of the stairs
You find yourself at the highest point of decision-making
Searching for the nerve to throw yourself down
You're seeking the courage to take a big leap or make a drastic change
You stop yourself because you never were that brave anyway
You prevent yourself from taking the leap because deep down, you don't consider yourself courageous
Your life is the longest wait
Your existence feels like an enduring period of waiting
And time has sealed your fate
The passage of time has determined your destiny
You wake up to another week
Each new week starts with a sense of monotony
You roll over, go back to sleep
You lack the motivation to face the day and return to slumber
Color bars on the tv screen
Static visual patterns displayed on the television
The best show that you've ever seen
Ironically, the static is more appealing to you than any actual TV program
And you never seem to try too hard
You rarely put in significant effort
Nothing's written in the stars for you
There are no predetermined achievements or success waiting for you
It gets you down
It brings you down emotionally
Your life is the longest wait
Your existence feels like an enduring period of waiting
And time has sealed your fate
The passage of time has determined your destiny
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FERNANDO J. VICICONTE, LUTHER RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind