So far the band have released two albums - "Weathervanes" in 2009, and "Diluvia" in 2012.
In April 2013, the band announced that Doris Cellar would no longer be playing with the band.
Generator ^ Second Floor
Freelance Whales Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What that window door went to
Only told to stay away
I almost had an accident, age 6
When I found the key in the attic
And now the smell of these wood frames
Is the only sense I've left
So as you pull me from the bed
And since you are my friend
I would ask that you lower me down slow
And tell the man in the black cloak
He doesn't need to trouble his good soul
With those Latin conjugations
And if it's all the same to them
You should tell your gathering friends
Please not to purse their faces grim
On such a lovely Sunday
Don't fix my smile, life is long enough
We will put this flesh into the ground again
Don't fix my smile, life is long enough
We will put this flesh into the ground again
Don't fix my smile, life is long enough
We will put this flesh into the ground again
Don't fix my smile, life is long enough
We will put this flesh into the ground again
Don't fix my smile, life is long enough
We will put this flesh into the ground again
Don't fix my smile, life is long enough
We will put this flesh into the ground again
The lyrics to "Generator ^ Second Floor" by Freelance Whales are reflective of mortality and the inevitable end of life. The singer of the song reflects on their childhood, stating that they were told to stay away from a certain area of their house and they never knew what was behind the door. As a child, they almost had an accident when they found the key to this unknown area. Now, as an adult, the smell of the wooden frames is the only sense they have left. The singer is then being pulled from their bed, and they want to be told they look "stunning and cadaverous". They then ask their friend to lower them down slowly and tell the man in the black cloak that they don't need to trouble his good soul with Latin conjugations. They then ask their friend to tell the gathering friends not to purse their faces grim on such a lovely Sunday. The repeated refrain of "Don't fix my smile, life is long enough, we will put this flesh into the ground again" is the singer accepting the inevitable end of life and not wanting anyone to try to fix or change things. This song is a meditation on death and how we can make peace with it.
The song was inspired by frontman Judah Dadone's experience of breaking into an abandoned building and exploring it, though he never entered the second floor. The song's title comes from the phrase "generator second floor" that appears on the side of a building in Brooklyn.
Line by Line Meaning
And I could never tell as a kid
As a child, I was unable to identify where the window door led to.
What that window door went to
I couldn't decipher the purpose of that particular door.
Only told to stay away
I was advised by my guardians to keep my distance from that area.
I almost had an accident, age 6
At six years old, I came close to experiencing a mishap.
When I found the key in the attic
The key to access that door was discovered in the attic.
And now the smell of these wood frames
The only reminder of that incident is the scent of the wooden frames.
Is the only sense I've left
It's the only memory that remains with me till now.
So as you pull me from the bed
As you move me out of bed,
Tell me I look stunning and cadaverous
Compliment my appearance of being both beautiful and corpse-like.
And since you are my friend
Considering you are my pal,
I would ask that you lower me down slow
Kindly request that you handle me with care and lower me gradually.
And tell the man in the black cloak
Inform the person wearing the black robe,
He doesn't need to trouble his good soul
Advise him not to go through the trouble of executing any rituals or spells.
With those Latin conjugations
There's no need for fancy Latin terms or vocabulary.
And if it's all the same to them
And, if they don't mind,
You should tell your gathering friends
Please inform our companions who are present,
Please not to purse their faces grim
To not make an unpleasant face or look distraught.
On such a lovely Sunday
Considering what a beautiful day it is today.
Don't fix my smile, life is long enough
Don't bother trying to make me smile, life is already lengthy.
We will put this flesh into the ground again
We will bury this body into the earth once more.
Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mirelim9353
RIP Chuck. You'll be missed, thank you for such beautiful music ❤
@kelly.preston1986
R. I. P. Chuck! You will be missed. 🥺
@xMAP97x
I found this band when I was 13 (I'm 25 now) still one of my top bands. Ghosting was my first song I heard by them. Their music has gotten me through hard times
RIP Chuck 🙏 ❤️
@elainemahlecke8873
RIP Chuck. You were a great guy. Wish I'd hugged you harder the one time I got to meet you. Always will be grateful for your existence in this world. You and your band's music still makes it a little easier to live here.
@ManuelMartinez-dy7gv
5 years ago a week before my late sister passed I listened to this song. At the time I wasn't aware of how preemptive, let alone convinient it was to find something so beautiful to help me direct my emotions. Because of those days and this band I decided to become a musician. 4 years strong, i'm just sad it took a loss to develop the kind of relationship I have with music now
@nevermalady9055
That's why you haven't subscribed to this youtube channel right?
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
@chuckkelm9720
Manuel Martinez no. there is no measure to this
@chkell8485
be the monsta. for love, always love.
@toastburntbread
I used to listen to Freelance Whales every snowy morning going to university. So for me, Freelance Whales reminds me of light reflecting off of snow, mornings, a beautiful down town and an exciting, changing time in my life.
@JAManzano17
This song has the right amount of cowbell.