Fruit Bats is an American indie-rock band formed in 1997 in Chicago, Illino… Read Full Bio ↴Fruit Bats is an American indie-rock band formed in 1997 in Chicago, Illinois. The group has had many personnel changes but revolves around songwriter Eric D. Johnson. Their albums include Echolocation (2001), Mouthfuls (2003), Spelled in Bones (2005), The Ruminant Band (2009), Tripper (2011), and Absolute Loser (2016). In 2009 Johnson also joined The Shins.

Originally part of short-lived Chicago group I Rowboat, Johnson and two of his fellow Rowboat members, guitarist Dan Strack and drummer Brian Belval, created Fruit Bats as a side-project. When I Rowboat split up, Fruit Bats became Johnson's main focus. Spurred on by Califone/Perishable Records honchos Tim Rutili and Ben Massarella, the group recorded their first album, Echolocation, released in 2001.

After tours with Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, Modest Mouse and The Shins, Fruit Bats signed with Sub Pop in late summer 2002, recording their second album, 2003's Mouthfuls, which included new bandmate Gillian Lisee.

After relocating to Seattle, the group released their third album, Spelled in Bones, in 2005. Afterward, Eric D. Johnson played with The Shins and Vetiver. In 2008, the Fruit Bats began working together again, with revised membership of Johnson, Christopher Sherman, Ron Lewis, Graeme Gibson, and Sam Wagster. In 2009, they released The Ruminant Band and in 2011 came Tripper.

In November 2013, Eric D. Johnson announced he would be dissolving Fruit Bats. That month they played what was to be their farewell show at a sold out Aladdin Theatre in Portland, OR. The following year Johnson released an album under the name EDJ.

Reforming in 2015, Fruit Bats released their sixth official full-length LP, Absolute Loser, in 2016 via newly formed Los Angeles-based label Easy Sound.

Fruit Bats signed to North Carolina-based independent label Merge Records in 2018. Also in 2018, Johnson formed the folk group Bonny Light Horseman with Josh Kaufman and Anais Mitchell.

In 2019 Fruit Bats’ Merge debut "Gold Past Life" was released.

Fruit Bats’ 2020 album The Pet Parade was produced by Johnson's Bonny Light Horseman bandmate Josh Kaufman.

In 2021, Fruit Bats released a full-album cover of Smashing Pumpkins' 1993 record Siamese Dream.

The Fruit Bats’ double-disc, 20-year career retrospective "Sometimes A Cloud Is Just a Cloud: Slow Growers, Sleeper Hits and Lost Songs" was released in 2022.

Union Blanket
Fruit Bats Lyrics

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Weathered and worn
All your sheep have been shorn
Mistaken for love
Take your mountain down

All the rivers have spilled
All the horses been killed
Pepper the earth

Put your foot in the dirt

Where the willows all weep
All the angels and snakes
Inherit the earth
Weathered and worn

Union blanket is torn
Antiquing for love

Overall Meaning

The song Union Blanket by Fruit Bats is a melancholic reflection on love and life. The opening lyrics "Weathered and worn, All your sheep have been shorn" set the tone for the song which navigates themes of loss and decay. The next line "Mistaken for love, Take your mountain down" suggests that the singer has been fooled into believing that their love will conquer all, but now they must face the reality of facing their problems.

The following lines "All the rivers have spilled, All the horses been killed" reinforce this sense of devastation and loss, suggesting that everything the singer once held dear has been taken away. The next line "Pepper the earth, Put your foot in the dirt" seems to infer that the singer feels as though they need to take ownership of their pain and move forward, even though it may be difficult. The final stanza "Where the willows all weep, All the angels and snakes Inherit the earth Weathered and worn Union blanket is torn Antiquing for love" reinforces the sense of loss and decay and suggests that the singer is now seeking comfort in objects that represent the past.

Line by Line Meaning

Weathered and worn
Tired and aged

All your sheep have been shorn
All your resources have been used up

Mistaken for love
Confused with affection

Take your mountain down
Remove all obstacles in your path

All the rivers have spilled
All opportunities have been exhausted

All the horses been killed
All chances have been lost

Pepper the earth
Spread seeds to start anew

Put your foot in the dirt
Get your hands dirty and work hard

Where the willows all weep
Where sadness and loss is felt

All the angels and snakes
All the good and bad

Inherit the earth
Take control and make the best of what's available