Phillips began Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986. By 1988, they had signed with Columbia Records. After recording six albums and playing many major tours, they disbanded in 1998.
During his time in Toad the Wet Sprocket, Phillips was involved in a pop rock project called flapping, Flapping.
Three years later, following the breakup of Toad, Phillips released his first solo album, Abulum, which was a change from the sound that Toad the Wet Sprocket was known for. This was followed up by a self-released live album and solo touring, along with a reunion tour with his former Toad bandmates
In 2004, Phillips, with Nickel Creek, released a long-awaited collaboration as Mutual Admiration Society. The self-titled album had been recorded in 2000 and featured songs written by both Phillips alone and as collaborative efforts, and was released on Sugar Hill Records.
In 2005, Phillips returned to a major label via Universal Records' Lost Highway imprint and released the critically acclaimed Winter Pays For Summer. The album included the radio single "Duck and Cover," but Phillips and the label would part ways due to some creative differences.
Phillips released his third proper solo album, Mr. Lemons in the spring of 2006. The music video for the album's first single, "Everything But You," made its debut as a Yahoo! Exclusive Premiere on May 11, 2006.
Men Just Leave
Glen Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And his pit bull Francis
Even when he took a chunk out of her hand
The liked to dance in the desert and screw in the sand
He said they'd always be together
But when her belly got big she never saw him again
One and one ends up to be three
But when the air gets heavy and it's hard to breathe
The women get stuck, the men just leave
They were high school sweethearts from Portland, Maine
He was a writers block poet
And though she'd never read a line she still had faith
They ended up in La Jolia, she sold Mary Kay
He dreamed about getting published
And when her belly got big he ran away
I've seen that one and one ends up to be three
Don't need to have love don't need to be sweet
But when the air gets heavy and it's hard to breathe
The women get stuck, the men just leave
There's a place in the desert where the men all meet
They park their vans in the shade
Talk about Kerouac and the works of the Beats
Let their dogs play together, drink beer and they sing
They've all got a secret treasure
The wellet pictures in their pocket
Of the kids they never see
In Glen Phillips's song "Men Just Leave", he recounts the stories of two women who found themselves alone after their partners abandoned them. The first woman, who hailed from Austin, Texas, was drawn to her partner's custom van and pit bull, Francis. Despite the dog taking a chunk out of her hand, they continued to dance together in the deserts and engage in sexual activities on the sand. Her partner promised her that they would always be together, but disappeared from her life as soon as she became pregnant. The second woman was in a long-term relationship with a writer from Portland, Maine. Although she had never read a single line of his work, she supported him through his difficult bouts of writer's block. They moved to La Jolla, where she sold Mary Kay cosmetics and he dreamed of getting published. When she became pregnant, he vanished just like the first woman's partner. The song emphasizes that each of these women were left to face the consequences of their partner's actions, while the men were able to avoid responsibility entirely.
Throughout the song, Phillips suggests that men are more likely to abandon their partners when the going gets tough. He states that "when the air gets heavy and it's hard to breathe, the women get stuck, the men just leave." He further emphasizes this by detailing how the men from the first woman's story have formed a community in the desert, where they all park their vans in the shade and talk about the works of the Beats. The men all have a secret treasure, the wallet pictures of their children that they never see, suggesting that their abandonment of their children is a common thread that unites them.
Line by Line Meaning
She came from Austin, Texas, she liked his custom van
She was attracted to his cool van and they started a relationship.
And his pit bull Francis
She even overlooked the fact that his dog had bitten her hand.
Even when he took a chunk out of her hand
She still stayed with him despite the dog biting her hand.
They liked to dance in the desert and screw in the sand
They enjoyed intimate and romantic moments together in the desert.
He said they'd always be together
He promised to stay with her no matter what.
But when her belly got big she never saw him again
He abandoned her when she got pregnant.
One and one ends up to be three
Relationships can become complicated and difficult.
Don't need to have love don't need to be sweet
Relationships do not necessarily require love or affection.
But when the air gets heavy and it's hard to breathe
When things get tough, people struggle to cope.
The women get stuck, the men just leave
Women often feel trapped when men leave them in difficult times.
They were high school sweethearts from Portland, Maine
They had been in love since high school in Portland.
He was a writers block poet
He suffered from writer's block as a poet.
And though she'd never read a line she still had faith
She believed in him and his dream, despite not being interested in poetry herself.
They ended up in La Jolia, she sold Mary Kay
They moved to La Jolla, California, where she sold cosmetics.
He dreamed about getting published
He aspired to get his writing published.
And when her belly got big he ran away
When she got pregnant, he left her.
There's a place in the desert where the men all meet
Men gather in a specific location in the desert.
They park their vans in the shade
They park their vehicles in a cool and shady spot.
Talk about Kerouac and the works of the Beats
They discuss literature and writers like Kerouac and the Beat Generation.
Let their dogs play together, drink beer and they sing
They enjoy each other's company, allow their dogs to play together, drink beer, and sing.
They've all got a secret treasure
All of the men have a hidden treasure.
The wallet pictures in their pocket
The treasure is pictures of the children they abandoned or don't see.
Of the kids they never see
They have children they don't see, abandoned them, and left their mothers behind.
Lyrics © COMPASS RECORDS GROUP INC
Written by: GLEN PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind