Additional Info:
Under the name Arm of Roger, Grandaddy recorded a joke album entitled The Ham and its Lily in 2002.
A.M. 180, which was released as a single, is featured prominently in the British film 28 Days Later.
On the 27th January 2006, Jason Lytle confirmed that the band would split following the release of their final album, Just Like The Fambly Cat.
Jason Lytle has since toured the US as a solo artist, playing Grandaddy songs from the last album and others. He is said to plan a solo career of new material.
On March 2, 2012, Grandaddy announced their reunion with news of a headline slot at the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, England on 2 September. Further dates are expected.
A Valley Son
Grandaddy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's nothin' more this shore can teach
The maltreatment of the sun
You've lost a valley son
He was down with bein' done
But now he's done with bein' down
Mis maltreatment has a sound
You've lost a valley son
You've lost a valley son
You've lost a valley son
The engine in his heart
Gets dirty, then don't start
Man, it all just falls apart
He can't watch his other shine
As he's rottin' on the vine
This maltreatment over time
You've lost a valley son
You've lost a valley son
You've lost a valley son
You've lost a valley son
The lyrics to Grandaddy's song "A Valley Son" are both poetic and melancholic in nature. The opening verse suggests a contemplative mood, possibly setting the stage for a reflection on loss, disappointment or unfulfilled promise. The reference to being on the beach within arm's reach perhaps implies that the singer cannot escape the problems they are facing, no matter how far they try to distance themselves. The observation that there is nothing more the shore can teach seems to suggest that the singer feels emotionally stuck and unable to learn from their experiences. The maltreatment of the sun could be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer's own pain or suffering, which is causing them to feel lost or disconnected from their surroundings. The repeating refrain "You've lost a valley son" could be interpreted in various ways. It could imply a judgment or indictment of someone who has failed to provide support or guidance when it is needed most, or it could simply be a resigned acknowledgment of a destiny that cannot be changed.
The second verse reinforces the singer's sense of disillusionment and frustration. The use of the phrase "down with being done" suggests that they have reached a breaking point and are no longer willing to tolerate their current state of affairs. The line "Mis maltreatment has a sound" seems to suggest that others have heard and recognized the singer's pain, possibly indicating a theme of isolation or neglect. The use of the phrase "robbing on the vine" is a reference to a plant that is slowly dying without proper care or attention, reinforcing the singer's self-perception as helpless or powerless. The closing lines suggest that there is no escaping the inevitability of decline, with the engine in the singer's heart metaphorically breaking down and leaving them stranded. The overall meaning of the song is open to interpretation, but the somber mood and introspective lyrics indicate a deep sense of loss and disappointment.
Line by Line Meaning
On the beach, within arm's reach
The singer is close to the shore but has already learned everything it has to offer
There's nothin' more this shore can teach
The beach has nothing more to offer in terms of learning or growth
The maltreatment of the sun
The harshness of the sun, possibly a metaphor for life's difficulties
You've lost a valley son
The artist was once a resident of the valley but has now left, either by choice or force
He was down with bein' done
The artist was once resigned to his fate or situation
But now he's done with bein' down
He refuses to stay in a negative state and wants to emerge from it
Mis maltreatment has a sound
The maltreatment he has suffered has left a permanent mark on him
You've lost a valley son
The loss of the artist is significant to those in the valley
The engine in his heart
The passion or drive that once powered him
Gets dirty, then don't start
If his passion gets tarnished or damaged, he loses the will to act
Man, it all just falls apart
The consequences of losing his passion are severe and catastrophic
He can't watch his other shine
He cannot witness others excelling while he is stuck in a negative state
As he's rottin' on the vine
The inactivity or stagnation he experiences causes him to feel like he is wasting away
This maltreatment over time
The maltreatment he has experienced over time has caused irreversible damage
You've lost a valley son
The loss of the singer will be felt deeply by those in the valley
You've lost a valley son
The loss of the artist will be felt deeply by those in the valley
You've lost a valley son
The loss of the artist will be felt deeply by those in the valley
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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