Grandaddy are an American indie pop band formed in Modesto, California in 1… Read Full Bio ↴Grandaddy are an American indie pop band formed in Modesto, California in 1992 by singer/guitarist/keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch; although a noisy, lo-fi approach characterized early recordings like 1994's Complex Party Come Along Theories, with the 1995 additions of guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden the group's sound expanded exponentially over the course of subsequent efforts including the unreleased Don't Sock the Tryer and the 1996 EP A Pretty Mess by This One Band. Originally issued on indie label Will Records, 1997's acclaimed full-length Under the Western Freeway proved Grandaddy's creative breakthrough, and the following year the album was reissued on major-label V2, with "Summer Here Kids" earning Single of the Week honors in the pages of the NME. The Broken Down Comforter Collection, a compilation of singles tracks, preceded the 1999 Signal to Snow Ratio EP, which heralded a movement toward the vintage electronic textures further in evidence on 2000's superb The Sophtware Slump. In 2002, the group released another odds-n-sods collection, Concrete Dunes, which paved the way for a busy 2003: that spring, Grandaddy released the Floating Debris EP and their fourth full-length, Sumday, and spent the rest of the year touring, making appearances at festivals such as Glastonbury. In 2005, they resurfaced with the Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla EP and a full-length album (Just Like the Fambly Cat) followed in 2006. It was to be their last, though Jason Lytle continues to tour, playing Grandaddy songs as well as his own solo works.

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.

Broken
Grandaddy Lyrics

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Rough fought boy with a subsent witch
His new girlfriend makes a good one
Broken

His closest friends call him broken
Cause he's self titled busted up
Broken

He rode dirt bikes years ago
Won some trophies did some shows
And a few demos
Broken

The boy, yes, he's my friend
Assemblage of stories and things
Broken

When it rains
He feels pain
But he don't mind
Cause it's all the same
Broken

The boy, yes, he's my friend
Assemblage of wonderful things
Broken

Broken
Broken

Overall Meaning

The song "Broken" by Grandaddy tells the story of a rough boy who is referred to as "broken" by his closest friends. The first verse describes his new girlfriend as a "subscent witch," which suggests that she may not be the best fit for him. The second verse further emphasizes his brokenness, as he is described as "self-titled busted up." Despite his struggles, the boy is revealed to have had success in riding dirt bikes, winning trophies and performing in shows and demos.

The chorus of the song repeats the word "broken," reinforcing the idea that this boy is damaged in some way. However, the singer of the song considers the boy to be a friend and describes him as an "assemblage of stories and things" and "wonderful things." The final lines of the chorus reveal that the boy experiences physical pain when it rains, but he doesn't mind because his brokenness is a constant in his life.

Overall, the lyrics of "Broken" seem to suggest that the boy in question is struggling with some sort of physical or emotional pain, but there is still value and beauty to be found in his life. The singer of the song recognizes this and celebrates the boy's unique qualities, despite his brokenness.

Line by Line Meaning

Rough fought boy with a subsent witch
The boy has had a tough life and his current partner is not helping his situation

His new girlfriend makes a good one
His new girlfriend is a good match for him

Broken
He is broken both physically and emotionally

His closest friends call him broken
His friends recognize his brokenness and accept him regardless

Cause he's self titled busted up
He personally identifies as being broken and hurting

He rode dirt bikes years ago
He used to have a passion for dirt bike riding

Won some trophies did some shows
He had some success in his dirt bike riding

And a few demos
He even tried his hand in other ventures to fulfill his passion

The boy, yes, he's my friend
The artist has a close, personal relationship with the boy

Assemblage of stories and things
The boy has a diverse collection of experiences and belongings

When it rains
Rain has a physical effect on him