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.
Fare Thee Not Well Mutineer
Grandaddy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For far away places you'll never find
Chrome-lined smoke clouds left behind
For far away places inside your mind
Inside your mind
Board the jackass enterprise
Watch the road for broke down satellites
Fare thee not well mutineer
Fare thee not well mutineer
Should you all crash down
Should you all crash down
The grass was always greener
The grass was always greener
The dead malls are all over town
Airports are apartments now
And amusement parks by the ocean
That's where you'll find the launchpad
And the carnies and NASA university grads
University grads
Board the jackass enterprise
Watch the road for broke down satellites
Fare thee not well mutineer
Don't come back around
Fare thee not well mutineer
Should you all crash down
Should you all crash down
The grass was always greener
The grass was always greener
The song Fare Thee Not Well Mutineer by Grandaddy is a commentary on the ephemeral nature of progress and the alluring yet ultimately unattainable idea of utopia. The first verse speaks of abandoned high-rises and a polluted skyline, revealing that the search for a better life has left behind a trail of ruin. The second verse explores a world where even the mundane has been converted into something extraordinary - airports are now apartments and amusement parks are the launchpads to space. The chorus warns the mutineer not to come back around, as the search for something better can have destructive consequences. The grass is always greener, but the pursuit of utopia can lead to disappointment and failure.
The song can be viewed as a critique of capitalist society and the endless cycle of consumerism and exploitation that it perpetuates. The image of dead malls all over town highlights the transient nature of commerce, while the mention of university grads working at NASA shows how even intellectual pursuits can be commodified for profit. The jackass enterprise mentioned in the song can be interpreted as a symbol of the hollowness of progress and the absurdity of the search for utopia. The mutineer, who is a rebel against this system, is warned not to return as their actions could lead to destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
High rise carcasses left behind
Tall buildings now abandoned, standing empty like lifeless shells
For far away places you'll never find
They were created with hope for a better world that doesn't exist, a utopia that can never be reached
Chrome-lined smoke clouds left behind
Polluted skies filled with smoke and smog, a result of man's uncontrolled desire for progress and profit
For far away places inside your mind
As we try to escape the harsh realities of our surroundings, we create a world in our mind where everything is perfect
Inside your mind
Our imagination is our refuge, even when the world around us is in chaos
Board the jackass enterprise
Take a chance on a risky venture, even if it seems foolish or ill-advised
Watch the road for broke down satellites
Be wary of the failures and relics left behind by others, as they may hinder your progress
Fare thee not well mutineer
Go your own way, but don't expect a warm goodbye or any support from those you leave behind
Don't come back around
Once you've made your choice and set your course, don't turn back or second-guess yourself
Should you all crash down
If everything falls apart, don't say I didn't warn you
The grass was always greener
We always think that what we don't have is better than what we do, and we strive for the unattainable
The dead malls are all over town
Once-bustling shopping centers now lie vacant, abandoned by consumers in search of better deals elsewhere
Airports are apartments now
Public spaces become private residences, as the boundaries between public and private spheres become blurred
And amusement parks by the ocean
Artificial environments created for our entertainment, but also as a symbol of man's ability to conquer nature
That's where you'll find the launchpad
The place where we begin our journey towards the unknown
And the carnies and NASA university grads
Those who have chosen to live and work on the fringes of society, seeking adventure and fulfillment in unconventional ways
University grads
Even those who have pursued traditional paths of education and career can find themselves disillusioned and seeking something more out of life
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Lingsbord
when the universe packs it all in, I'd like this to be playing.
XenomorphLV426
This is getting closer to appropriate given current events
Sonial
SOON
Sterbus Official
I will never stop lovin' this band more then any other... I'm really waiting for Jason's solo album, I think it will be great.
Philip Sloan
Revisited this beautiful song. Never sounded more current than in the year 2020...
Mike Litoris
very true. cheers
noncontradiction
Wow, I've been listening to Grandaddy for years..and this is the first time I've heard this song..its just so beautiful. This video suits it well, somehow.
Neo Joot
It hadn't come out by then, the whole album is a work of perfection!
muzakgeek
I love how the little magnetic board has "Everything Beautiful is Far Away" on it... another one of my fav Grandaddy tunes, and nice hidden homage.
JOKAMAJA
This Band may be gone...But always stays atop of the pile of indie groups that remained in a league of their own!!!!! Lytle..Great Job...GD..were gunna miss you!