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.
Hawaiian Island Wranglers
Grandaddy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And how can that be fair
Hawaiian island wranglers
Kicking that loved ones' mothers around
And the last thing she remembered
In the midst of all the sound
This drift would come on down
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
Teeth on the ground
I'm going to Nebraska
(Teeth on the ground)
Plus my dreamland to Alaska
(Teeth on the ground)
And at ninteen thirty seven
(Teeth on the ground)
I'll try ninteen twenty
(Teeth on the ground)
Oh I'll try ninteen twenty
(Teeth on the ground)
(Teeth on the ground)
(Teeth on the ground)
The lyrics to Grandaddy's song Hawaiian Island Wranglers are cryptic and open to interpretation. The opening lines, "Beautiful sunrise, And how can that be fair," seems to capture a complex emotion of beauty and pain. The song title itself is a bit of a paradox as it suggests that cowboys are wrangling surfboards instead of cattle. This is perhaps a nod to the surf culture of Hawaii or a commentary on the exploitation of natural resources and industries for profit.
The next line in the song, "Hawaiian island wranglers, Kicking that loved ones' mothers around," further emphasizes the disconnect between beauty and brutality. The image of someone kicking their loved one's mother around is jarring and disturbing. It speaks to a sense of desperation or hopelessness that one might feel in a situation where they are forced to betray their own values or loved ones for survival.
The most enigmatic part of the song comes in the repetition of the phrase "Teeth on the ground" throughout the verses. The line "And the last thing she remembered, In the midst of all the sound, This drift would come on down" perhaps suggests a memory or flashback from someone who has experienced trauma. The repetition of the phrase may be a way of symbolizing the physical and emotional pain of such an experience.
Overall, Hawaiian Island Wranglers is a complex and mysterious song that invites the listener to draw their own conclusions about its meaning. It captures the tension between beauty and brutality, and hints at the dark realities that underlie seemingly idyllic settings.
Line by Line Meaning
Beautiful sunrise
The sight of the sunrise is a beautiful one.
And how can that be fair
The singer wonders how something so beautiful can exist in a world where there is so much injustice.
Hawaiian island wranglers
The people responsible for rounding up others on the Hawaiian islands are referred to as 'wranglers.'
Kicking that loved ones' mothers around
The wranglers are brutally abusing the mothers of those who are loved and cherished by others.
And the last thing she remembered
The next lines are describing a memory of a traumatic event.
In the midst of all the sound
The memory takes place in a chaotic environment.
This drift would come on down
Something terrible was about to happen.
Teeth on the ground
The traumatic event involved teeth being knocked out.
I'm going to Nebraska
The artist is planning to travel to Nebraska.
(Teeth on the ground)
The trauma of the earlier event is being relived by the artist.
Plus my dreamland to Alaska
The singer also plans to visit Alaska, which is their dream destination.
And at ninteen thirty seven
The year 1937 is mentioned, which may hold significance for the artist.
I'll try ninteen twenty
The singer is uncertain about the exact year they want to try.
Oh I'll try ninteen twenty
The singer reaffirms their intention to try something later.
(Teeth on the ground)
The trauma continues to haunt the singer.
(Teeth on the ground)
The trauma continues to haunt the artist.
(Teeth on the ground)
The trauma continues to haunt the artist.
(Teeth on the ground)
The trauma continues to haunt the singer.
(Teeth on the ground)
The trauma continues to haunt the singer.
Contributed by Claire W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jangmertens5871
Jason please invent songs to get the world better.... please your the only one who can bring back the 90ties
@grandaddyarchive
Jason doesn't own this channel, sorry... If you'd like to contact him, I'd suggest finding a way to do so on his website: http://jasonlytle.com/