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.
Our Dying Brains
Grandaddy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have hollow walls
And sodden carpet
At least the cops don't come in
Spare us the legal poems
Broken legs can't run anyway
Some days were missed
And Albers turns into gear
And hours become years
Well get back to work
Right back to work I swear
Our beakers are still full of beer
Crotch rockets
and violins
We chisled and we switched
Naw, but they're not gonna mix
So please can our dying brains
Take another break
Grandaddy's song "Our Dying Brains" is a commentary on the mundane, rhythmless life of scientists stuck within laboratories. The lyrics describe the setting of the song as the science halls with hollow walls and sodden carpets. These people work in a place where broken legs do not matter because they have no need to run, and they are not bothered by the police because the legal poems spare them. The lyrics suggest that some days are missed by drinking ten kegs at Albers, a bar that is known to turn into gear. As the hours turn into years, they must get back to work since their beakers are still full of beer.
As the song progresses, it seems like the scientists in the laboratory have lost their minds, and the lyrics mention crotch rockets (a type of motorcycle) and violins, suggesting a mix of strange things. They have chiseled and switched, but these things are not going to mix. The song ends with the scientists pleading for their dying brains to take another break. In essence, the song is a commentary on the monotony of life for people who work in science labs—people who have lost their creativity and are unable to connect their thoughts due to their mundane existence.
Line by Line Meaning
The science halls
Research facilities.
Have hollow walls
The halls are empty and void of people.
And sodden carpet
The carpet has become damp and soiled over a period of time.
At least the cops don't come in
The environment is relaxed and stress-free without interference from authority figures.
Spare us the legal poems
We don't have the patience to deal with legal issues or rules.
Broken legs can't run anyway
Even if we were capable of running or moving, we don't have the energy or desire to do so.
Some days were missed
There were moments in time that were overlooked or missed out on.
Ten kegs at Albers
Drinking beer at Albers, a local bar.
And Albers turns into gear
As we continue to drink, Albers becomes a machine that keeps us going.
And hours become years
Time is lost and becomes irrelevant as we sit and drink without any concern for the future.
Well get back to work
We will return to our daily routine and responsibilities.
Right back to work I swear
We are determined to make a change and get back on track.
Our beakers are still full of beer
Even though we're back to work, we're still carrying a bit of the carefree spirit with us.
Crotch rockets
Motorcycles.
and violins
Musical instruments with no common ground.
We chisled and we switched
We tried to bring them together, but it didn't work.
Naw, but they're not gonna mix
We came to the conclusion that these two things cannot be combined.
So please can our dying brains
We beg that our exhausted and depleted brains can have a break.
Take another break
We need to rest, relax, and recharge so that we can continue with our daily lives.
Contributed by Jonathan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.