Still, Harvey Danger has attracted U.S. attention due to their critical praise, with the All Music Guide calling the release 'Little By Little' "a smart and compelling pop album". In contrast, the band is little known in Europe, the aforementioned issues compounded since the band focused on selling themselves in America (especially Seattle) and thus made it very difficult for fans to get albums in Europe. The original drummer, Evan Sult, moved to Chicago and now drums in the band Bound Stems. For a short-time, he was replaced by Michael Welke, formerly of the band No. 226.
As a symbol of the group's close connection to its fans, they published their last album as a free download along with other materials. In 2009, they announced on their website they've called it quits. According to them, their decision was mutual, and they felt the band has run its course. The single "Flagpole Sitta" remains popular on various radio stations as well as having notoriety from being the theme song to the popular British comedy program 'Peep Show'.
On March 6, 2016, bass player and founding member, Aaron Huffman, died of respiratory failure.
Diminishing Returns
Harvey Danger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And everybody's tip-toeing around him
Surround him, I see
You found yourself a hammer
Drops revolutionary grammar
Concerning the burning of city hall
And urban sprawl and decay
(getting so old)
Of having it both ways
(So old)
Hell is other people
And some people never learn
When optimism fails
And my cooler head prevails
I will meet you at the point of diminishing returns
Down in the abstract
Looking for a concrete artifact
Something to hold on to
Not one more thing to believe in
Stuck in a fallback
And fighting off a heart attack
And you're so tangible
Like a nitroglycerin tablet
Under my tongue
(getting so old)
Farewell to the day
Of having it both ways
(so old)
That brings the best out
And thanks for your concern
When pessimism fails and
My cooler head prevails
I will meet you at the point of diminishing returns
And progress shall be defined
By your position on the bridge
As it burns
When populism, activism, urbanism fail
My cooler head, my cooler head will prevail
When there are no more gods left to annoit
No more noses to bend out of joint
I'm gonna meet you at the point of diminishing returns
(getting so old)
Farewell to the day
Of having it both ways
(So old)
Hell is other people
Some people never learn
(getting so old)
Farewell to the day
Of having it both ways
(so old)
When optimism fails
And my cooler head prevails
I will meet you at the point of diminishing returns
In "Diminishing Returns" by Harvey Danger, the artist paints a vivid picture of societal disillusionment and the feelings of disconnect that occur as one attempts to navigate the world with a sense of purpose. The opening lines identify the central figure, "The king of the swinging moves," who is back in town, and the way that people are responding to their presence. In the chorus, there is an acknowledgement that some people never learn, which can be interpreted as a warning against blindly following charismatic leaders or ideologies without questioning their merit. The lyrics take a turn towards the personal in the second verse, with the singer feeling stuck and searching for a concrete artifact to hold onto in a world that feels abstract and intangible. The theme of disillusionment and the limits of optimism come full circle in the final verse, with a nod to political and societal failure, and the recognition that true progress and understanding often come in the moments when all else has failed.
Line by Line Meaning
The king of the swinging moves is back in town
The person who dominates the social scene has returned
And everybody's tip-toeing around him
People are trying to please him and not upset him
Surround him, I see
There are many people around this dominant figure
You found yourself a hammer
You have found a powerful tool to make change
Drops revolutionary grammar
Uses powerful and innovative language to inspire others
Concerning the burning of city hall
Talking about major social problems and injustices
And urban sprawl and decay
Talking about the negative effects of uncontrolled urbanization
(getting so old)
These issues have been around for a long time, and people are tired of hearing about them
Farewell to the day
It is time to move on from the old ways
Of having it both ways
It is not possible to have everything you want
(So old)
These problems have been around for so long that they seem impossible to solve
Hell is other people
Dealing with other people can be frustrating and difficult
And some people never learn
Some people never change and never learn from their mistakes
When optimism fails
When positive thinking is not enough to solve problems
And my cooler head prevails
When I remain calm and rational in difficult situations
I will meet you at the point of diminishing returns
I will reach a point where further effort is not worthwhile
Down in the abstract
In the realm of ideas and theories
Looking for a concrete artifact
Searching for something real and tangible in a world of abstract concepts
Something to hold on to
A stable point of reference in an uncertain world
Not one more thing to believe in
I have lost faith in everything else
Stuck in a fallback
Trapped in a pattern of behavior that is not productive
And fighting off a heart attack
Struggling to control intense emotions
And you're so tangible
You are a real and solid presence in my life
Like a nitroglycerin tablet
You have a powerful and explosive effect on me
Under my tongue
You are always on my mind, influencing my thoughts and actions
That brings the best out
You inspire me to be my best self
And thanks for your concern
I appreciate that you care about me and my well-being
When pessimism fails and
When negative thinking is not enough to solve problems
My cooler head prevails
I remain calm and rational in difficult situations
And progress shall be defined
The definition of progress is subjective and depends on one's perspective
By your position on the bridge
Your point of view determines what direction progress should take
As it burns
As the situation becomes more desperate
When populism, activism, urbanism fail
When the usual methods of effecting social change do not work
No more noses to bend out of joint
No more people to cause trouble or offend
I'm gonna meet you at the point of diminishing returns
I will reach a point where further effort is not worthwhile, and we will meet there
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ameliawade78
I genuinely think this is the finest song the band have produced, a work of art. My favorite line - 'Progress shall be defined by your position on the bridge as it burns'. Absolutely spectacular.
@halykan
This is my favorite song by them as well, but I prefer the finished version to the demo.
@halykan
EDIT: a bit of googling has uncovered the surprising info that this is apparently the album version and the one I like is the demo, lol.
@evillealbey1
❤
@thecustardguys
Especially relevant today.
@saucyjimbo1340
this is their best album hands down
@LudusAurea
It's genuinely criminal that this band, regardless of having split up a long time ago, barely has like 5 times my subscribers. They're amazing, and I'm not.