The band began as an acoustic freak-folk solo project Hop Along, Queen Ansleis in 2004, during Frances Quinlan's senior year in high school. The album Freshman Year was released in the summer of 2005. Three years later, in 2008, drummer Mark Quinlan (Frances Quinlan's brother) joined the project, followed by bassist Tyler Long in 2009. In light of the new formation, the name was shortened, possibly to better reflect the change from solo project to full band. Thus far, Hop Along has released one EP, Wretches, in 2009, and one full-length LP, entitled Get Disowned, which was released on May 5, 2012 to a highly positive critical response from independent music press. During the this time, Joe Reinhart (Algernon Cadwallader) was added on second guitar. In October 2014, Hop Along signed to indie rock label Saddle Creek Records, releasing Painted Shut in 2015.
Hop Along's third album Bark Your Head Off, Dog was released in 2018, incorporating strings and more varied instrumentation, as well as a brighter, more expansive sound.
Buddy in the Parade
Hop Along Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You didn't leave behind a goddamn thing
Why did I look into the dim eye of the mole?
There was no silence, their many voices spoke
Thinking I died, I tried to listen
I saw one hundred saddles without horses, galloping
That's what you used to play at shows
Sister, sister, sister watches the furniture go
She just didn't have the scratch to keep you in that sorry hole
Money, money, money don't let you sleep
Switching graves in the cemetery
They buried you so many times, can't find your body
Get outta here, go home
That's what you used to play at the ends of shows
In the middle of the parade, you were frothing at the mouth
"Didn't he ramble 'til the butcher cut him down?"
Fool, all you touch on this turning dream
Is either gonna be burned or buried
All your jewelry goes around from town to town
All your pretty ones, I'm not gonna say where they are now
"Get outta here, go home"
That's what you used to say at the ends of shows
In the middle of the parade, you were frothing at the mouth
Children, turn on your radio and don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out, out
Go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out, don't
The song "Buddy in the Parade" by Hop Along is a cryptic and introspective piece that tackles various themes such as identity, fame, and mortality through a series of surreal images and metaphors. The opening lines set the tone for the song, as the singer hears about someone who was a king but left nothing behind. This is followed by a reflection on the nature of existence, as the singer looks into the "dim eye of the mole" and hears "many voices" speaking. The singer then describes a vision of a hundred saddles without horses, galloping, which could suggest a sense of chaos or meaningless activity.
The second verse introduces a sister character who is watching furniture being taken away, presumably due to financial difficulties. The mention of money continues in the next line as the singer describes how it prevents someone from sleeping. The line "switching graves in the cemetery" is a curious one, suggesting either that the person being referred to has had many burials or that people are moving from one grave to another. The chorus remains the same throughout the song, consisting of the repeated line "get outta here, go home" which could be interpreted as a call to retreat from the overwhelming world described in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard you were the king
I heard you were the most powerful and influential person
You didn't leave behind a goddamn thing
You didn't leave any meaningful contribution or legacy
Why did I look into the dim eye of the mole?
Why did I try to uncover something hidden and unpleasant?
There was no silence there many voices spoke
There was no peace and quiet, only a lot of noise and confusion
Thinking I died I tried to listen
When I thought I was dead, I tried to pay attention
I saw one hundred saddles without horses, galloping
I saw a chaotic and meaningless spectacle
Get outta here, go home
Leave this place and return to where you belong
That's what you used to play at shows
That's the kind of music you used to perform
Sister, sister, sister
An exclamation of surprise, indicating that someone or something is unexpected
Watches the furniture go
Witnesses the destruction and loss of valuable possessions
She just didn't have the scratch
She didn't have the money or resources
To keep you in that sorry hole
To keep you trapped in that miserable situation
Money money, money
Money is all that matters
Don't let you sleep
Keeps you up at night, worrying and stressing
Switching graves in the cemetery
Changing your ways or your identity completely
They buried you so many times
People have written you off or declared you dead so many times
Can't find your body
You have disappeared or become unrecognizable
In the middle of the parade, you were frothing at the mouth
You were losing control and becoming very agitated while everyone else was celebrating
Didn't he ramble 'til the butcher cut him down
A reference to the traditional folk song 'St. James Infirmary Blues', about someone who talks too much and gets killed by a butcher
Fool, all you touch on this turning dream
You are naïve and your impact on the world is fleeting
Is either gonna be burned or buried
Will be destroyed or forgotten
All your jewelry goes around from town to town
Your possessions become meaningless and lose their original value
All your pretty ones, I'm not gonna say where they are now
All the beautiful and desirable things that once surrounded you are now gone or lost
Children, turn on your radio and don't go out
Find refuge and entertainment inside, and avoid the chaos and danger outside
Don't go out
Stay inside and avoid the negative influences of the world
Out
Away from home or to a dangerous place
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Christine Frances Quinlan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Emily Termini
I heard you were the king
You didn't leave behind a goddamn thing
Why did I look into the dim eye of the mole?
There was no silence, their many voices spoke
Thinking I died, I tried to listen
I saw one hundred saddles without horses, galloping
Get out of here, go home
That's what you used to play at shows
Sister, sister, sister watches the furniture go
She just didn't have the scratch to keep you in that sorry hole
Money, money, money don't let you sleep
Switching graves in the cemetery
They buried you so many times, can't find your body
Get outta here, go home
That's what you used to play at the ends of shows
In the middle of the parade, you were frothing at the mouth
"Didn't he ramble 'til the butcher cut him down?"
Fool, all you touch on this turning dream
Is either gonna be burned or buried
All your jewelry goes around from town to town
All your pretty ones, I'm not gonna say where they are now
"Get outta here, go home"
That's what you used to say at the ends of shows
In the middle of the parade, you were frothing at the mouth
Children, turn on your radio and don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out, out
Go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out, don't
Emily Termini
I heard you were the king
You didn't leave behind a goddamn thing
Why did I look into the dim eye of the mole?
There was no silence, their many voices spoke
Thinking I died, I tried to listen
I saw one hundred saddles without horses, galloping
Get out of here, go home
That's what you used to play at shows
Sister, sister, sister watches the furniture go
She just didn't have the scratch to keep you in that sorry hole
Money, money, money don't let you sleep
Switching graves in the cemetery
They buried you so many times, can't find your body
Get outta here, go home
That's what you used to play at the ends of shows
In the middle of the parade, you were frothing at the mouth
"Didn't he ramble 'til the butcher cut him down?"
Fool, all you touch on this turning dream
Is either gonna be burned or buried
All your jewelry goes around from town to town
All your pretty ones, I'm not gonna say where they are now
"Get outta here, go home"
That's what you used to say at the ends of shows
In the middle of the parade, you were frothing at the mouth
Children, turn on your radio and don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out, out
Go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out
Don't go out, don't
david thomas
vocals sound like a cross between kurt cobain and the cranberries lead singer. this is so good
Carolien Geritz
I love this so much, Hop Along is so underrated! ♡
Jake
Favorite song on the new album.
sagacious rage of 1993 babies
Avery Jacobson cool thanks for the reference. I love songs from Hop Along, QA
Avery Amadeus Jacobson
+Valane it's good but I saw my twin is amazing
carlaK
pretty much my fave of theirs
SuperBant
Brilliant!
sagacious rage of 1993 babies
SuperBant surely
Kyle Donaldson
amazing