The Freaks' sound was a combination of folk and rock, and drew heavily from the blues and primitive Americana music. Their lyrics focused on race, religion, and life in the South, although Harvey was also adept at writing about more personal topics (the lack of success of independent bands, his sex life) using rich metaphors from these former topics, so that many of their songs could be interpreted in two entirely different ways. Bryan's obsession with southern gothic issues influenced his song writing. These sentiments can be heard in such songs as "White Folk's Blood", "Family Tree" and "Big Houses" from the album "Tantilla".
Harvey and Hott moved to Los Angeles for the release of the band's first album, Monkey on a Chain Gang, which received considerable critical acclaim. However, unsatisfied with life in L.A., they moved back east, where they recorded their subsequent albums and faded from the public spotlight. Fans of the band universally consider Cakewalk and Tantilla to be the Freaks's best work.
On March 13, 1988, House of Freaks performed at the legendary Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, California with The 77s and The Alarm. Audience members included Neil Young.
After the band's breakup, Harvey and Hott joined a Paisley Underground supergroup called Gutterball, headed by Steve Wynn, formerly of Dream Syndicate and also featuring Stephen McCarthy of The Long Ryders and Bob Rupe of The Silos. The group released two albums, Gutterball (1993) and Weasel (1995). Harvey co-wrote many songs on each.
Hott later joined the band Cracker. Harvey has guested on a number of other artists' albums, including September 67's Lucky Shoe, two albums by Shannon Worrell (formerly of September 67), and Magnet's Shark Bait. Both Harvey and Hott assisted Mark Linkous on the debut Sparklehorse record. Bryan Harvey played in a funk band, NRG Krysys, in Richmond, Virginia with Coby Batty of The Fugs. Johnny Hott has a jazz combo with Stephen McCarthy.
On January 1st, 2006, Bryan Harvey, his wife Kathryn, and their daughters Stella and Ruby were found murdered in the basement of their Richmond home.
Remember Me Well
House of Freaks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bound for heaven or hell
After alls said and done
Please remember me well
You can dance on my grave
You can ring out the bell
You can drink to my health
Sing the soldires lament
Hear the stories he tell
If you all shed a tear
Please remember me well
when my ships going down
And the band plays its nell
When the mast disappears
Remember Me Well
In a hundreds years spent
With the worms that will dwell
When I'm gone from this world
Please remember me well
You can dance on my grave
You can ring out the bells
After alls said and done
Please remember me well
Please remember me well
Just remember me well
The House of Freaks song, Remember Me Well, explores the idea of how we want to be remembered after we pass on from this world. The lyrics are a contemplation on life and death, and the legacy one leaves behind. The opening lines, "When I lay down my head, bound for heaven or hell, after all's said and done, please remember me well" suggests that the singer is aware of the inevitability of death and is asking to be remembered in good light. He realizes that ultimately heaven or hell is where he is headed, but what is important to him is how he leaves his mark in the world.
The singer uses vivid imagery to describe what he wants to happen after he dies. "You can dance on my grave, you can ring out the bell, you can drink to my health, but remember me well," suggests that he doesn't mind what people do after he dies as long as he is remembered well. The line "When my ships going down and the band plays its nell, when the mast disappears, remember me well" suggests that even in the darkest moments, he wants to be remembered. The final lines of the song "In a hundred years spent with the worms that will dwell, when I'm gone from this world, please remember me well" touches on the human desire for immortality, and that even though our physical bodies will decay, we want to be remembered for generations to come.
Overall, Remember Me Well is a beautiful and introspective song that makes the listener think about their own mortality and what kind of legacy they want to leave behind.
Line by Line Meaning
When I lay down my head
When I die and my body is at rest
Bound for heaven or hell
Whether I go to heaven or hell is uncertain
After alls said and done
Once everything is over and done with
Please remember me well
I want to be remembered fondly
You can dance on my grave
If it brings joy, then dance on my grave after I am gone
You can ring out the bell
Ring the bell in celebration of my life
You can drink to my health
Toast to my well-being
But remember me well
Despite the festivities, I hope to be remembered affectionately
Sing the soldiers lament
Hear the sadness of the soldiers and their stories
Hear the stories he tell
Listen to the accounts of those who served
If you all shed a tear
If you are moved to tears
Please remember me well
Remember me with kindness and respect
When my ship's going down
When things go wrong in life
And the band plays its nell
Even amidst difficulties, there can still be music
When the mast disappears
When things fall apart
Remember Me Well
Still, I hope to be remembered fondly
In a hundred years spent
When a century passes
With the worms that will dwell
When my body has decayed and is just soil
When I'm gone from this world
When my physical presence is no longer here
Please remember me well
Remember me with kindness and fondness
You can dance on my grave
Again, celebrate and enjoy life even after I am gone
You can ring out the bells
Ring the bells in remembrance
After alls said and done
At the end of it all
Please remember me well
I hope to be remembered with love and warmth
Please remember me well
I ask that my memory be cherished
Just remember me well
Above all, I hope to be remembered well
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRYAN TABER HARVEY, JOHN DUDLEY HOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind