The band's name is taken from the lyrics of "One-Trick Pony" from the album One-Trick Pony by Paul Simon.
The band released The View and Transporter independently before signing to label Mint Records in early 2005.
Their Mint Records debut, Ones and Zeros, came out on September 6, 2005, and they supported the album with a tour of Canada and the United States. That year, Calder also became a sometime member of The New Pornographers, appearing on the album Twin Cinema and touring with the band. She is the niece of New Pornographers leader A.C. Newman.
In early June 2007, the band's song Jarhand, the first single from their third album Immaculate Machine's Fables, was featured as the iTunes free single of the week.
In 2009, the band saw some member changes. Luke Kozlowski left the band and was replaced by Aden Collinge. Caitlin Gallupe, Brooke's sister, joined the band on bass guitar. She previously designed the band's album covers and performed some backing vocals on Immaculate Machine's Fables. The group also added a second guitarist, Jordan Minkoff and an occasional member, Leslie Rewega, on keyboards, percussion and background vocals.
On/Off
Immaculate Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the moment slips into the past
I blink and it moves beyond my grasp
And then it's gone
What does she expect?
There's no way I can be perfect
Now I'm trying to forget
I wish it could last
But the moment slips into the past
I blink and it moves beyond my grasp
And then it's gone
I can't see in black and white
Instead it's different shades of grey
It's hard to let go of yesterday
When you're hanging on
Immaculate Machine's song "On/Off" is a melancholic, yet contemplative song about the fleeting nature of time and love. The first verse describes the frustration of watching time pass by quickly, regardless of one's desires to hold onto a moment that is precious. The line "I blink and it moves beyond my grasp" illustrates the helplessness and powerlessness one can feel against the relentless passing of time. There is a sense of sadness in the singer's voice as they sing "I wish it could last," conveying their longing for a moment to remain frozen in time.
The second verse shifts the focus towards a relationship that has ended. The opening question, "What does she expect?" implies a sense of resentment or anger towards the other person. However, it is quickly followed up with "There's no way I can be perfect," suggesting that this feeling is rooted in a more complex emotional state. The singer is now struggling to forget and move on from the past, which has become nothing more than a distant memory.
The chorus is repeated twice in the song, emphasizing the main theme of the song. Here, the singer laments the inability to hold onto special moments and the passing of time. The last line, "When you're hanging on" confirms that the song is about someone holding onto something that has already slipped away.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish it could last
The singer wants the moment to last forever.
But the moment slips into the past
The moment is fleeting and passes quickly.
I blink and it moves beyond my grasp
The moment is gone before the singer can fully appreciate it.
And then it's gone
The moment is over and can't be retrieved.
What does she expect?
The artist wonders what the other person expects of them.
There's no way I can be perfect
The singer acknowledges that they can't be flawless.
Now I'm trying to forget
The singer is attempting to move on from the past.
That she is gone
The other person is no longer present.
I can't see in black and white
The artist doesn't view things as completely good or bad.
Instead it's different shades of grey
The artist sees things as more nuanced and complicated.
It's hard to let go of yesterday
The past is difficult to release and move on from.
When you're hanging on
It's hard to let go when you're emotionally attached.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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