There’s a scene in Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov where the main characters Ivan and Alyosha discuss the existence of God. Ivan, in particular, questions the idea of God. Alyosha, on the other hand, is a monk, a believer, some may say, a holy fool.
Talk of faith and exalted things is rare in indie rock today. Enter Seattle band Ivan & Alyosha. Throughout their second release, the five song Fathers Be Kind EP, the band chart their own course between divinity and disbelief.
“I left my family and my home/to fight the battle on my own
I stole a car and drove away/but in my hate St. Paul did say
‘Glorify the Lord above/with your drink and making love
Glorify the Lord my son, with your whisky and your gun.”
Ivan & Alyosha began as the solo outlet for Tim Wilson but in spring 2007 the band formed after Tim met Ryan Carbary through a former band mate and mutual friend. Ryan and Tim began playing and recording together and a trip to Los Angeles to work with Eli Thompson (Richard Swift, Delta Spirit) spawned the name Ivan & Alyosha. According to Tim, Thompson is a huge Dostoevsky fan and the name stuck. With that, Wilson and Carbary released The Verse, The Chorus, their debut EP on Cheap Lullaby Records (Joan as Police Woman, The Silver Seas, Teitur). The stand out track “Easy To Love” earned NPR Song of the Day honors as “a propulsive, sweetly booming ode to love as a feat of endurance.”
The name Ivan & Alyosha is apt for a band cutting its teeth. As Ivan in Brothers Karamazov moves through the novel with doubts, Ivan & Alyosha navigate the indie rock world contemplating their path as a band. Tim says he writes songs about what’s current in his life. He recently married and had a son. Songs like “Living for Someone” and “Fathers Be Kind,” reflect Ivan & Alyosha grappling with the idea of being in a band and trying to fashion a career. Not only to follow their dreams but to earn a livelihood and support their families; a feeling he expresses in the former song, “Expecting our first child / Amid the great recession”. Despite the uncertainty, Ivan & Alyosha’s soulful folk tunes suggest a band inspired, hopeful and longing; a band unafraid to probe their collective faith and doubts.
Plus, things are different this time around. Tim and Ryan are joined by two others – Tim Kim and Pete Wilson, Tim’s brother. The band built a studio in a barn at Ryan’s parent’s house in Snohomish, 45 minutes outside of Seattle. Snohomish provides an idyllic setting with a charming main street lined by bars and little distraction. Self-recording their upcoming EP allows the guys more time together to create and perfect the new songs. Recently the band spent a week in New York playing gigs at 92Y Tribeca, Maxwell’s in Hoboken and Brooklyn’s Littlefield. They also took a trip to NPR Headquarters in Washington DC to record an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and opened a run of shows for the Jayhawks’ Mark Olson.
In the Brothers Karamazov, when Ivan asks Alyosha to renounce his beliefs, Alyosha refuses. Rather, he kisses Ivan on the lips. Seattle’s Ivan & Alyosha are not nihilist indie rockers but a new brand of tender dreamers. And non-believers be damned! God, or no God - these guys are no holy fools. They have their music to prove it.
Fathers Be Kind
Ivan & Alyosha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know it matters what you tell them
Gotta feel for them!
Well go ahead and steal for them!
Brothers be good to your sisters
And lovers leave behind your mistress
Hope is coming soon
Take a pen and a paper and write that tune
Well you know
That the light at the end of the tunnel is dim
Don't answer
To the mediocre lives that have gone ahead
Captains be kind to your kings
If they do you harm don't say anything
Love will find a way
Clarity will come on judgement day.
Dreamers spend some time awake
Open your eyes
Please don't forsake what's in front of you!
Forgetting your portrait all too soon.
Well you know
That the light at the end of the tunnel is dim
Don't answer
To the mediocre lives that have gone ahead
Paving the way for the innocent to crumble
It's our children's children and those who have yet to belong
Yea yea yea
Well you know
That the light at the end of the tunnel is dim
Don't answer
To the mediocre lives that have gone ahead.
Paving the way for the innocent to crumble
It's our children's children and those who have yet to belong
The song "Fathers Be Kind" by Ivan & Alyosha is an uplifting tune that urges fathers to be kind to their children, to give them the love and support they need to thrive. The song conveys the message that a father's words and actions have a profound impact on his children's lives and that it is crucial to be there for them through thick and thin. The lyrics also appeal to brothers to be good to their sisters, and for lovers to stay faithful to their partners. The song suggests that hope is on the horizon and encourages dreamers to stay focused and not forget what's in front of them. Finally, the song highlights the importance of strong leadership and emphasizes that love, clarity, and judgment will prevail in the end.
The song conveys an important message that is relevant to all generations, and its lyrics are particularly poignant in today's world of social and cultural divisions. The song has been well-received by critics and fans alike, and it has resonated with people around the world. The song's popularity has led to numerous covers and interpretations across different genres, and it has become a favorite of many musicians and fans.
Line by Line Meaning
Fathers be kind to your children!
It is important for fathers to treat their children with kindness.
You know it matters what you tell them
The things fathers say to their children have an impact on them.
Gotta feel for them!
Fathers should empathize with their children.
Well go ahead and steal for them!
Fathers should do anything to provide for their children.
Brothers be good to your sisters
Brothers should treat their sisters well.
And lovers leave behind your mistress
People in committed relationships should not cheat.
Hope is coming soon
There is optimism for the future.
Take a pen and a paper and write that tune
It is important to document our hopes and dreams.
Captains be kind to your kings
Those in power should treat their subordinates with kindness.
If they do you harm don't say anything
Even if someone in power does something wrong, it is sometimes best to stay quiet.
Love will find a way
Love conquers all.
Clarity will come on judgement day.
The truth will be revealed in the end.
Dreamers spend some time awake
Dreamers should take action towards their goals instead of only dreaming about them.
Open your eyes
Pay attention to what is happening around you.
Please don't forsake what's in front of you!
Don't ignore what is currently in your life for the sake of future dreams.
Forgetting your portrait all too soon.
It is easy to forget who you are and what you stand for.
Paving the way for the innocent to crumble
Past generations have made mistakes that have negatively impacted innocent people.
It's our children's children and those who have yet to belong
Future generations will be affected by our actions and decisions today.
Yea yea yea
A filler phrase to transition to the next stanza.
Well you know
A phrase to emphasize a point.
That the light at the end of the tunnel is dim
The future may not be as bright as we hope.
Don't answer
Don't succumb to negative influences.
To the mediocre lives that have gone ahead.
Don't follow the path of those who settle for a mediocre life.
Contributed by Sydney M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.