The group was named for the San Francisco Muni Metro line that Hahn took down Church Street to work, as well as to band practice in the the early days. Through the years, Lance was joined by a vast array of musicians in an ever-evolving J Church lineup.
Lance Hahn was also a punk rock history writer, writing many pieces for Maximum Rock 'n' Roll, the San Francisco music zine. Additionally, he also found time to run Honey Bear Records and work on a book compiling various writings on anarcho-punk bands. Lance Hahn passed away on October 21, 2007, aged 40, after falling into a coma nine days earlier due to complications from kidney dialysis.
Band Members included:
Guitar / Vocals
Lance Hahn (1991-2007)
Second Guitarist
David DiDonato (2002-2005)
Bass Players
Ben White (2002-2007)
Jeff Bursley (1999-2002)
Scott Bradley (1998-1999)
Gardner Maxam (1991-1998)
Drummers
Chris Pfeffer (2002-2007)
Adam Pfahler (1998-2002)
Andee Connors (1997-2000)
Reed Burgoyne (1995-1997)
Wade Arnold Driver Jr (1994-1995)
Brendan Murdoch (1992-1994)
Adam Pfahler (1992-1993)
Aaron Olson (1991-1992)
http://www.j-church.com
Imaginary Friends
J Church Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She learned them trying to communicate with imaginary friends,
She used to call them angels but now they're not anything,
Now she feels alone and wishes that they were here again
She writes a letter and one week later she puts it in the mail,
She says that California Dreaming is a cautionary tale,
She says I shouldn't treat it like an empty pop song,
She has two older sisters who send care packages in the mail,
She collects all of their letters in a yellow plastic pail,
She can make it to the store as it's part of her routine,
She watches videos until they mix in with her dreams,
Until they mix in with her dreams,
Until they mix in with her dreams,
Until they mix in with her dreams
The song "Imaginary Friends" by J Church is a poignant reflection on the experience of loneliness and isolation. The singer of the song is an unnamed person who speaks in codes that the singer only partly understands. The character had learned these codes as a way of communicating with imaginary friends, whom she used to call angels. However, she is now alone and wishes that her imaginary friends were still there with her.
The character is described as someone who writes letters and is wary of seeing the world in simplistic terms. In one letter, she warns about the cautionary tale of "California Dreaming," cautioning against interpretations of pop songs that might obscure their deeper meanings. She feels a sense of connection to her two older sisters, who send her care packages in the mail. She keeps their letters in a yellow plastic pail as a testament to their love.
The character's life has a certain routine to it - she can make it to the store and watch videos until they mix in with her dreams. These details suggest a life that is both mundane and yet filled with a deep sense of yearning. The song captures the intense feeling of loneliness and the longing for a connection that seems just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
She can talk in codes I only partly understand,
She communicates in a way that is difficult for me to fully comprehend.
She learned them trying to communicate with imaginary friends,
She developed these codes while attempting to talk to her pretend companions.
She used to call them angels but now they're not anything,
She used to refer to her imaginary friends as angels, but now they have no label.
Now she feels alone and wishes that they were here again
She is lonely now and longs for the presence of her imaginary friends.
She writes a letter and one week later she puts it in the mail,
She sends letters through the postal service, waiting a week before sending them.
She says that California Dreaming is a cautionary tale,
She believes that the song 'California Dreaming' holds a warning.
She says I shouldn't treat it like an empty pop song,
She advises me not to overlook the meaning of the song as mere entertainment.
She says interpretations make the premises all wrong,
She argues that interpretations can lead to incorrect premises.
She has two older sisters who send care packages in the mail,
Her two older sisters send her packages and letters through the mail.
She collects all of their letters in a yellow plastic pail,
She stores all of the letters from her sisters in a yellow plastic container.
She can make it to the store as it's part of her routine,
Going to the store is part of her regular schedule.
She watches videos until they mix in with her dreams,
She watches videos until they start to blend in with her dreams.
Until they mix in with her dreams,
The videos eventually become intertwined with her dreams.
Until they mix in with her dreams,
The videos eventually become intertwined with her dreams.
Until they mix in with her dreams
The videos eventually become intertwined with her dreams.
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.