Jeffrey Lewis was born in New York in November 1975. He attended State University of New York at Purchase College and graduated in 1997; his final thesis was on the Alan Moore graphic novel "Watchmen".
After being signed by the British record label Rough Trade in 2001, Lewis released his first official album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane, and in 2003 he released the album It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through. His latest record, City & Eastern Songs, was released in the U.K. in November 2005. All three albums also include his brother, Jack Lewis, who wrote and sang a number of the songs. He has also performed and collaborated with fellow New York Anti-folk singers Kimya Dawson and Diane Cluck.
His latest album, 12 Crass Songs was released on Rough Trade in Europe in September of 2007. As the title suggests, it is 12 covers of the British anarchist punk band Crass. It features vocals, keyboard and recorder from Helen Shriner, bass by both John Kessel and brother Jack Lewis, drums by David Beachamp (live drummer/The Bloodugars) and Raphi Gottesman (who often plays with Jack Lewis). Shwervon's Nan Turner also contributes vocals to various tracks.
Time Machine
Jeffrey & Jack Lewis Lyrics
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And white it's blue and green
It's shaped just like a submarine
I made it from cans of pork and beans
It runs on a can of kerosene! Oh yeah!
We're going back, back in time
I got a battered body, a shattered mind
Kaleidoscopic red radiation
Double houses with bubble floors
Space men riding dinosaurs
Knights in armor with a dog for a face!
Kings and queens in outer space!
I want it back! You ain't gonna get it! I'm
Trapped in the past! You'd
Beter forget it! Cavemen
From the future! Whales with
Thumbs! I'm running out
Of food! You'd better invent some! Oh yeah!
It's black and white, it's blue and green
It's shaped just like a submarine
I made it from cans of kerosene
I'm getting nervous I'm looking lean
This is a nightmare, this is a dream
Give it back to me and I won't get mean
Have you seen my time machine?
The lyrics of "Time Machine" by Jeffrey & Jack Lewis present a whimsical and fantastical narrative centered around the concept of a time machine. The song portrays the singer's desperation to retrieve their time machine, which is described as being black and white, blue and green, and shaped like a submarine. The quirky construction of the time machine, made from cans of pork and beans and fueled by kerosene, adds to the eccentricity of the story.
The lyrics take us on a journey through time, with references to various periods and elements of imagination. The singer mentions encountering kaleidoscopic red radiation, indicating the surreal and vivid nature of their time-traveling experiences. The song touches on an array of fantastical images, including double houses with bubble floors, space men riding dinosaurs, knights in armor with dog faces, and even kings and queens in outer space. It is a playful and imaginative portrayal of the possibilities that a time machine could offer.
Amidst the whimsy, there is a sense of urgency and desperation as the singer pleads for the return of their time machine. Their fear of being trapped in the past and running out of food adds a hint of vulnerability to the narrative. Overall, "Time Machine" is a creative and light-hearted exploration of the concept of time travel, filled with colorful imagery and a touch of longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you seen my time machine?
Can you locate my time machine?
It's black and white, it's blue and green
The time machine has a combination of colors, including black, white, blue, and green.
It's shaped just like a submarine
The time machine has a resemblance to the shape of a submarine.
I made it from cans of kerosene
I constructed the time machine using cans of kerosene.
I'm getting nervous I'm looking lean
I am becoming anxious and physically thinner in appearance.
This is a nightmare, this is a dream
The experience of time travel feels both frightful and fantastical.
Give it back to me and I won't get mean
If you return the time machine to me, I promise not to become aggressive or hostile.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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