A Chicago native, O'Rourke's work has found equal luck with experimental jazz and noise fanatics, chill room denizens, and bedroom experimentalists, and has had the resultant effect of cross-pollinating many otherwise isolated compositional communities. In early 1993, he formed an avant-rock group with Darin Gray and Dylan Posa called Brise-Glace. The band released one studio album, When in Vanitas..., in 1994.
Subsequently, O'Rourke has released a fair bit of material as a soloist, although more often in the electro-acoustic/musique concrète vein. Dealing most often with prepared guitar in improvisational group settings, he's collaborated with such contemporary improv heroes as Derek Bailey, Henry Kaiser, Eddie Prevost and Keith Rowe (of English improv group AMM), KK Null, David Jackman (Organum), and early Krautrock experimentalists Faust. O'Rourke is also engaged in an ongoing exploration of experimental rock as a member of Gastr del Sol, who've released albums through the Teen Beat and Table of the Elements labels.
Beginning with guitar at the age of 6, it wasn't until his collegiate career at DePaul University that O'Rourke's interest in the less obvious possibilities of the instrument led him through the early catalogs of the post-classical and electro-acoustic traditions. While at DePaul, O'Rourke completed much of the work that would constitute his first few releases. He also had the opportunity to meet up with noted improvisational guitarist Derek Bailey, whose invitation to O'Rourke to play at the British improv festival Company Week led to further collaborative projects with Bailey, Henry Kaiser, Eddie Prevost, and David Jackman. O'Rourke began working with Dan Burke's Illusion of Safety project in the early '90s, releasing three albums through Staalplaat and Tesco, before moving on to form experimental "rock" group Gastr Del Sol with David Grubbs. Although focusing more on collaboration after a string of solo releases in the early '90s, O'Rourke has shifted back to solo work of late, releasing Terminal Pharmacy through John Zorn's Tzadik label and completing commissioned pieces for the Kronos Quartet and the Rova Saxophone Quartet. In 1995, O'Rourke was invited by German experimental electronic label Mille Plateaux (Oval, Steel, Microstoria) to conduct an extended remix of their entire back catalog. He also produced and co-wrote a good portion of innovative German outfit Faust's Table of the Elements release, Rien. O'Rourke is also noted for his work as a producer. This role led to another project during the mixing of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, when O'Rourke combined with Jeff Tweedy and Glenn Kotche to form Loose Fur.
Ghost Ship in a Storm
Jim O'Rourke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As when someone opens their mouth
It's just my luck
I get hit by a car
While carrying a cake
Dripping cherries
Bride and groom on my face
I'm not there like a ghost ship in a storm
It only figures
That I'd ride my bike
Into wet cement
And as I'm sinkin'
The last thing that I think
Is did I pay my rent
I ride through like a ghost ship in a storm
The lyrics to Jim O'Rourke's song Ghost Ship in a Storm reflects on the feeling of wanting to disappear, to avoid a situation in which someone opens their mouth. The idea throughout the song is that the singer is not present in situations that can be physically witnessed. The opening lyric emphasizes the feeling of wanting to disappear, to dissolve from the situation or moment. The sensation of vanishing is reinforced throughout the song with imagery of accidents, like being hit by a car or falling into wet cement, but rather than the accidents being the focal point, they become secondary to the idea of not being present in the moment of an accident. The crashes are like dreamlike interludes where the focus is instead on the absence of being alive in that world.
Line by Line Meaning
Nothing makes me want to disappear
I feel like vanishing into thin air when somebody speaks something.
As when someone opens their mouth
I start feeling uneasy as soon as I hear somebody speak.
It's just my luck
Unfortunately, this always happens to me.
I get hit by a car
A car hits me.
While carrying a cake
At that time, I am carrying a cake.
Dripping cherries
The cherries from the cake are falling.
Onto pavement
They are falling on the ground.
Bride and groom on my face
The cake icing is smeared on my face, like a bride and a groom on top of a wedding cake.
I'm not there like a ghost ship in a storm
I am absent, like a ghost ship that disappears in a storm.
It only figures
It is not surprising considering my luck.
That I'd ride my bike
I would, of course, be riding my bicycle.
Into wet cement
I ride my bicycle into freshly-laid concrete that is still wet.
And as I'm sinkin'
While I'm sinking into the concrete.
The last thing that I think
The final thought that comes to me.
Is did I pay my rent
I wonder if the rent has been paid or not.
I ride through like a ghost ship in a storm
Like a ghost ship that sails through a storm, I ride my bike through life's difficulties.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JIM O'ROURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Busywave
Door bell rings
Denny: Are you Wilson?
Wilson: yeah
Denny: I’m Denny
Wilson: Oh ha hey,.., Danny
Denny: it’s really Denny I was gonna tell you that the other night on the phone but you seemed a little upset. Are you you upset now?
Wilson: I don’t know
Denny: so what do you got in there?
Wilson: What do I got?
Denny: Yeah Maura said you’ve got a plane.
Wilson: Yeah it’s really really. I just got it.
Denny: oh yeah when?
Wilson: oh not today. (Pause) I mean (pause) not today.
@calebjones7948
Jim O'Rourke is so underrated
@millennial_bug
By who?
@cindya5043
When he sings the part about getting hit by a cake and “dripping cherries onto the pavement” I can’t help but think of that poor chef from old Sesame Street days that would always fall down the stairs with the 9 or 10 desserts and get his fair share of cherries and what not dripping all over him. I’ve often wondered if Jim had seen that sketch growing up. Anyway, this song is an all time favorite and I adore his music… haunting (hence the title ha) and beautiful.
@lancegeorge71
I hate the fact that many songs/ artists like this don't get the recognition they deserve.
@megabannedagain
I know, right?
@itsmethemusicman4704
i think becoming a bigger celebrity for someone who makes music like this wouldn't be for the best. attention from lots of people can have pretty negative effects on your mental health, and clearly jim doesn't need the attention to keep creating.
@louisgardner5580
He doesn't need to be famous. he's a behind the scenes guy. He makes beautiful music because he enjoys doing it. and i enjoy listening to it and that's all we need
@BrianBlancett
Why? =)
@boombox5845
This man is a genius
@estevancerongarrido
"Nothing makes me wants to disappear as when someone opens their mouth"... i know that feeling... bah b-bah baaah baaaaahhhhh...