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.
Halfway to a Threeway
Jim O'Rourke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now with you, I've got one
If I could get just one more
Then you know what you're in for
You ain't getting any sleep tonight
I hope that you girls don't fight
And I hope that you won't run away
I tried again and again
To indulge in just one sin
All you have to do is lie there
While I push aside your wheelchair
And I do everything it takes
To change your mind and apply your brakes
So I know that you can't roll away
'Cause I'm halfway to a threeway
Can't wipe the smile off my face
When you strut by in your leg brace
You just can't climb the stairs
And you ain't got any hair
I just can't get you to sit
You and your stupid epileptic fits
And I know that you can't run away
'Cause I'm halfway to a threeway
As I lay you down on my bed
It don't matter that you're brain dead
I can get so you close to ya
Now that you're in a coma
I'll make it sweet but short
When I pull out your life support
And I know that you'll just fade away
Now I'm halfway to a threeway
And I know that you'll just fade away
Now I'm halfway to a threeway
It is important to note that the lyrics of Jim O'Rourke's "Halfway to a Threeway" are highly controversial and disturbing. They are written from the point of view of a despicable character who seems to take pride in his abusive treatment of disabled women. Through these lyrics, O'Rourke seems to be offering his own commentary on the hierarchy of power and the way in which certain individuals are systematically oppressed based on their physical or cognitive abilities.
The first verse of the song is a clear reference to the singer's desire for a threeway with two disabled women. He refers to the women only in terms of their disabilities; one of them is in a wheelchair and the other has epilepsy. The second verse describes the singer's physical abuse of one of the women. He urges her to lie there and do nothing while he has sex with her, even disregarding her wheelchair. The final verse takes on an even more violent tone, describing the singer's plans to rape a comatose woman before pulling the plug on her life support.
Though it is difficult to interpret this song in any positive light, it does offer a stark commentary on the way in which disabled individuals are often treated in our society. O'Rourke's choice to speak from the perspective of someone who takes advantage of this power hierarchy may be seen as a critique of the patriarchy and other systems of oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to have none
I was alone and had nobody in my life
Now with you, I've got one
But now I have found someone I am with
If I could get just one more
If I could just find one more person
Then you know what you're in for
Then you will know what is going to happen next
You ain't getting any sleep tonight
You won't be able to sleep tonight
I hope that you girls don't fight
I hope the two of you won't get into a fight
And I hope that you won't run away
And I hope you won't try to escape
'Cause I'm halfway to a threeway
Because I am almost having a threesome with two people
I tried again and again
I attempted multiple times
To indulge in just one sin
To commit a single immoral act
All you have to do is lie there
All you need to do is remain still
While I push aside your wheelchair
While I move your wheelchair out of the way
And I do everything it takes
I am willing to do whatever it takes
To change your mind and apply your brakes
To convince you and stop you from leaving
So I know that you can't roll away
So I can be sure that you won't try to escape
'Cause I'm halfway to a threeway
Because I am almost having a threesome with two people
Can't wipe the smile off my face
I can't stop myself from smiling
When you strut by in your leg brace
When you walk by with your leg brace on
You just can't climb the stairs
You are unable to climb the stairs
And you ain't got any hair
You are bald
I just can't get you to sit
I am having trouble getting you to sit down
You and your stupid epileptic fits
Your seizures are annoying to me
And I know that you can't run away
And I know you won't try to escape
'Cause I'm halfway to a threeway
Because I am almost having a threesome with two people
As I lay you down on my bed
As I put you down on my bed
It don't matter that you're brain dead
The fact that you are brain dead is irrelevant to me
I can get so you close to ya
I can get so close to you
Now that you're in a coma
Now that you are in a coma
I'll make it sweet but short
I'll make it quick and painless
When I pull out your life support
When I remove your life support system
And I know that you'll just fade away
And I know that you'll die soon
Now I'm halfway to a threeway
Now that one of the people in the threesome is dead, it's technically not a threesome anymore
And I know that you'll just fade away
And I know that you'll die soon
Now I'm halfway to a threeway
Now that one of the people in the threesome is dead, it's technically not a threesome anymore
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JIM O'ROURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Culex
the way the lyrics contradict the soft, lush instrumentation. ah. so good. Jim is masterclass.
jim jim
Well said
David Cunningham
nothing like jim o rourke to bring it home, i bought this in 99 and it never bores!
Sounding Six
Best EP ever recorded by anyone, ever!
Jkam239
Imo the best EP is Death Valley 69 by Sonic Youth and Lydia Lunch or Solace by Earl Sweatshirt
jeff 9000
@CannibalWHORE22 Check out Unwound's Fake Train, New Plastic Ideas, and Repetition too. Those ones are especially great
CannibalWHORE22
@jeff 9000 Pavement’s last album was decent enough. I still need to get into Unwound I only know Leaves Turn Inside You
jeff 9000
@CannibalWHORE22 Seriously, one of the only bands with a totally perfect discography to me. Only other bands I would put in the running are Unwound and Pavement
CannibalWHORE22
@jeff 9000 That’s an amazing EP. then the albums that came after! Such an amazing band
Cosmicdancer
Stunning. .Jim O’ Rourke’s music is stunning.