John Vanderslice (born May 22, 1967 in Gainesville, Florida) is an American… Read Full Bio ↴John Vanderslice (born May 22, 1967 in Gainesville, Florida) is an American musician, formerly of mk Ultra but now performing with his own band.

After mk Ultra broke up in 1999, Vanderslice wasted little time building a solo reputation. In 2000, he gained national media attention over his single Bill Gates Must Die after concocting an elaborate hoax in which Microsoft supposedly threatened legal action over supposed trademark violations (the disc had a similar etching to a Windows installation disc).

Subsequent albums, Time Travel is Lonely, Life and Death of an American Fourtracker, Cellar Door, Pixel Revolt and Emerald City have gained critical acclaim for their melodic quality and sophisticated narrative lyrical content. Vanderslice has spent much of the last few years on tour across North America, Europe, and Japan.

Vanderslice also founded a recording studio in 1997 called Tiny Telephone. Located in the Mission District of San Francisco, Tiny Telephone has carved out a niche as the last all-analog recording studio in the Bay Area, and has a policy of setting recording rates under market prices. Bands who have used Vanderslice's studio include Beulah, Death Cab for Cutie, Okkervil River and Spoon.

Vanderslice is a proponent of using analog instruments and recording equipment to produce a richer, more raw sound which he has sometimes called "dirty hi-fi". He has collaborated closely with Scott Solter in the production of his recent albums, with Pixel Revolt being notably shaped by Solter.

Vanderslice was a contributing producer on the Spoon album, Gimme Fiction, and has collaborated and toured with The Mountain Goats. He is strongly influenced by film and is a fan of David Lynch, whose work is referenced in his song "Promising Actress". His declared musical influences are diverse, ranging from Neutral Milk Hotel to Public Enemy. He is an avid photography hobbyist. He has incorporated the poetry of William Blake and Robert Lowell into his music.

Several songs on the album Pixel Revolt referenced the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent global political situation. This is also true of Vanderslice's most recent album, Emerald City.

Ambition
John Vanderslice Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

forget about suzzanne
she's with some other man
don't worry about your boy
he's got a computer

forget about the role
it went to some other bloke
so what?

you'll never meet (never meet) sharon stone

you need to lose ...
you need to lose ...
ambition...
ambition...

open up your mouth
we'll watch the dropper empty out
I made it myself
I call it sexy sadie

walk down the street
where pine and heather meet
and fluttering birds
are stronger than words

you need to lose ...
you need to lose ...

ambition...
ambition...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to John Vanderslice's song Ambition are a commentary on the pressures of society to succeed and achieve recognition. The opening lines urge the listener to forget about others who seem to have achieved more and focus on the present moment. The reference to Suzanne and Sharon Stone suggest a desire for love and fame, respectively. The lyrics highlight the irony of success, another person has your dream job, while you are left feeling unfulfilled. The line "he's got a computer" signifies that even a young child's education is geared towards achievement, with technology being used as a tool for success.

The chorus repeats the same phrase - "you need to lose ambition" - emphasizing the need to shed the societal constraints that pressure individuals on their life's journey. The second verse describes the creation of a drug called "Sexy Sadie," a reference to the Beatles' song, which further explores the theme of self-destructive behavior as a means of escaping the pressures of ambition.

The final verse is an ode to nature, a reminder that beauty and strength can be found in simplicity. The imagery of pine and heather, and the fluttering birds highlights the power of natural beauty over material success.

Overall, the song encourages people to reassess their goals and redefine what success means to them. The lyrics advocate for a simpler, more contented life, free of the trappings of excessive ambition.

Line by Line Meaning

forget about suzzanne
Don't think about Suzanne, your former lover

she's with some other man
She has moved on to someone else, don't worry about her

don't worry about your boy
Don't be concerned about your son

he's got a computer
He has his own interests and ways to occupy himself

forget about the role
Don't linger over the missed opportunity

it went to some other bloke
The role was given to someone else

so what?
It's not a big deal

you'll never meet (never meet) sharon stone
You won't have a chance with a celebrity like Sharon Stone

you need to lose ...
You should get rid of ...

ambition...
Your desire to achieve and succeed in life

open up your mouth
Speak honestly and openly