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.

C & O Canal
John Vanderslice Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

we said goodbyes
at the banks of the C & O Canal
you could have told me then
instead of in a letter from Syria

you'll never return
i thought we had only now just begun
your helping the truse

but things are fucked up u now in my room

i tracked down your friend
and won her heart over slowly
and i walked away
hoping it gets back to you someday
la la la la la
la la la la la
la la la la la

its all over now
I look for you everywhere I go
your building a school
but things are fucked up
u behind my door

I tracked down your friend
and won her heart over slowly
and I walked away
hoping It gets back to you someday
la la la la la

la la la la la
la la la la la

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to John Vanderslice's song "C & O Canal" tell a story of betrayal and heartbreak. The singer is reflecting on a past relationship that ended abruptly when his partner left to help with a "trust" in Syria. The two said their goodbyes at the banks of the C & O Canal, and the singer is now haunted by the memory. He wishes that his partner had told him in person that she was leaving instead of sending a letter. He also laments the fact that their relationship had just begun, and he thought they had more time together. He feels angry and let down that she chose to abandon him for a cause that he sees as futile.

The singer's anger turns to bitterness as he realizes that his partner is never coming back. He sees her as an idealistic fool, building a school in Syria while the world falls apart around her. He imagines her lurking outside his door, reminding him of her absence. The singer tries to move on by tracking down his partner's friend and winning her over slowly. He walks away from their brief affair, hoping that his message will get back to his former partner someday. The swirling "la la la" refrain underscores the singer's feelings of confusion and heartache.

The song can be read on multiple levels: as a political commentary on the futility of war, as a personal meditation on betrayal and loss, and as a bittersweet tribute to a love that was over before it began. The use of vivid imagery (the C & O Canal, Syria, the friend's heart) creates a haunting ambiance, and the singer's raw vocals lend the lyrics a sense of urgency and desperation.

Line by Line Meaning

we said goodbyes
We parted ways

at the banks of the C & O Canal
We said our goodbyes at the C & O Canal

you could have told me then
You could have told me in person

instead of in a letter from Syria
Instead of receiving a letter from you in Syria

you'll never return
I know you won't come back

i thought we had only now just begun
I thought our relationship was just beginning

your helping the truse
You're assisting a charitable cause

but things are fucked up u now in my room
But things are messed up now that you're in my life

i tracked down your friend
I found your friend

and won her heart over slowly
I gradually won her affection

and i walked away
And I left without looking back