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.
Do You Remember?
John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in front of the tanks that
Rolled on Tianamin Square
He just stood there
I heard the Red Guard went door to door and
They found him hiding under the floorboards
They yanked him out
No he was never caught,
They smuggled him out to America
He doesn't want to talk about it
He's got a new name
He lives in Maclean, Virginia
Do you remember the man
Who blocked the caravan
Trying to talk sense to
The machine gunner
He held the ranks
No he was never caught,
They smuggled him out to America
He doesn't want to talk about it
He's got a new name
He lives in Maclean, Virginia
The song "Do You Remember" by John Vanderslice is a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on the human spirit and its ability to stand up against oppressive forces. The lyrics refer to two different individuals who were brave enough to take a stand against the military might of their respective governments. One is a reference to the famous "Tank Man" who was photographed standing in front of a column of tanks in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989. The other refers to an unknown individual who blocked a caravan and tried to reason with a machine gunner.
The song highlights the courage of these men and the sacrifices they made to stand up for what they believed in. The references to their subsequent disappearances and the fact that they had to be smuggled out of the country suggest that their actions were seen as a threat by the authorities, and that they were in danger of being imprisoned or killed. The line "He doesn't want to talk about it, he's got a new name" emphasizes the trauma that these individuals may have gone through, and the need to protect themselves and their families from possible repercussions.
Overall, the song is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what one believes in, even in the face of overwhelming odds. It is a tribute to the courage of those who are willing to risk everything for their convictions, and a call to all of us to remember their sacrifices and to continue fighting for justice and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember the man?
Do you recall the person who stood up against oppression and injustice?
Standing in front of the tanks that
Refers to the iconic image of a protestor standing in front of a line of tanks in Tianamin Square.
Rolled on Tianamin Square
Denotes the occasion when the tanks tried to suppress democracy in China.
He just stood there
He alone had the courage to stand up to the oppressive regime.
I heard the Red Guard went door to door and
The Red Guard undertook a search to capture the brave protester.
They found him hiding under the floorboards
They finally discovered him concealed out of sight.
They yanked him out
The Red Guard forcefully dragged him out of his hiding place.
And shot him twice in the head
The Chinese government employed violent measures to silence and intimidate any protests.
No he was never caught,
This means that the courageous, freedom-loving protester was never caught by the authorities.
They smuggled him out to America
The people who supported the protester helped him escape to America.
He doesn't want to talk about it
He has been deeply affected by his brush with violence and doesn't like to open up about it.
He's got a new name
He has changed his name in order to remain safe and avoid any repercussions.
He lives in Maclean, Virginia
He now lives in a peaceful, safe location in America.
Do you remember the man
The singer reiterates the earlier question, created to emphasize the man's bravery.
Who blocked the caravan
Another act of protest against an oppressive state.
Trying to talk sense to
In contrast to violence, the protester tries to address the government and encourage them towards better decision-making.
The machine gunner
The people to whom the man spoke represented the Chinese army.
Lyrics © ZELLS MUSIC COMPANY, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Vanderslice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind