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.
Farewell Transmission
John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hold on
Your dad didn't know the age of the sun
But now we know the hour it was born
How does that help us now?
Hold on
Hold on
In clipped and chanted verse
Your race depends on you
And I do too
Hold on
Hold on
Ride until the morning light
Your ancestors depend on you
To see them through
And I do too
In John Vanderslice's song "Farewell Transmission," the lyrics suggest a sense of urgency and a call to action amidst feelings of uncertainty and confusion. The lyrics start off by acknowledging the past and how little we knew about it, such as the age of the sun. However, now that we have this knowledge, it raises the question of how it is helpful to us in the present moment. This feeling of uncertainty is echoed in the repetition of "hold on" at the start of each verse, almost as if to brace oneself for what's to come.
As the song progresses, the urgency increases with the call for "pretty words" that are necessary for the "race" and for the singer himself. This seems to suggest that words and language have a profound impact on the state of the world and have the power to change it. The repetition of "I do too" at the end of each verse adds a personal and emotional weight to the plea for action and change.
The final verse brings the urgency to a crescendo with the call to "ride until the morning light" and to see our ancestors through. This ties the present moment to the broader context of history and the responsibility we have to those who came before us and those who will come after us. The song seems to suggest that we must hold on and act with intention and purpose in the face of uncertainty and confusion to ensure that we leave the world a better place than we found it.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold on
Just keep going and don't give up
Hold on
Stay strong and don't let go
Your dad didn't know the age of the sun
There are many things in this world that we do not know or understand
But now we know the hour it was born
We have come a long way in terms of scientific knowledge and understanding
How does that help us now?
Despite our progress, there are still many questions we cannot answer
We need your pretty words
We need you to share your thoughts, feelings, and ideas with us
In clipped and chanted verse
In a concise and rhythmic manner
Your race depends on you
Your actions and contributions can have a significant impact on your community and culture
And I do too
I also rely on you and your abilities
Ride until the morning light
Keep going even when things get tough
Your ancestors depend on you
Your actions can honor and continue the legacy of those who came before you
To see them through
To carry on their traditions and values
And I do too
I also support and believe in you
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: John Vanderslice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind