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.
Parade
John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As your mom walks by
Be calm, be quiet
When your mom walks by
And look at me and follow my lead
I’m combing my hair
Putting lotion on my skin
Hey it’s me again
Be calm, be quiet
As the cop drives by
Stand right there like a poisoned well
When the cops drive by
And look at me leaning against the fence
Playing scratch and win
Lighting a smoke
Nodding to friends
Hey it’s me again
We ditched out the parade
And what was there to commemorate
And what was left to remember
Not sure what really happened on that day
I got steel dust in a vial
And anodized tiles
In my pocket from tower two
Be calm, be quiet
As the drones fly by
Look at me still as a Monterey pine
When the drones fly by
Look at me and follow my lead
I’m combing my hair
Lighting a smoke
Playing scratch and win
If they catch me, they catch me
But I’ll be running
The lyrics to John Vanderslice's song "Parade" convey a sense of detachment and numbness in the face of overwhelming events. The opening lines urge the listener to be calm and quiet, seemingly in response to the presence of their mother passing by. This instruction to remain composed and silent continues throughout the song, even as different scenarios are presented.
The second verse introduces the image of a cop driving by, and again the singer advises to stand still and refrain from any reaction. The singer then describes themselves leaning against a fence, engaging in mundane activities like combing their hair, putting lotion on their skin, and waving to friends. This repetition emphasizes a sense of isolation and the need to maintain a facade of normalcy in the face of external pressures.
The third verse takes a surprising turn as the lyrics mention "the parade" that was ditched out, suggesting that something significant was disregarded or forgotten. The singer reflects on not being sure what really happened on that day, indicating a disconnect from meaningful events and a lack of understanding or memory.
The song concludes with a hint of rebellion, as the singer mentions having steel dust from the collapsed World Trade Center towers and anodized tiles in their pocket. This suggests a tangible connection to a tragedy, perhaps an attempt to hold onto a fragment of something significant amidst the detachment and apathy expressed throughout the rest of the song.
Overall, "Parade" explores themes of detachment, numbness, and the struggle to maintain composure and normalcy in the face of overwhelming events.
Line by Line Meaning
Be calm, be quiet
Maintain a state of tranquility and silence
As your mom walks by
When your mother passes you
And look at me and follow my lead
Direct your attention towards me and imitate my actions
I’m combing my hair
I am grooming myself
Putting lotion on my skin
Applying moisturizer onto my body
Waving to friends
Greeting acquaintances with a gesture
Hey it’s me again
Hello, it's me once more
Be calm, be quiet
Maintain a state of tranquility and silence
When the cop drives by
When a police officer passes
Stand right there like a poisoned well
Remain motionless and unresponsive in a hazardous manner
And look at me leaning against the fence
Observe me as I rest upon the barrier
Playing scratch and win
Engaging in a game of chance
Lighting a smoke
Igniting a cigarette
Nodding to friends
Acknowledging acquaintances with a gesture
Hey it’s me again
Hello, it's me once more
We ditched out the parade
We abandoned the procession
And what was there to commemorate
And what was there to remember a significant event
And what was left to remember
And what remains in one's memory
Not sure what really happened on that day
Uncertain about the true events of that day
I got steel dust in a vial
I possess metallic particles collected in a small container
And anodized tiles
And decorative tiles treated with an oxidizing process
In my pocket from tower two
Contained in my pocket from the second tower
Be calm, be quiet
Maintain a state of tranquility and silence
As the drones fly by
When the unmanned aerial vehicles pass
Look at me still as a Monterey pine
Observe me remaining as motionless as a Monterey pine tree
Look at me and follow my lead
Direct your attention towards me and imitate my actions
Playing scratch and win
Engaging in a game of chance
Lighting a smoke
Igniting a cigarette
If they catch me, they catch me
If they apprehend me, so be it
But I’ll be running
However, I will be fleeing
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: John Vanderslice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind