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.
Penthouse Window
John Vanderslice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh hopefully
Run away while you can
Stay on your mark
I'll read you the lines
You breathed in as a child
Run away while you can
Have you ever seen the lights on
In that darkened penthouse window?
They spy on us through a telescope
There's always someone more dangerous than me
Waiting in the wings
Run away while you can
The lyrics of John Vanderslice's song "Penthouse Window" convey a sense of mystery and caution. The opening lines, "There's a side to me that you'll never ever see, Oh hopefully," suggest that the singer possesses hidden aspects of their personality that they hope will never be revealed. This implies a level of complexity and intrigue. The repeated refrain, "Run away while you can," serves as a warning to the listener, urging them to escape or avoid getting too close to the singer.
The subsequent lines, "Stay on your mark, I'll read you the lines you breathed in as a child," evoke the idea of playing a role or following a predetermined script. This could indicate that the singer has a tendency to manipulate or control others, perhaps drawing on their understanding of childhood experiences and vulnerabilities.
The following verse introduces the image of a penthouse window, where the lights are always on. This imagery is symbolic of a voyeuristic perspective, as if someone is watching and spying on others through a telescope. The lyrics suggest that there is always someone more dangerous than the singer waiting in the wings, implying a sense of constant threat or rivalry. Ultimately, the repeated admonition to run away serves as a cautionary message, encouraging the listener to protect themselves and avoid potential harm.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a side to me that you'll never ever see
There is a hidden aspect of my personality that you will never witness or comprehend.
Oh hopefully
I hope that remains the case.
Run away while you can
Escape from this situation immediately before it's too late.
Stay on your mark
Remain vigilant and alert.
I'll read you the lines
I will analyze your behavior and predict your intentions.
You breathed in as a child
The beliefs and attitudes you internalized during your childhood.
Have you ever seen the lights on
In that darkened penthouse window?
Have you ever noticed the illuminated windows of an opulent penthouse, shrouded in darkness?
They spy on us through a telescope
They observe and monitor our actions using a powerful telescope.
There's always someone more dangerous than me
Waiting in the wings
There is consistently an individual more perilous and threatening than myself, lurking in the background.
Run away while you can
Escape from this situation immediately before it's too late.
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.
Written by: John Vanderslice
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind