Prior to his time as John and the Time Traveling Bicycle, Harmon spent from 1994 to 2007 writing for and performing in Central Kentucky based bands, including: Chiaroscuro (1994-2000), Attic Down (2000-2003), and Van Gogh Sky (2005-2007). After relocating to San Diego in 2008, Harmon recorded and released the 2009 studio project/electronic album, “Life in the Temporary,” under the moniker, Carriage House Saints.
After a few years away from live performances, Harmon took the stage as John and the Time Traveling Bicycle, for his first West Coast performance; a show in L.A. in June of 2011.
On JatTTB's, “Life as a Kite,” Harmon wrote and performed all parts. After playing with a full band in support of the debut, Harmon returned to solo shows in 2014, playing only select dates.
The second offering from JatTTB, “The Acquisition of Memories,” is due to be released in Spring 2015. Although Harmon again writer and performer on the recording, early reports are that he is making more use of the electric guitar on this sophomore offering.
The Rain King
John and the Time Traveling Bicycle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stakes his piece of pain
Safety of hurt
Is his disease
He'll pontificate
On anything
Covert scenarios
Best for his pretend pictures
A marionette
Made out of dime store eyes
In a backwash
Of slip and slide syllables
King of the rain
Stakes his piece of pain
Safety of hurt
Is his disease
He's a joker
Without a punchline
A coward
In a rotting mind
A personality
Devoid of kind
The boy is a legend
In his own broken mind
So go on now
Keep on flapping
That listless mouth
You win in your
Own private joke
Breathing in and out
Your own disease
King of the rain
Stakes his piece of pain
Safety of hurt
Is his disease
The Rain King is a song by John and the Time Traveling Bicycle with lyrics that describe a character "King of the rain" who revels in his own pain and suffering. The lyrics portray his personality as contradictory, where he thinks himself a joker without a punchline, a coward in a rotten mind, and devoid of kindness. The central idea behind the lyrics is to highlight the importance of living a life free of self-imposed pain and suffering. The Rain King is portrayed as someone who is lost in his own delusions and is unable to break free from his own destructive behavior, which ultimately leads to his own demise.
The song is an interesting take on people's subconscious tendencies to hold onto pain and inflict it upon themselves. The lyrics describe how the safety of hurt is seen as a disease, a condition where one can't let go of past traumas and continue to relive the same experiences over and over again. It reminds us that we should strive for a life free of these self-imposed constraints, and that we should let go of our hurt and pain to live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
King of the rain
He who claims sovereignty over the rain
Stakes his piece of pain
He makes a wager on his own suffering
Safety of hurt
He finds comfort in pain
Is his disease
His addiction to pain is an illness
He'll pontificate
He speaks at length with an arrogant tone
On anything
Regardless of topic or relevance
Covert scenarios
Secretly planned situations
Best for his pretend pictures
Ideal for his false and unrealistic ideas
He reminds me of
He is reminiscent of
A marionette
A puppet controlled by others
Made out of dime store eyes
Created with cheap and lifeless artificial eyes
In a backwash
In a confusing and perplexing situation
Of slip and slide syllables
With slippery and indistinct speech patterns
He's a joker
He is a clown or a trickster
Without a punchline
With no real joke or humor
A coward
A person who lacks courage
In a rotting mind
In a decaying or deteriorating mental state
A personality
A set of distinctive characteristics or qualities
Devoid of kind
Lacking in goodness or compassion
The boy is a legend
He is spoken of with great interest or reverence
In his own broken mind
From his own distorted and damaged perspective
So go on now
Continue with what you are doing
Keep on flapping
Keep talking aimlessly or foolishly
That listless mouth
That idle or lethargic speech
You win in your
You are successful at
Own private joke
Your personal and private amusement
Breathing in and out
Taking in air and releasing it
Your own disease
The sickness with which you are afflicted
King of the rain
He who claims sovereignty over the rain
Stakes his piece of pain
He makes a wager on his own suffering
Safety of hurt
He finds comfort in pain
Is his disease
His addiction to pain is an illness
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: John Revitte
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind