Joining Ottum on his solo debut are Sufjan Stevens' drummers and multi-instrumentalists James McAlister and Casey Foubert. The engineering was masterfully done in Seattle and San Diego by Jon Ervie (Modest Mouse, The Presidents of the USA), Casey Foubert (Pedro The Lion, Sufjan Stevens) and Josh himself. Protected by an army of 5 drummers and a patriotically soulful horn section, ‘Like The Season’ harkens back to the sweet melodic days of 70's pop, i.e., Stevie Wonder and Steely Dan, Randy Newman. ‘Like The Season’. also keeps a foot firmly rooted in traditional classical composition techniques a la Bach (the attentive listener can find reworked melodies and lyrics, i.e., theme and variation, throughout the record). There is also the not-so-apparent influence of such modern bands as The Flaming Lips, Grandaddy and Phoenix. But don't be mistaken, this is not a record of cheap rip-offs and retro throwbacks. These disparate elements have been critically examined and intricately assembled by Ottum to fit perfectly into a fully functional and aesthetically pleasing musical living room.
With a two and a half year road to completion, Josh Ottum is more than ready to release ‘Like The Season’ to roam free throughout the western world like a college student traveling Europe upon graduation. Songs from the record have already been featured on MTV's The Real World and Road Rules and tour plans are in place for Europe and the U.S. throughout 2006/2007 season. Ottum is a virtuoso without being a wanker, a classic pop songwriter without being boring, and a pretty vocalist without being a diva. There are no rules in the world of Josh Ottum, yet somehow, things run as if the strictest of laws were in place. Think: War meets Peace, Love meets Hate, Thrift Store meets Boutique.
It's Alright
Josh Ottum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We probably look best in the night
When we ain't even doing right
Just starting out lonely
With the feelings and the fights
It's called breaking it down
You're used to making a sound
On your way out the backdoor
Sitting down they make us talk
To shy to break the ice anymore
It's like right
In the middle of pushing my dream
You get up and stand next to me
And we get on to the top of the sandbox
And my favorite people can see
They call it hanging around
I finally feel like I'm found
In a basquet of roses on a coffin
And the sound of deep blue
Filling me up with things to do
Good God I'll leave my life unto you
It's the skies
Probably looks best in the light
All the buttons are so not just right
It is the meaning of life and elation
To do the same thing only twice
Used to running around
Kings out looking for his crown
Given up at the people who loves him
But go sick of having them around
Oh, reality
Let him go with the mystery
Too shy to break the ice anymore
The lyrics of the song "It's Alright" by Josh Ottum showcase the rollercoaster of emotions that come with loneliness, misunderstanding, and finding one's place in the world. The song's opening line "It's alright" seems to offer reassurance to the troubled mind of the singer, who feels like things might be falling apart. The line "We probably look best in the night when we ain't even doing right" hints at the fact that things might not be as perfect as people desire them to be, and sometimes, being in the dark or away from scrutiny could be the best option.
The second stanza "You're used to making a sound on your way out the backdoor with the angels coming down on the sidewalk" indicates the characters' familiarity with making an exit or leaving without goodbyes. He is shy and hardly initiates conversations, but sometimes, he wishes he could connect with people. The line "In a basket of roses on a coffin" serves as a metaphor for finding beauty in unexpected places, while "And the sound of deep blue filling me up with things to do" hints at the singer's eventual motivation to keep going despite the challenges life throws his way.
Overall, the lyrics of "It's Alright" echo a message of hope, perseverance, and the idea that sometimes, it's okay not to be okay. The song reminds us that we are all on a journey of self-discovery, and even though the darkness might seem overwhelming, there is always the promise of light, growth, and progress.
Line by Line Meaning
It's alright
Everything is okay
We probably look best in the night
We may appear more attractive in the dark
When we ain't even doing right
Even when we are not living up to expectations
Just starting out lonely
Beginning a journey feeling alone
With the feelings and the fights
Having emotions and disagreements
It's called breaking it down
It could be described as analyzing a situation
You're used to making a sound
One is accustomed to being heard
On your way out the backdoor
Leaving a situation quietly
With the angels coming down on the sidewalk
Perhaps a metaphor for heavenly guidance
Sitting down they make us talk
Conversations may arise while sitting
To shy to break the ice anymore
Being too timid to make an introduction
It's like right
It feels like
In the middle of pushing my dream
Making progress on pursuing a personal goal
You get up and stand next to me
Someone is offering support
And we get on to the top of the sandbox
Perchance referring to a children's game and feeling on top of the world
And my favorite people can see
One's loved ones can witness and share in the successes
They call it hanging around
Spending time idly
I finally feel like I'm found
A sense of being discovered or fully understood
In a basquet of roses on a coffin
Symbolic of finding beauty in death
And the sound of deep blue
The sensation of a calming blue color
Filling me up with things to do
Feeling a sense of purpose or motivation
Good God I'll leave my life unto you
A statement of giving oneself up to a higher power
It's the skies
Referring to the sky above
Probably looks best in the light
The sky may look lovelier during daylight hours
All the buttons are so not just right
Something is not quite perfect or aligned
It is the meaning of life and elation
Perhaps saying that happiness is the purpose of life
To do the same thing only twice
Taking part in a pleasurable experience more than once
Used to running around
Being in a state of constant activity
Kings out looking for his crown
A ruler in search of power or recognition
Given up at the people who loves him
Abandoning those who care about you
But go sick of having them around
Growing weary of companionship
Oh, reality
An exclamation emphasizing the current situation
Let him go with the mystery
Allowing one to depart while still holding onto a sense of intrigue
Too shy to break the ice anymore
Repeating a previous line about being self-conscious in social settings
Contributed by Christopher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.