It didn't take long before Josh's unique voice and song writing style, influenced by the likes of Elliott Smith, Evan Dando, and Sparklehorse, began to find favour amongst music tastemakers, critics and Triple J listeners. The first taste, the assured 'Kids Don't Sell Their Hopes So Fast', found high rotation on Triple J and soon 'Silver' and the gently sweeping 'Doldrums' followed to similar praise and airplay. These tracks are now available on the CD 'Recordings 2003-2005' through The Million records.
Josh signed to Ivy League Records in 2005 and shortly afterwards travelled to New York for some further writing, performing and demoing and upon return set about recording what was his debut release under his own name, a mini album entitled "Feeding The Wolves".
"Feeding the Wolves" signified a great deal more than a change in name: It revealed a huge step in the development of Josh as an artist and songwriter. The subject matter was as broad as titles like "Beg Your Pardon", "Private Education", "Middle Of The Hill" and "Goldmines" suggest, however it's Josh's lyrics that draw this collection of songs together into a complete package. He cleverly dissects human emotion and feelings and shows them for what they are: complex, abstract, fascinating.
There is hope in the opening track 'Beg Your Pardon' and in 'Fill You In' there is emptiness and longing. The first single, 'Middle Of The Hill', is a near-stream of consciousness of a suburban childhood - family affection coloured by those sometimes darker, sometimes trivial details that for some reason stay with you. 'Goldmines' a vision of a land, or maybe a talent, stripped of its riches - but here and there a flash of colour survives. A relationship that seems to be an ongoing test is at 'Private Education's' centre. The title track finishes it, with Josh quick to point out the Wolves are not those wanting a piece of you for whatever reason - but those uncontrollable, irrational, emotions inside yourself that you have to keep in check.
With production by the much-lauded Wayne Connolly (You Am I, Underground Lovers, Youth Group, just about any Australian act of note...), "Feeding The Wolves" had the artist now rightly known as Josh Pyke letting his talent flow without constraint. The words seem to tumble out of him: honest, evocative, and emotional all at once. The playing - again mostly all Josh - is one moment sweetly melodic, then turning urgent and insistent as needs be. This range of feelings, packaged so they bounce around inside your head like good songs do, and given so generously, go together to make "Feeding The Wolves" the sound of an artist beginning to realise an enormous potential.
In 2007 Josh released his first full-length album 'Memories and Dust'. Although the record features three of the stand-out tracks from 'Feeding the Wolves' there are a further 8 tracks of similar quality, including the title track, which was the first single taken from the new batch. The release is again through Ivy League Records.
Josh's second album Chimney's Afire was released 4 October 2008 and was recorded at Sydney's Linear Recording studios. The first single off the album was "The Lighthouse Song", and the second was called "Make You Happy".
Beg Your Pardon
Josh Pyke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
even when they're sitting next to you.
So I profess that loneliness is not always by company cured.
The cats are in the windows,
dogs are at the doors,
the lamps are lit and all the curtains being drawn,
but you're wanting his heart,
when I'm wanting yours.
But oh no, around you I forget behaviour,
but if I begged your pardon,
might I once again be in your favour?
And i know that I'm not the one of whom,
you think at night,
but I know I,
presume to think I made you think of me right now.
And every day the drudgery that lingers when the day is done for me.
I long to feel the quickening,
that anything from you to me can bring.
Actors never stop their acting,and a singer never has a thing to say,
but you're drawn to him,
so I get drawn away.
Again.
The opening line of Josh Pyke's song "Beg Your Pardon" sets the tone for the sentiment behind the lyrics. The song reflects on the complexities and vulnerabilities of romantic relationships, in particular, the feeling of being lonely even when in the presence of a loved one. Pyke highlights the dissonance that can exist when two people in a relationship want different things, with the singer wanting the affection of their partner, while their partner is drawn to someone else.
Pyke explores the idea that loneliness cannot always be cured by being in the company of others, which can be a difficult reality to confront in a relationship. He uses imagery to create a sense of domesticity, with cats in windows and dogs at doors, and yet despite the coziness of their surroundings, there is a sense of unease in the singer's mind. They long for their partner's heart, but know that it is being drawn elsewhere. The longing the singer feels is intensified by the idea that they could have been forgotten or replaced; a fear that many people experience in romantic relationships.
The chorus of the song reflects on the singer's willingness to change their behavior to please their partner and regain their favor. The lyrics express their fear of rejection, yet at the same time, they hope to be thought of by their partner. The song highlights the loneliness of being in a relationship where the love is not reciprocated or where one partner's attention is being drawn elsewhere. Ultimately, the lyrics capture the complicated emotions that come with loving someone - the fear, the longing, and the hope.
Line by Line Meaning
It's funny how you can miss someone,
Even when someone is physically present next to us, we can still feel a longing for them.
even when they're sitting next to you.
The feeling of missing someone is not always linked to their physical absence.
So I profess that loneliness is not always by company cured.
Having company around may not alleviate the feeling of loneliness in all situations.
The cats are in the windows,
Cats are often seen sitting on windowsills or looking outside through the windows.
dogs are at the doors,
Dogs tend to guard the doors and may bark at strangers who approach them.
the lamps are lit and all the curtains being drawn,
The house is cozy, with well-lit lamps and drawn curtains that provide intimacy and privacy.
but you're wanting his heart,
You seem to be attracted to someone else, and not me.
when I'm wanting yours.
I am still drawn towards you, and this is causing me emotional pain.
But oh no, around you I forget behaviour,
In your presence, I tend to forget my usual manners or behavior.
but if I begged your pardon,
If I apologize for my behavior, would you forgive me?
might I once again be in your favour?
Could you possibly accept me back into your good graces?
And i know that I'm not the one of whom,
I am aware that you do not think of me at all.
you think at night,
You are not spending any mental energy on considering me at night.
but I know I,
However, I still think that
presume to think I made you think of me right now.
I am presuming that you might have thought of me at this very moment, despite not having any evidence to back it up.
And every day the drudgery that lingers when the day is done for me.
My days are monotonous and dull and leave me feeling exhausted.
I long to feel the quickening,
I am longing for a moment of excitement or passion to lift me out of my current state of boredom.
that anything from you to me can bring.
Anything that comes from you, whether it is a thought or an action, could spark that excitement or passion within me.
Actors never stop their acting,
Actors are always performing on stage or screen, even when they are not playing a part in a particular production.
and a singer never has a thing to say,
Singers do not need to speak, as their songs carry their messages for them.
but you're drawn to him,
You seem to be attracted to someone else, and not me.
so I get drawn away.
I am left feeling neglected and unwanted, as you are focusing your attention on someone else.
Contributed by Gabriel G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.