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".
Memories & Dust
Josh Pyke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Next I was a fledging leaping from the nest despite the fall
Oh they fall, how we fall
But if I speak to you of days upon the ocean
I can speak to you of memories and dust
There won’t be time for all of us,
I know there won’t be time for all of us
Oh my god
I prayed my bones weren’t brittle
For the air we float on can feel dense
Oh the weight of it aches
But if I speak to you of days upon the ocean
I can speak to you of memories and dust
There won’t be time for all us,
I know there won’t be time for all of us
’Cause I saw two fall before they were ready to
And I found no sense or gain to bear the cost
Comfort comes to those with faith in mysterious ways
But for me faith don’t make up for what we lost
But if I speak to you of days upon the ocean
I can speak to you of memories and dust
There won’t be time for all us,
I know there won’t be time for all of us
But in the morning I can smell you on my pillow
I need to know we won’t get wrung out in the wash
I need to know there’s time for us
I must believe there’s time for some of us
’Cause I saw two fall before they were ready to
And I found no sense or gain to bear the cost
Comfort comes to those with faith in mysterious ways
But for me faith don’t make up for what we lost
The lyrics of the song "Memories & Dust" by Josh Pyke tell a story of growth, struggle and loss. The song starts with the artist reflecting on his beginnings as a "hatchling" waiting for his bones to form, and then becoming a "fledging" taking risks and facing the possibility of falling. The imagery of falling is repeated throughout the song, symbolizing the struggles and challenges we face in life.
As the song progresses, the artist talks about longing for something beyond what he has, feeling the weight of life's challenges and witnessing the loss of loved ones. He questions the faith that offers comfort to some, suggesting that it doesn't always make up for what is lost.
In the last stanza of the song, the artist is seeking reassurance and hope for himself and his loved ones. The smell of his partner on his pillow in the morning offers him comfort and he expresses the belief that there is still time for some of us to live fully and make meaningful memories.
Overall, "Memories & Dust" is a poignant reflection on the struggles of life, the pain of loss, and the value of the memories we create along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
First I was a hatchling waiting for my little bones to form
At the beginning of life I was fragile, physically weak and needed time to grow strong.
Next I was a fledgling leaping from the nest despite the fall, oh they fall, how we fall
As adolescence approached, I took risks to figure out life, knowing that failure and pain were possible consequences.
But if I speak to you of days upon the ocean, I can speak to you of memories and dust
If we talk about my experiences, we can share stories of adventure, but also acknowledge they are fleeting and mixed with sorrow and hardship.
There won’t be time for all of us, I know there won’t be time for all of us
Life is finite and we won't all experience everything we want to. Some will miss out on important and joyful moments.
I landed in the garden longing for the view behind the fence, oh my god
As I grew up, I became more aware of what I didn't have and what I desired. I hoped what I didn't have wouldn't hold me back.
I prayed my bones weren’t brittle for the air we float on can feel dense, oh the weight of it aches
I hoped I was strong enough to handle what life throws at me. Sometimes life is suffocating and feels like it's crushing me.
’Cause I saw two fall before they were ready to and I found no sense or gain to bear the cost
Seeing others lose their lives before they've had a chance to truly live made me question why we suffer and what we gain from it. It seems unjust.
Comfort comes to those with faith in mysterious ways, but for me faith don’t make up for what we lost
I understand that belief in a higher power offers comfort, but it doesn't always make up for the pain and injustice we experience in life.
But in the morning I can smell you on my pillow, I need to know we won’t get wrung out in the wash
Even though life can be hard, I find comfort in knowing I have someone to share it with. I hope our love can survive the difficulties we face.
I need to know there’s time for us, I must believe there’s time for some of us
I need to believe that our love and relationship will last, despite knowing that time is limited and not everyone gets to experience everything they want to.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JOSHUA JON PYKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NixxieNix
ah, his music is like a gentle hug of nostalgia.
Claire Peachey
this song, no joke is probably the best song i have ever heard in my life, x
P. Whitestrake
I remember watching this clip on Australian TV about 9 or 10 years ago.
Aah... good old days.
hdev994
I really love this song. As a musican I can really appriciate the talent that Josh Pyke has, acctully as soon as this is released in Australia it will get stuck in so many peoples heads. Love it
allyx111
"And in the morning I can smell you on my pillow" Best line, love this song!
Georgia Lou
i listen to this song whenever i feel sad and it never fails to make me feel all happy inside. ^____^
Diana Tran
I love this... It sounds so bittersweet... And his voice ain't half-bad
mjw
Loving it, has some pretty haunting lines.
Samantha Arabatzis
Australia easily has the best acoustic-ish kind of music. We have Josh Pyke, Missy Higgins, John Butler Trio, Sarah Blasko, Ben Lee... Good stuff, and I lovelovelooooove this song!
xmusicloverr
I love it, I love it so much. I love that no hatchlings were harmed and I love the music