Though his name is sometimes assumed to be a pseudonym due to its similarity to German composer Kurt Weill, it is in fact his birth name, as given by his parents Donna and Charles Vile.
Vile began his musical career in 2003 creating lo-fi home recordings with frequent collaborator Adam Granduciel. The duo subsequently formed the indie rock band The War on Drugs in 2005. Vile departed following the release of their debut studio album, Wagonwheel Blues, in 2008.
Vile's music has been likened to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, and Tom Petty. His first album for Matador, titled Childish Prodigy was released in October 2009. Prior to signing with Matador, Vile released two albums, God Is Saying This To You and Constant Hitmaker, on Mexican Summer and Woodsist, respectively. He plays both solo shows as well as shows with a backing band called The Violators.
Smoke Ring For My Halo, released in March of 2011, is Kurt Vile's fourth album and second official release for Matador Records. Uncut placed the album at number 14 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011" and garnered Vile the iTunes #Rewind2011 Singer/Songwriter Album of the Year. Vile followed up the widely acclaimed album with the six-song EP release, So Outta Reach, in November of the same year. The EP was composed of tracks originating from the same sessions that birthed Smoke Ring for My Halo. So Outta Reach includes the single 'The Creature', acknowledged as one of Vile's best, and a driving rock cover of Bruce Springsteen's 'Downbound Train'.
I'm an Outlaw
Kurt Vile Lyrics
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I'm an outlaw on the brink of self-implosion
Alone in a crowd on the corner
Goin' nowhere slow
I'm an outlaw on the brink of self-implosion
Alone in a crowd on the corner
In my walkman, in a snowglobe
I'm an outlaw by the ocean
Watch it come crashing against my skin
He go from Gene Clark to Clarence White
And then he's alright
I'm an outlaw on the brink of imploding
Alone in a crowd on the corner
Burned from vinyl, dimed from cans to the dome
I'm an outlaw under Orion's Belt
What a dumb thing to sing but it had a ring to it
Girl, you got wise blood to come when summoned
As my right eardrum drones on through the night now
Under exile, 'neath constellations
Just to idyl there in slow motion
So is the life of the outlaw
As a villain, as a snake-charming, vile human being
I'm an outlaw
Bitch
The lyrics of "I'm an Outlaw" by Kurt Vile explore the life of an outsider, an outlaw who is on the brink of self-implosion. The singer is lost and alone, disconnected from society while standing in a crowd, going nowhere slow. The refrain "girl, you got wise blood to come when summoned" suggests that the character is able to connect with someone on a deeper level, but is unable to fully integrate into society. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is drifting aimlessly, searching for a place where he belongs.
The song's lyrics capture the essence of the rural American experience, reflecting the musical tradition of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that was popular in the 1970s. It also features elements of psychedelic rock and folk-rock, creating a distinctive sound that combines various musical genres. The use of symbols and metaphors, such as "burned from vinyl, dimed from cans to the dome" and "under Orion's Belt," adds a poetic quality to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, you got wise blood to come when summoned
The girl is smart enough to come when called
I'm an outlaw on the brink of self-implosion
I'm a rebel who's about to implode
Alone in a crowd on the corner
I'm surrounded by people but still feel alone
Goin' nowhere slow
I'm not making any progress
In my walkman, in a snowglobe
Listening to music that transports me to a different world
I'm an outlaw by the ocean
I'm a rebel who likes to be close to the water
Watch it come crashing against my skin
Feeling the power of the waves against my body
He go from Gene Clark to Clarence White
Switching between two musicians
And then he's alright
Feeling content after switching musicians
Burned from vinyl, dimed from cans to the dome
Listening to music from a variety of formats
I'm an outlaw under Orion's Belt
I'm a rebel who likes to stargaze under the stars of Orion's Belt
What a dumb thing to sing but it had a ring to it
Realizing that something might be silly but still enjoying it
As my right eardrum drones on through the night now
Hearing a constant sound in my ear
Under exile, 'neath constellations
Living in isolation under the stars
Just to idyl there in slow motion
To rest there and slow down
So is the life of the outlaw
This is what being a rebel is like
As a villain, as a snake-charming, vile human being
As someone who is seen as wicked and repulsive
I'm an outlaw
I'm a rebel
Bitch
An aggressive exclamation to emphasize rebelliousness or distaste for a situation
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kurt Samuel Vile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gren Marton
on Wheelhouse
Sometimes I talk too much but I gotta get it out
But I don’t wanna talk, I only wanna listen
My baby talks soft, my ears are always ringing now
Humming a sad song when I’m alone
But you gotta be alone to figure things out sometimes
Be alone, when even in a crowd of friends and not so
Sometimes of whom you just can’t distinguish but
Thank god for the former, yeah
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside
There’s a desert down below the earth’s core
A hidden staircase in the house that you reside in
A little something from the cupboard over there
A little medicine, it’s a medication situation
Some bow down a hundred times a day or more
To find a way, to get back down to the temple one day
Find the temple, to bask in the glory of
Roll around on a floor of furry carpet then
Sleep soundly for the first time in forever and
Breathing deep inside