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'.
Life's A Beach
Kurt Vile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got dangerous memory, got memory
I wanna be the best, bet all the dreams are entitled to be blessed
But I’m … blesses all the path
I wanna go to …, yeah, cause life’s a beach
I’m out of reach
I’m so out of reach, yeah
I like my key in the car …
From … away … need
Always … imagination,
Running away with me
When your actions acting up
… turning up
I make a living too much… die
A little over
… cause life’s so wild
Man I can’t … a rest
I’ve been up and down so long
Guess I’m moving, moving along
I’ve been along … life
Don’t never try and end …
In this song, Kurt Vile expresses his desire to start afresh and have a new beginning. He wants to be free from everything, including his memories, which he describes as dangerous. Despite having good dreams, he does not feel blessed and struggles to find his path in life. He decides to go to the beach because it represents a carefree and happy lifestyle. At the same time, he feels out of reach from it all, unable to truly enjoy life to its fullest.
Kurt Vile sings about driving in his car, enjoying the freedom of the road and the ability to escape reality. His imagination runs wild as he fantasizes about a new, better life. However, he acknowledges that his actions have consequences, and he struggles to balance the competing forces of living life to the fullest and taking care of himself. He wants to embrace the wildness of life, but it comes with risks and challenges. Despite these challenges, he continues to move forward, seeking new experiences and never giving up.
In "Life's a Beach", Kurt Vile offers a commentary on the challenges of living life to the fullest. The song represents his struggles to balance his desire for adventure and freedom with his responsibilities and the consequences of his actions. Overall, the song is a celebration of life and the infinite possibilities it offers, but also a reminder of the difficulties that come with that freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna be born, don’t wanna be anything
I desire to have a fresh start with no prior identity or affiliation.
I got dangerous memory, got memory
My recollections can be detrimental to my wellbeing and I can’t ignore them.
I wanna be the best, bet all the dreams are entitled to be blessed
I aspire to attain success and I strongly believe that everyone deserves it.
But I’m … blesses all the path
However, my life has not been immune to hardships.
I wanna go to …, yeah, cause life’s a beach
I long to be in a location submerged in the ocean and sandy shores since existence is relaxed.
I’m out of reach
I am inaccessible, either intentionally or involuntarily.
I’m so out of reach, yeah
I am hopelessly distant, explicitly emphasizing my inaccessibility.
Life’s a beach
Life is simple and idyllic, comparable to the relaxing qualities of a beach.
I like my key in the car …
I prefer to keep the key in my vehicle since I yearn for an impulsive escape.
From … away … need
Far away from everything, I am my own dependency.
Always … imagination,
My creativity is high-spirited and continuous.
Running away with me
My imagination is abducting me, causing me to lose focus on reality.
When your actions acting up
Whenever you’re acting unexpectedly,
… turning up
Chaos is arising.
I make a living too much… die
I work many hours to afford my expenses, to the point where it is detrimental to my health.
A little over
Just a tad too much.
… cause life’s so wild
Because existence is extremely unpredictable and full of surprises.
Man I can’t … a rest
I am unable to pause and take time off.
I’ve been up and down so long
I have been experiencing alternating stages of success and misery continuously for an extended period.
Guess I’m moving, moving along
Wondering what’s next for me, I continue to move forward.
I’ve been along … life
I have been stalwart through the ups and downs of existence.
Don’t never try and end …
You should never attempt to bring about my end.
Writer(s): Vile
Contributed by Christopher A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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