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'.
Snowflakes Extended
Kurt Vile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He told me something, he told me everything
Through my dark day, he led the way
Again I stray away, again I stay
There is but one true love, within my heart
There is but one man, that I am
When I'm away out there, I wanna go home
Snowflakes are dancing, this man is pumping
Headphones are loud, chilling on a pillowy cloud
Comfort of codeine, and Springsteen pristine
You should sing just whatever
ooooooh
oooooooooh-oooooooooooh
In "Snowflakes Extended" by Kurt Vile, the singer reflects on his life's journey and the people who have guided him. He starts off by saying he bought a ticket from a tin man who was his main man. This tin man seems to be a reference to the Tin Man character from The Wizard of Oz who needed a heart. The singer seemed to have found the guidance he was looking for through the tin man. The tin man told him everything and led him through his dark day. The singer is grateful for this guidance, but he also mentions how he strays away and stays away at times. This could mean that he isn't always focused on the correct path and sometimes goes astray.
The second verse talks about the singer's true love being within his heart, along with the man that he is. This could imply his self-awareness and acceptance of himself. He then expresses his desire to go home when he is away and feeling scattered, but when he is home, his head stays out there. This line could mean that his thoughts and worries never leave him, even when he's back in the comfort of his home.
The chorus further accentuates the singer's state of being in a 'pillowy cloud' with the comfort of codeine and playing loud music through his headphones. He mentions snowflakes dancing, a metaphor for the pleasures in life, while also saying that one should sing whatever they feel like regardless of anything else. Overall, the song seems to be reflecting on how life is an intricate journey, and the guidance one finds along the way shapes their character.
Line by Line Meaning
Bought a ticket from a tin man, he was my main man
I purchased a ticket from an important person, who was inanimate like a tin man
He told me something, he told me everything
He shared with me every detail that he knows
Through my dark day, he led the way
In the gloomiest of times, he guided me
Again I stray away, again I stay
I sometimes wander and sometimes remain in the same place
There is but one true love, within my heart
Within my heart, there is only one genuine love
There is but one man, that I am
I am only one person
When I'm away out there, I wanna go home
When I'm far away, I desire to be back home
When I am home, my head stays out there
Even when I'm home, my thoughts remain elsewhere
Snowflakes are dancing, this man is pumping
Snowflakes are falling and this guy is dancing energetically
Headphones are loud, chilling on a pillowy cloud
I'm listening to music loudly while feeling relaxed
Comfort of codeine, and Springsteen pristine
I'm enjoying the soothing effects of codeine and the pure quality of Springsteen's music
You should sing just whatever
You should sing whatever comes to mind
ooooooh
vocalization
oooooooooh-oooooooooooh
vocalization
Contributed by Charlotte Y. 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