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'.
Too Hard
Kurt Vile Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So they say
And that's probably the best way to be
But what about those who are followers and what about hit artists
I will promise to do my very best
To do my duty for god and my country even though I'm just human, after all
I will promise not to smoke to much and I will promise not to party
Too hard
Too hard
Its too hard
Did you remember the xylophone that took you everywhere from home
Well I did
Well I've tried
Life is like a ball of beauty
That makes you want to just cry
Then you die
Yeah yeah yeah
I will promise to go out of my way, to do the right thing from now on, believe me baby
There comes a time in every mans life
When hes got to take hold of the hands that ain't his but it is
Take your time so they say,
And that's got to be the best way
But what about those who are fathers and what about the others
I know that you don't know a stranger
But i'm no stranger than the rest
And i'm no stranger to you
Yeah yeah yeah
Take your time they say
Is all around and I think I've seen
I've noticed where i'm bound
There comes a time in every mans life
Where he got to hold tight to the heart of the matter of hands
So take your time baby girl
Because that's, that's the best of all
One day you'll believe me
I will promise to do my very best, to do my very best for you
And that wont be to hard
Too hard
Too hard
Too hard
Too hard
In Kurt Vile's song "Too Hard", the artist conveys a sense of struggle in life, particularly in trying to do the right thing. The song opens with the common phrase "take your time, so they say", which Vile acknowledges as probably being the best way to approach life. However, he questions what that means for people who are followers, or "hit artists". Vile then promises to do his best in life and to fulfill his duties for God and country, but acknowledges that he, like everyone, is just human. He promises not to indulge in vices like smoking or partying.
The refrain of the song is "too hard", repeated four times, which seems to symbolize the difficulties of life. Vile reminisces about a xylophone that took him everywhere from home, and describes life as a ball of beauty that makes one want to cry before dying. He continues to make promises to go out of his way to do the right thing and take hold of hands that may not be his own but still need holding.
Throughout the song, Vile seems to be grappling with the complexities and challenges of living a fulfilled life, promising to do his best and acknowledging that it may be too hard at times. The song ends on a note of hope, with Vile singing that "that won't be too hard". Overall, "Too Hard" reflects on the struggles of life and the importance of persevering through them.
Line by Line Meaning
Take your time
Slow down and don't rush through life
So they say
This is a common piece of advice
And that’s probably the best way to be
Taking your time is likely to be the best approach to life
But what about those who are followers and what about hit artists
What about people who feel pressure to conform or to produce hit songs?
I will promise to do my very best
I will commit to doing my best
To do my duty for god and my country even though I'm just human, after all
I will fulfill my obligations to my country and religion, even though I am fallible and imperfect
I will promise not to smoke too much and I will promise not to party
I won't indulge in unhealthy or irresponsible behavior
Too hard
It's too difficult
Did you remember the xylophone that took you everywhere from home
Do you recall something from your childhood that brought you comfort?
Well I did
I remember something from my past
Well I've tried
I've made an effort
Life is like a ball of beauty
Life can be incredibly beautiful
That makes you want to just cry
It's so beautiful that you feel emotional
Then you die
Life is fleeting and eventually ends in death
I will promise to go out of my way, to do the right thing from now on, believe me baby
I will go above and beyond to always do what is right
There comes a time in every mans life
There is a point in every person's life
When hes got to take hold of the hands that ain't his but it is
When he needs to take control of a situation that doesn't necessarily belong to him
But what about those who are fathers and what about the others
What about people with additional responsibilities, like being a father?
I know that you don’t know a stranger
I trust that you can make friends easily
But i´m no stranger than the rest
But I'm not any stranger than anybody else
And i´m no stranger to you
And you know me well
Is all around and I think I've seen
Opportunity is present and I'm aware of it
I've noticed where i´m bound
I know where my future lies
Where he got to hold tight to the heart of the matter of hands
Where he needs to hold onto the essence of the situation
So take your time baby girl
Don't rush, take your time
Because that’s, that’s the best of all
It's the best approach
One day you´ll believe me
Eventually you will come to trust and believe me
I will promise to do my very best, to do my very best for you
I will do everything in my power to make things better for you
And that wont be too hard
It won't be too difficult
Lyrics © BEGGARS MUSIC, LTD.
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