Ranaldo was born in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, and graduated from Binghamton University. He has three sons, Cody Linn Ranaldo, Sage Ranaldo and Frey Ranaldo and is married to the experimental artist Leah Singer, with whom he has performed many live installation pieces with improvised music.
Among Ranaldo's solo records are Dirty Windows, a collection of spoken texts with music, Amarillo Ramp (for Robert Smithson), pieces for the guitar, and Scriptures of the Golden Eternity. His books include Bookstore, Road Movies, and Jrnls80s (published by Soft Skull Press). A full-length book of writings on Moroccan travels and music, as well as a book of new poems, Lengths & Breaths, are out now. Recent visual work has been included in exhibitions at the Hayward Gallery in London, the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art and Mercer Union in Toronto.
Ranaldo has produced albums for artists including Babes in Toyland, You Am I, Deity Guns, Magik Markersand Dutch art rock-ensemble KLEG. He has edited a volume of tour journals from the 1995 Lollapalooza Tour written by Thurston Moore, Beck, Stephen Malkmus, Courtney Love, and others. Ranaldo has also worked with jazz drummer William Hooker on improvised music, and reading and improvising poetry.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Ranaldo and Thurston Moore, of Sonic Youth, the 33rd and 34th best guitarists of all time. Their playing style is very innovative and they both use a large variety of extended techniques, such as their 3rd Bridge screwdriver technique.
Ranaldo usually uses Fender Jazzmaster and Telecaster Deluxe electric guitars, with radically altered tunings, and modifications.
Fire Island
Lee Ranaldo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't help but feeling we're living in a state of grace
Today the sun is shining, it's never gonna fade away
The sky on the water is brightening, don't think it all of yesterday
Was it something I said back to you?
Was I wrong in the head, escaping the truth?
Every time I look up and step into your mirror today
Mirrors can deceive but this time I'm sure I'm seeing straight
Because this lonely feeling is falling to the game
Was it something I said back to you?
Was I wrong in the head, escaping the truth?
Everybody is here again, back on the island hanging out
Everybody is on the mend, everybody is all played out
The water is such a mirror today, another thought in our head
The past is the past, it all fades away as the sun turns red
Am I here again? Wherever we're home
You'll be my friend again when we're all alone
You can't, you can't take this spirit home
We're either here in the summer end
Or somewhere out on the road
The song 'Fire Island' by Lee Ranaldo talks about the feeling of being in a state of grace, enjoying the sunshine and the beauty of the surroundings, and how it is all the more delightful when shared with someone special. Ranaldo seems to be reminiscing about a moment spent with a loved one, where they watched the sky brighten on the surface of the water. However, as happy as he is in that moment, he is also aware of a gnawing feeling of loneliness, which he tries to fend off by surrounding himself with friends. He wonders if he did something wrong that could have led to this feeling, or if he is lying to himself by pretending to be okay. All in all, the song paints a picture of a bittersweet moment, where the beauty and happiness of the present are mixed with uncertainty about the future and nostalgia for the past.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released on Lee Ranaldo's first fully acoustic solo album, 'Between the Times and the Tides', which was a departure from the experimental post-punk sound he is known for as part of Sonic Youth. The song features guest appearances from guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Steve Shelley, who played with Ranaldo in Sonic Youth. Another interesting fact is that the video for the song features footage of Ranaldo exploring Fire Island, a popular summer vacation spot in New York. In interviews, Ranaldo has stated that the lyrics were inspired by his own experiences spending time on the island with his family.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I look up, I smile and see your pretty face
I always grin when I lay eyes on your beautiful face
I can't help but feeling we're living in a state of grace
It's impossible not to feel like we're blessed with this life
Today the sun is shining, it's never gonna fade away
The sun's rays are bright today and will last forever
The sky on the water is brightening, don't think it all of yesterday
The sea reflects the brightening sky, not a thought of yesterday lingering
Was it something I said back to you?
Did my words offend you in some way?
Was I wrong in the head, escaping the truth?
Was I delusional and avoiding reality?
Every time I look up and step into your mirror today
Each time I gaze into your eyes, today and forever
The little morning woke up to clear the air up, as a sage would say
The morning clears the air, as wise people claim
Mirrors can deceive but this time I'm sure I'm seeing straight
Mirrors can trick us, but now I know I see clearly
Because this lonely feeling is falling to the game
My sense of isolation is decreasing, becoming part of the fun
Everybody is here again, back on the island hanging out
Everyone has returned to the island, reuniting with friends
Everybody is on the mend, everybody is all played out
Everyone is recovering, exhausted from playing too much
The water is such a mirror today, another thought in our head
The water reflects just as a thought arises
The past is the past, it all fades away as the sun turns red
The past vanishes as the sun sets
Am I here again? Wherever we're home
Am I really back on the island? Wherever we feel most at ease
You'll be my friend again when we're all alone
We will regain our friendship when no one else is around
You can't, you can't take this spirit home
The enthusiasm we feel here can't be taken with us when we leave
We're either here in the summer end or somewhere out on the road
We're either here until summer ends or traveling somewhere else
Contributed by Declan E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.