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.
Lost
Lee Ranaldo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
- Dave McRadden, The Great Canadian Sonnett, p106 -
When your lost, when every indecision
Seems t fade away into the window pane
When every single dream requires revision
When they roll around in your head again and again
That your lost/ your lost but your whole
When your lost, when your boyfriend’s got no vision
But I can’t sway you cuz he’s still got the finest hands
If there’s a howling in your night well you just gotta listen
I’ll be there to hold out the hand of a friend
But you know / You really should know
That you move so good / your lost but your whole
When your lost, lost in that perfect prison
I’ve heard about your days in the wine and sand
But everything you say comes out like religion
You could use a friend and some kind of a clear plan
Cuz your lost / you really don’t know
How you lost / you lost but your whole
You lost but your whole
Yr lost but your whole
Lost but your whole
The lyrics of Lee Ranaldo's song Lost talk about being lost and confused in life. The first verse talks about how one can be lost in their thoughts and just licking their lips, signifying a sense of hunger or thirst for guidance. The second verse talks about how every decision seems impossible to make and dreams need revision. The chorus talks about how one is completely lost and doesn't know where to go or what to do. The bridge goes on to talk about how someone's partner may not be helpful or supportive, but the singer is there to be a friend and lend a helping hand. The last line repeats the phrase "you lost but your whole" to show that even though someone may be lost, they are still whole and complete.
Overall, the song speaks to the feeling of being lost and unsure in life, but also emphasizes the importance of having a support system and being there for others who may be feeling the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm lost lost lost, licking my lips in groundless clear eternity.
I am completely lost, with no sense of direction, and feel like I am just suspended in an endless void.
When your lost, when every indecision seems to fade away into the window pane
When you are lost, all of your indecisiveness seems to disappear without resolution.
When every single dream requires revision, when they roll around in your head again and again
Every dream that you have requires multiple revisions and keeps playing in your mind.
Cuz your lost / you really don’t know / That your lost/ your lost but your whole
You are lost and unaware of it, and even though you are lost, it is a part of your whole self.
When your lost, when your boyfriend’s got no vision / But I can’t sway you cuz he’s still got the finest hands
When you are lost and your partner lacks vision, but you are still attached to them because of their positive physical qualities.
If there’s a howling in your night well you just gotta listen / I’ll be there to hold out the hand of a friend
When you are struggling, you need to listen to your inner voice, and I will be there as a supportive friend.
But you know / You really should know / That you move so good / your lost but your whole
You may be lost, but you have a unique way of moving and being that is still a part of your whole self.
When your lost, lost in that perfect prison / I’ve heard about your days in the wine and sand
When you are lost, you may feel trapped in a perfect world that is actually a kind of prison.
But everything you say comes out like religion / You could use a friend and some kind of a clear plan
You speak with great conviction about your beliefs and could benefit from a friend and clear plan to help you find your way.
Cuz your lost / you really don’t know / How you lost / you lost but your whole / You lost but your whole / Yr lost but your whole / Lost but your whole
You are truly lost, with no understanding of how you got there, but it is a part of your overall being.
Contributed by Abigail D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.