Along with Apples In Stereo, Olivia Tremor Control, Of Montreal and other bands, Lilys set much of the tone for the American East Coast rock scene in the 1990s
"A Nanny In Manhattan" became a #16 hit in the UK after being used in a 1998 ad campaign for Levi's jeans.
In winter of 2000 K. began recording Precollection in Philadelphia. Three producers and three years later enter Guru of Soul, producer MIchael Musmanno, combining his affections for pop and esoteric rock to deliver all subsequent Lilys recordings.
Precollection
Lilys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm pulling out my ticket,heading for the stations of the tranquil plane,pre,pre,pre
Oh of Universe,drink of yourself,consume be filled
A fire now,our time has come to avalanche up the hill
In where the pshychic fern grew
Even the keeper's daughters knew,
All be leaving here with you
Lies do no good,when lions did no good,
Check and stretch into the stars,become what we are
(pray,pre,pre)
Steady at a function of our us not me,of you
Acts of lightning caught in taxis left the Earth's deep magic for you
The Sun became brighter on our home hands didn't build
We earn to come,we are beginning to avalanche up the hill
In where the pshychic fern grew
Even the keeper's daughters knew,
All be leaving here with you
Lies did no good,when lions did no good
Check and stretch into the stars,
Become what we are,become what we are,become what we are,
Become what the circus worker,working,works
Lies did no good,when lions did no good
Check and stretch into the stars,
We are what we are
(pray,pre,pre)
Precollection
The lyrics to Lily's song "Precollection" are poetic and open to interpretation, but there are a few themes that stand out. The song seems to be about a journey, both physical and spiritual, and the search for a deeper connection to the universe and oneself. The opening lines, "Oh Sun become bright over our home hands didn't build, I'm pulling out my ticket, heading for the stations of the tranquil plane," suggest a desire to escape the mundanity of everyday life and explore something greater. The repetition of "pre, pre, pre" adds to the dreamlike quality of the lyrics and emphasizes the idea of preparation for a journey.
The lyrics also touch on themes of transformation and growth. The lines, "A fire now, our time has come to avalanche up the hill" suggest a sense of urgency and the need to take action towards personal transformation. The reference to the "psychic fern" and "keeper's daughters" adds to the mystical nature of the song and further emphasizes the idea of connecting with something greater than oneself.
Overall, "Precollection" is a beautifully written and evocative song that encourages the listener to explore their own journey and connection to the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Sun become bright over our home hands didn't build
May the sun shine brightly over our home that we didn't physically build with our own hands
I'm pulling out my ticket,heading for the stations of the tranquil plane,pre,pre,pre
I'm getting ready to go to a peaceful place, and I'm eagerly preparing for it (hence the repetition of 'pre')
Oh of Universe,drink of yourself,consume be filled
Universe, consume yourself and be replenished
A fire now,our time has come to avalanche up the hill
We are at the peak of our passion and energy, and it's time for us to take a leap of faith and rise to success
In where the pshychic fern grew
Referring to a specific location where a psychic fern plant grew
Even the keeper's daughters knew,
Even those who were close to the location knew about it
All be leaving here with you
We will all leave this place, but we'll be doing it together
Lies do no good,when lions did no good,
Deception and aggression are not beneficial
Check and stretch into the stars,become what we are (pray,pre,pre)
Look up to the sky and strive to become who we truly are meant to be (indicated by the repetition of 'pre', which may suggest prayer)
Steady at a function of our us not me,of you
We should prioritize the collective 'us' over our individual 'me' or 'you'
Acts of lightning caught in taxis left the Earth's deep magic for you
Even in the midst of mundane everyday activities (like riding in a taxi), we can still experience the profound and magical aspects of life
We earn to come,we are beginning to avalanche up the hill
We have worked hard for this moment, and we're starting to see our efforts pay off as we climb towards success
Become what the circus worker,working,works
Emulate the hardworking nature of a circus performer
We are what we are (pray,pre,pre)
Accept and embrace ourselves for who we are (indicated by the repetition of 'pre', which may suggest prayer)
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.