Though born in Dayton, Ohio, Barlow was raised in Jackson, Michigan and then Westfield, Massachusetts. He is widely considered to be among the most prolific and ground-breaking indie musicians of the 1990's. He's best known for his work with Sebadoh, The Folk Implosion and Dinosaur Jr.'s original and current lineup. Many labels have been applied to his unique brand of acoustic rock, including lo-fi, folk-pop and folkcore. Barlow's latest album, his second official solo effort under his own name, is titled Goodnight unknown.
Machinery
Lou Barlow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But there's green everywhere I look
Good that it dies now
Good that the earth shook
Cultivated sense of mystery
Kettle of a personal history
Good manipulator
That lost it's patience
Lost in your own voice
Shaking in your stand
A rock and go win one
Flakey as an onion
A delicate fun run
Sure as the sun shines
The roar of machinery
Obsessing on tragedy
Personal tragedy
Sick upon the nation
Suck up in your station
As sure as the sun will shine
The lyrics of Lou Barlow's "Machinery" are charged with a sense of disorientation, anxiety, and destruction in the face of industrialization and human consumption of nature. While the "roar of machinery" dominates the soundscape of modernity, the singer is able to find "green everywhere" as a reminder of the natural world that has been violently overtaken and destroyed by human civilization. This sense of ambivalence between the good and the bad sides of modernity is reflected in lines such as "good that it dies now/good that the earth shook," which suggest both a desire to end the destructive machinery and a recognition of the necessary turmoil it might take to accomplish that.
The struggles of the modern subject are also registered in the lyrics, as the singer laments the loss of a "cultivated sense of mystery" and experiences a personal history as "a kettle" that is being heated to the point of boiling over. At the same time, the singer also criticizes the "good manipulator" who exploits the public's impatience and desire for quick solutions to problems. This sense of frustration and helplessness is further conveyed through the image of a "flakey onion," which suggests the singer's own fragility and instability in the face of larger forces that they cannot control.
Line by Line Meaning
The roar of machinery
The loud noise produced by machines.
But there's green everywhere I look
Despite the presence of machinery, there is still a lot of greenery around.
Good that it dies now
It is a good thing that something has come to an end.
Good that the earth shook
The earth shaking is also a good thing, possibly signifying change or progress.
Cultivated sense of mystery
A deliberately created atmosphere of intrigue or mystique.
Kettle of a personal history
A metaphorical 'kettle' containing the mix of experiences that have shaped an individual’s life.
Good manipulator
A skilled controller of events or people.
Cry inside nation
An outcry from within the general population.
That lost it's patience
Referring to a group of people who have run out of patience for something or someone.
Lost in your own voice
Being so focused on oneself and one's opinions that the world around us becomes inconsequential.
Shaking in your stand
Feeling unsteady or insecure in one's position or beliefs.
A rock and go win one
A phrase that seems to suggest a 'trial and error' approach, where one tries until they succeed.
Flakey as an onion
A simile indicating someone who is brittle or prone to breaking apart.
A delicate fun run
A fun activity that needs to be treated carefully to avoid any mishaps.
Sure as the sun shines
As sure and certain as the sun rising every day.
Obsessing on tragedy
Focusing too much on negative situations or events.
Personal tragedy
A tragic event that occurs in an individual's life, not necessarily affecting the broader society.
Sick upon the nation
Feeling unwell in response to something happening within the country you live in.
Suck up in your station
Being trapped in one's current position or role.
As sure as the sun will shine
Something that is certain or guaranteed to happen.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LOUIS KNOX BARLOW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MikeHermetic
"Feel Good" is one of Lou's best songs EVAH!
@mailworkr
you are appreciated. not only for this upload but ALL OF THEM. I've got some listening to do. THANK YOU
@juandiegogarcialopez6581
Low Barlow is fuckin great!!!!
@collinmc90
Thanks for sharing these, this is great.
@exexalien
I was going to upload this if it wasn't already on Youtube; glad to see someone beat me to it! Brilliant from start to finish. Shame there aren't more views; anyone who likes Sentridoh/early Sebadoh should definitely hear this.
@stinju78
shhhhhhhhhhhhhhit you got ti on vinyl ................that's raaaaaaaaad thanx so much for sharing that gold piece ......merci beaucoups
@danacopp2479
Thank you!!!!!!!!
@happyfluke1
Can't stop listening to this Bryan Adams cover over and over.
@PrankZabba
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@rebeccaelda
if anyone has lou barlow with "Kiss my Jazz" ... please upload it and let me know.