"Luscious, luminous, lilting lullabies" is how the New York Times describes songs by Lucius, a five-piece band from Brooklyn, NY.
At the center of Lucius are the "alluring and magnetic" (Seventeen) singers-in-unison, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. After graduating from Boston’s Berklee School of Music, the two young friends and collaborators moved into an old Victorian house in Brooklyn’s Ditmas Park – a former recording studio and music school. The four-story musical fortress, rife with left-behind musical treasures, housed many musician friends including, eventually, Wolfe and Laessig’s future bandmates, Danny Molad, Peter Lalish and Andrew Burri.
“When we were ready to make our record we felt it was imperative it reflected the synergy that Holly and I feel so strongly in our personal and musical relationship,” said Wolfe. The resulting songs are stories told from the same perspective, sung at the same time, with the same sentiment; two voices as one.
The quintet’s self-titled debut EP was recorded and produced in the Ditmas Park house where the band was formed. Their full length album is due for release Autumn 2013.
Nothing Ordinary
Lucius Lyrics
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Flying above the trees, he's crying
Because the wind is thick, lettin' off a sour trick
From the smoky fumes, of fire
And there is nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
Cattle fields spread across the land
Fills pockets full of cheap...thrills
Who's counting?
We've been milking it for its worth
How's about a rebirth?
Plant a seed and watch it grow
And there is nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
And there is nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
You can bend another one
You can't glue it back together
You can't glue it back together
You can bend another one
You can't glue it back together
You can't glue it back together
Once it's gone
Man cannot run this place alone
But when nature intervenes, keep trying
New is in, out with all the old
Just watch us make the bed, we'll lie in
And there is nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
Nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary, nothing ordinary
The lyrics of Lucius's "Nothing Ordinary" depict a world in which nature is suffering and pollution is rampant. The bird in the opening lines is symbolic of the animals, plants, and ecosystems that are threatened by the effects of human activity. The repetition of "nothing ordinary" throughout the song emphasizes the need for change in our behavior, as the current state of the world is far from ordinary or acceptable.
The second verse addresses the exploitation of resources for profit, with cattle fields symbolizing the harmful industrial practices that are damaging the environment. The line "we've been milking it for its worth" suggests that humans have been using and abusing the earth's resources without regard for the consequences. But the song offers hope for redemption, with the idea of planting a seed and watching it grow representing the potential for new growth and positive change.
The final verse speaks to the need for collaboration between humans and nature to bring about meaningful change. While humanity should strive to be stewards of the earth, we cannot underestimate the power of nature and its ability to balance itself. The last lines "Just watch us make the bed, we'll lie in" suggest that if we care for the earth properly, we will reap the benefits and create a better world for all.
Line by Line Meaning
Little bird flying in the breeze
A small bird is flying gently in the wind
Flying above the trees, he's crying
The bird is sad and shedding tears while flying over the trees
Because the wind is thick, lettin' off a sour trick
The bird is upset because the thick wind is releasing harmful fumes
From the smoky fumes, of fire
The fumes that the bird is experiencing are caused by a fire nearby
And there is nothing ordinary
The situation is unusual and extraordinary
Cattle fields spread across the land
There are many fields for raising cattle in the area
Fills pockets full of cheap...thrills
People are making money off the cattle industry, but not in an honorable way
Who's counting?
No one is keeping track of the unethical practices
We've been milking it for its worth
The cattle industry has been exploited for all it's worth
How's about a rebirth?
It's time for a change and a fresh start
Plant a seed and watch it grow
We should start something new and watch it grow
You can bend another one
You can break another rule or do more harm
You can't glue it back together
You can't fix or undo what has been done
Once it's gone
Once it's destroyed or ruined, it's too late to fix it
Man cannot run this place alone
Humans cannot solely control the world
But when nature intervenes, keep trying
Even with natural disasters, we should keep working towards positive change
New is in, out with all the old
It's time to embrace something new and leave the old ways behind
Just watch us make the bed, we'll lie in
We're responsible for our actions and must face the consequences
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HOLLY LAESSIG, JESSICA WOLFE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
guitron45
+Waste Nottingham Yes sorry never seen the name in print. Their education shows in a lot of way tho, to my knowledge they went to a music in New England regardless, of where it was they go their way. I was thinking also of the the Other Berkley and the era when people gave a shit about our home planet and what the money zhomby's are doing to it, screw the spelling the msg. is clear.
As far as complex rhythms and Mic and company, I was mostly thinking of a memory I have of them doing a tune and for a few bars they broke away from the de rigueur 2 and 4 every one is afraid d to leave fearing the dance folks won't know where ONE is. Two and 4 when they choose to use it is all the more powerful when it hasn't been beat to death in every tune of the set.
As far as your comments on the post slamming the drummer, I agree the guy doesn't get it and is probably a 2 and 4 zhombie ....eeewww different spelling. Does anyone not know what it means.
Dan has good musical instincet but ....... this is from my first expierence of their live set at KEXP, then hearing the album cuts. I did not enjoy the music nearly as much, not shure who mixed it but it seemed much brighter and scratchier than their general sound on the KEXP set. I don't know the role Dan played at that session. But
who ever thought of moving the kit all over the stage and every one playing at one time or another is very smart about what is missing from most of the music of the masses. Drama, Emotion, Motion, specticle. Elton John knew it, Alice Cooper and Mr. Zappa knew it plaenty of others these days, Get a look at Lake St. Dive for another band taking performance to new musical formats. I have not been much interested in Rock for 20 years or so.
Its very nice to be a slobbering fan of a grate band again.
Ron
Spencer Cragun
I feel like Lucius should record a live album. These guys are so amazing.
Ivan Sykes
Alguien en Mexico (Tlaxcala) que ame a estos musicos, son geniales!!! Compartamos gustos!!!
Jesse
Wow I didn't think I could love this song more but the live version is its own magnificent animal
ivan scott self
Wow this song is so good live!!
TheEleventeen
One of the best songs I heard in last decade.^^
Rebecca Hnz
Beautiful voices great instrumentals 💓💓💓
bakagenius1001
Man, that vocal line in the background of the chorus is AMAZING.
paul elliott
Brilliant
Great version and very tribal with usual amazing vocals
Thanks for posting
paul elliott
Fantastic
Great album and can't stop playing it's so damn good
Drum-tastic
And those girls sing brilliantly together
Geoff Samphire
the guitar tone is sick!!!