During 2007 Man Man opened for Modest Mouse in several shows during their U.S tour, gaining them public attention. Not long afterward, Nike began airing a series of commercials starring Rainn Wilson with Man Man's "10 lb Mustache" as the background music. That song along with "Feathers" and "Engwish Bwudd" were featured in season 3, episode 8 of the TV show Weeds.
Man Man is known for their multi instrumental style that centers on the piano playing of lead singer Honus Honus accompanied by the singing and wide variety of other instruments played by the rest of the band. On recordings, Honus usually plays a honky tonk style piano but during the live shows he uses a Rhodes Piano. Other instruments played by the rest of the band include a clavinet, microKORG, sousaphone, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, flute, drum set, euphonium, Fender Jazz Bass, Danelectro guitar, xylophone, marimba, melodica and various percussive instruments including pots and pans and toy noise makers and horns.
The 2006 album Six Demon Bag's title is a reference to a line in the film Big Trouble in Little China
Man Man released their third studio album Rabbit Habits in 2008, and embarked on a North American tour in March 2008, with Yeasayer and The Extraordinaires splitting dates. Man Man performed in a side tent at the 2008 Voodoo Experience.
Whalebones
Man Man Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a yoke he knows, he'll never forget
The way she cut through his bed
Like a snake would bite through a cave of flesh
But he holds her, though she's broken
He swears he don't care where she's been
He's tired of being human
He shoots from the heart instead of the head
His mouth and his words, they rarely connect
He looks to the past and where his tongue's tread
And he knows he's meant the opposite
But she holds him like an infant
Though it breaks her in half to know he'll wake like a man
Sold on cold indifference
When he reaches for her, she's gone
She slips like the wind through blackened sails, but
Who are we to love at all?
Who are we to love at all?
(Who are we to love at all?)
And I hope you don't mind if I hang all of my hopes
I hang all my hopes on this time
Although I've been warned, I'll probably get burned
I'd rather get burned than to not try
(Who are we to love at all?)
And I hope you don't mind if I hang all of my hopes
I hang all my hopes on this time
'Cause you won't let it go
Let it go
Let it go
Let it go
(Who are we to love at all?)
'Cause you won't let it go
Let it go
Let it go
Let it go
(Who are we to love at all?)
'Cause you won't let it go
Let it go
Let it go
Let it go
'Cause you won't let it go
Who are we to love at all?
The lyrics of Man Man's song Whalebones convey a sense of loyalty, passion, and sacrifice in love despite the hardships that come with it. The song describes a complicated relationship between two people who are madly in love with each other but are burdened by their past and their inability to communicate their feelings properly. The first verse shows how the man is strangled by the woman's love, and he accepts it, even though it hurts him. He wears her like a second skin, feeling her pain and carrying her burdens as if they were his own. He adores her, despite her imperfections and past mistakes, and he pledges to stick by her side no matter what.
The second verse then shifts the focus to the woman's perspective. She, too, is consumed by her love for the man, but she knows he is not perfect. She worries that he will leave her when he wakes up and realizes what he's gotten into. But she still holds on to him, knowing that it will break her heart in the end. The refrain of the song, "Who are we to love at all?" suggests that love itself is a mysterious force that cannot be fully comprehended, yet there is a beauty in its tangled complexities that cannot be denied. The final lines of the song express a sense of hope and determination to embrace love regardless of the risks involved.
Overall, "Whalebones" is a poignant song that captures the pain and beauty of love in a unique way. It is a song about two flawed people who find solace in each other's company and are determined to hold on to this feeling despite what others may say or think.
Line by Line Meaning
He felt her curves surrounding his neck
He felt suffocated by the weight of her presence
Like a yoke he knows, he'll never forget
He felt trapped and burdened by her, and knows he'll never forget that feeling
The way she cut through his bed
Her impact was so powerful that it felt like she cut through his very being
Like a snake would bite through a cave of flesh
Her presence was predatory and dangerous, like a venomous snake biting through flesh
But he holds her, though she's broken
Despite her flaws and imperfections, he still clings to her
He swears he don't care where she's been
He claims to not care about her past mistakes or actions
He's tired of being human
He's exhausted with the struggles and emotions that come with being human
He wears her close to the bone as though she were his own skin
He's so deeply attached to her that he feels like she's a part of him
He shoots from the heart instead of the head
He makes decisions based on emotions rather than logic or reason
His mouth and his words, they rarely connect
His words often fail to convey his true intentions or feelings
He looks to the past and where his tongue's tread
He reflects on his past mistakes, particularly with regards to communication
And he knows he's meant the opposite
He's aware that his words often come across as the opposite of what he really means
But she holds him like an infant
Despite his flaws, she comforts and nurtures him
Though it breaks her in half to know he'll wake like a man
It pains her to see him revert back to his flawed self after moments of vulnerability
Sold on cold indifference
He's become numb to emotions and human connection
When he reaches for her, she's gone
When he tries to connect with her, she's already emotionally withdrawn or distant
She slips like the wind through blackened sails, but
She evades his attempts at connection like wind through darkened sails
Who are we to love at all?
Who are any of us to truly understand or experience love?
And I hope you don't mind if I hang all of my hopes
He places all of his hopes and dreams for a relationship on her
Although I've been warned, I'll probably get burned
He's aware of the potential risks and negative outcomes, but still pursues the relationship
I'd rather get burned than to not try
He values the experience and potential benefits of trying and failing over never trying at all
'Cause you won't let it go
She won't let go of the relationship, despite its difficulties
Let it go
He's trying to let go of his negative emotions and baggage
Contributed by Makayla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.