Their debut album, The Dust of Retreat came out in 2006. At this time, the band was signed to Artemis Records and had 8 members. In 2008 the band signed to Epic Records and (on 7 October) released two new albums, Animal! and Not Animal. The band originally planned to just release "Animal!". However, Epic disagreed on their song choice, and compiled a different list, which would later become "Not Animal". Eventually, after dispute over which version would be released, it was decided to release both at the same time.
In August 2009, 5 of the band's members left. They are all involved in other projects, most notably Pravada.
While the band, and Richard specifically have given many explanations to the band's name; this is all in fun. As the name was created as an anti-name; not meant to have any real meaning, just to make fun of other ridiculous names. The name "Margot" comes from Gweneth Paltrow's character in Wes Anderson's "The Royal Tenenbaums".
The band's sound, categorized as "chamber pop", has been compared to the indie rock groups Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and The Shins, while incorporating elements of singer/songwriters like Paul Simon and Conor Oberst.
Current Members are:
Richard Edwards - lead vocals, guitar, bells, melodica, banjo
Ronnie Kwasman - lead guitar
Tyler Watkins - bass guitar
Brian Deck - drums
Eric Kang - guitar
Cameron McGill
Former Members include:
Emily Watkins - keys, backup vocals
Andy Fry - guitar, bass, lap steel, percussion
Jesse Lee - cello
Casey Tennis - percussion
Chris Fry - drums, percussion
Sea Shanty Of Sorts
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you dont have to be nice
just pour yourself a cup of coffee
leave anytime you dont have to be right
youve gotta live the best you know how
and if you love well that should be enough
instead it turns your joy int0 sorrow
im choking on the fumes of my wayward back
my women lied
she was a witch in disguise
and she dressed her wounds
in sackcloth and ashes
the children weep
at their dead mothers feet
her husbands drunk
a wolf in a sheepskin coat
and when we kissed
it didnt feel poisonous
and when you cried
i dried off your blue eyes
she smiles at me as she is falling asleep
says we've gotta live
the best we know how to
The first few lines of "A Sea Chanty of Sorts" by Margot & the Nuclear So and So's encourages individuality and independence. The song's protagonist tells the listener that they don't need to be nice, and can pour themselves a cup of coffee and leave at any time. They should live their life as best they know how. However, love is where they struggle. Even though love should bring joy, it brings sorrow instead. The singer cannot escape their own wayward actions, and they are suffocating on the dust of their retreat.
The next verse tells a story of a woman who was a witch in disguise. She tries to heal herself with sacraligeous clothing and ashes. The children weep for their dead mother at their feet while their father is too drunk to care. Despite all of this, the singer talks about a kiss that didn't feel poisonous and being able to dry off someone's blue eyes when they cried. The woman smiles as she is falling asleep and tells the singer to live the best they can.
Overall, the song is about individuality and life in general. While we should live life and love as best we can, it may not always bring happiness. Life can be difficult, and only we can control our own lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Do what you like
You have the freedom to do as you please
you dont have to be nice
Being nice is not mandatory
just pour yourself a cup of coffee
Make yourself comfortable and enjoy a cup of coffee
leave anytime you dont have to be right
You can leave any time, it doesn't matter if you're right or wrong
youve gotta live the best you know how
You must live your life to the fullest with the knowledge you possess
and if you love well that should be enough
If you truly love someone, that should be sufficient
instead it turns your joy int0 sorrow
Love can often lead to heartbreak and sorrow
and i cant breath with the dust of retreat
I cannot inhale the dust that comes from running away
im choking on the fumes of my wayward back
I am suffocating due to my wandering and indecisive nature
my women lied
The woman I loved deceived me
she was a witch in disguise
She pretended to be someone else, fooling me and others
and she dressed her wounds
She disguised her own emotional pain
in sackcloth and ashes
She mourned her pain in a traditional way
the children weep
The innocent children cry
at their dead mothers feet
Their mother has died, and they are in grief
her husbands drunk
The woman's husband is intoxicated
a wolf in a sheepskin coat
The woman's husband is pretending to be someone he is not
and when we kissed
When we kissed each other
it didnt feel poisonous
The kiss was not harmful nor toxic
and when you cried
When you shed tears
i dried off your blue eyes
I wiped away your tears
she smiles at me as she is falling asleep
The woman smiles at me as she fades off into sleep
says we've gotta live
She tells me that we must live
the best we know how to
To the best of our knowledge and ability
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: RICHARD CHARLES EDWARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind