Kozelek was born and raised in Massillon, Ohio. Upon relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, he met drummer Anthony Koutsos. After the pair moved once again to San Francisco, California, Red House Painters formed in 1989 with the addition of guitarist Gorden Mack and bassist Jerry Vessel. From 1992 to 1996, Red House Painters released a series of acclaimed albums, showcasing Kozelek's intense, highly autobiographical songs.
However, Kozelek's parting with the record label 4AD, followed by a major label merger which left Red House Painters' 1998 album Old Ramon on the shelf, proved highly frustrating and stifled the group's momentum. Kozelek opted to occupy himself with a series of idiosyncratic solo recordings as Red House Painters dissolved.
In 2000, he released the solo EP Rock 'n' Roll Singer, which featured three original songs as well as covers of John Denver's "Around and Around" and three AC/DC songs ("Rock 'n' Roll Singer," "Bad Boy Boogie," and "You Ain't Got a Hold on Me"). Two of the AC/DC cover versions on Rock 'n' Roll Singer were radical re-arrangements of the originals which removed the Bon Scott-penned lyrics from their hard rock context and placed them into gentle, acoustic "folk ballad" settings.
Kozelek expanded on this idea in 2001, releasing a full-length album comprised solely of AC/DC covers titled What's Next to the Moon.These new arrangements sounded so unlike the originals that a KCRW radio executive insisted that the title track was a Leonard Cohen song.
This was not the first time Kozelek had drastically re-arranged others' material to his own ends. With Red House Painters, he had previously done similar reconstructions with Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am a Rock," The Cars' "All Mixed Up," Yes's "Long Distance Runaround," Paul McCartney's "Silly Love Songs," and Francis Scott Key's "The Star-Spangled Banner."
In the years between his band projects, Kozelek's music made a number of appearances on compilations and tribute albums. He contributed the song "New Partner" to the Will Oldham (a.k.a. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy) tribute album, I Am Cold Rock. I Am Dull Grass Around this time, Kozelek commandeered a tribute album to John Denver, entitled Take Me Home: A Tribute to John Denver, featuring Will Oldham, The Innocence Mission, and Low to name a few. The compilation also featured Kozelek covering "Around and Around" as a duet with Rachel Goswell.
A limited edition live recording, White Christmas Live, was released by the Sub Pop label in late 2001. In addition to his solo material, it featured several Red House Painters songs done in a stripped-down, acoustic guitar-and-vocals style, and one a cappella rendition. An early version of his current project Sun Kil Moon's "Lily and Parrots" is tacked on to the end as an uncredited bonus track. It also features one previously unreleased song, "Admiral Fell Promises."
Sun Kil Moon debuted with Ghosts of the Great Highway in 2003, and also features former RHP members Jerry Vessel and Anthony Koutsos as well as new collaborators Geoff Stanfield (formerly of Black Lab) and Tim Mooney of American Music Club. Their follow-up effort appeared in 2005 on Kozelek's newly formed label, Caldo Verde Records. Titled Tiny Cities, the album is made up entirely of covers of songs by Modest Mouse. Once again, Kozelek's cover versions varied greatly from the originals.
In 2006, Kozelek was invited by Toronto indie rock label Paper Bag Records to exclusively contribute to their See You on the Moon! Songs for Kids of All Ages compilation with his original song "Leo and Luna." Then in November 2006, Kozelek released a live album titled Little Drummer Boy Live. On the album's two discs, he plays songs from his solo career, covers, and material from the catalogs of both Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon.
Kozelek returned in 2008 with the release of Sun Kil Moon's third album April. The album features 11 brand new recordings, including guest vocal contributions by Ben Gibbard, Will Oldham, and Eric Pollard.
The release of the new album also brought the re-issue of Nights of Passed Over, a 256-page, hard-cover book of all the lyrics to Kozelek's solo songs, Red House Painters' songs, and Sun Kil Moon's songs. It also features setlists, handwritten lyrics, and a preface by Kozelek himself. The original edition of this book was released in 2002 in Portugal, and featured all the lyrics up to that point, printed in both English and Portuguese. The updated edition spans to his current Sun Kil Moon days, and the book also includes a 12-track bonus CD, titled Nights LP, featuring live and rare versions of songs dated 1996 to 2007. The edition is sold exclusively on his label's website link and is limited to 2,500 copies.
On December 9, 2008, Kozelek and Caldo Verde Records issued The Finally LP, a CD collection of 10 unreleased tracks, including covers of songs by Stephen Sondheim, Will Oldham, Hüsker Dü, and Low among others, as well as two previously unreleased instrumentals. Two newly-recorded live albums, Find Me, Ruben Olivares: Live in Spain and Lost Verses Live, followed in spring 2009.
On April 23, 2010, the release of Sun Kil Moon's fourth album, Admiral Fell Promises, was announced. The album was released on July 13, 2010.
A documentary film entitled Mark Kozelek: On Tour was released via Caldo Verde Records on August 16, 2011. The movie was filmed during portions Mark Kozelek's European/North American tours of 2010 and early 2011.
In 2012, an article at Queensberry-Rules.com by staff writer Mark Ortega detailed Kozelek's fascination with the sport of boxing, which inspired the name of his Sun Kil Moon project as well as a few songs on a Desertshore album.
“Their backgrounds are extremely harsh and they work very hard to move up in their careers. I was in attendance at the Manny Pacquiao-Agapito Sanchez fight in San Francisco in 2001. When I heard Sanchez was murdered shortly after, it had a profound effect on me. It hurts when anyone dies young, but when you see the backgrounds of these guys and the path they've taken to try to find some light in their lives, it hurts to see them die young.”
Shadows
Mark Kozelek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
it blends with the state you're in
and the wetness of your eyes
against a sun that clouds blind
you ain't saying nothing that i don't already know
when you say love's dimming light won't shine on tomorrow
chalk white apartment walls
surfaces my every flaw
it brings some real life into clear
you ain't doing nothing that i don't already know
when you hide your sorry head in pillows
you fake a strained, sort of grin
that matches the shape you're in
and accept any lies are truth
after the long year that we've been through
you ain't doing nothing that i don't already know
when you say life takes turns like fiery shadows
The song 'Shadows' by Mark Kozelek is an introspective ballad that delves into themes like loneliness, despair, and the challenges of life. The opening lines are about someone dealing with feelings of hopelessness and grief. The imagery of 'coarse and white-colored skin' blending with the state of mind suggests a person lost in thought and sadness. The wetness of the eyes against the sun's glare emphasizes how vulnerable and exposed the person feels. Kozelek highlights how love's dimming light won't shine on tomorrow. This line implies that the singer has lost faith in love and is resigned to a life without it.
The second paragraph speaks of a chalk white apartment with surfaces that reflect the character's flaws. The singer observes how being naked and still brings things into focus, perhaps indicating a moment of clarity or introspection. Kozelek adds that the character is merely hiding their sorry head in pillows but not doing anything to change their situation. Through these lyrics, the songwriter portrays the character's despondency, but also hints at the possibility of taking responsibility and changing the situation.
In the final stanza, Kozelek touches upon the notion of accepting lies as truth after a long year. Repeating the same line about not doing anything new is a reminder that the character has been stagnant, and there hasn't been any progress or healing. The phrase 'life takes turns like fiery shadows' suggests an acceptance of the impermanence of life's challenges. Overall, the song delivers a message of hope that everyone endures tough times, and it's essential not to lose sight of the good things that life has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
the coarse and white colored skin
Your skin, rough and with a pale color, reflects the state of being you're in.
it blends with the state you're in
Your skin's appearance mirrors your emotional state.
and the wetness of your eyes
Your eyes are teary and damp, revealing your sadness.
against a sun that clouds blind
Even the sunlight seems dimmed by the heavy burden of your emotions.
you ain't saying nothing that i don't already know
I understand what you're trying to express, as I am familiar with this situation.
when you say love's dimming light won't shine on tomorrow
I comprehend your feeling that your love is fading and will not last.
chalk white apartment walls
The walls of your apartment are white like chalk, devoid of any warmth or color.
surfaces my every flaw
The white walls starkly highlight every imperfection within you.
and the naked and still in here
The room is empty, except for your presence, that is emotionally exposed yet motionless.
it brings some real life into clear
This emptiness highlights and exposes real emotions and situations.
when you hide your sorry head in pillows
I know that you try to conceal your sadness by burying your face into a pillow.
you fake a strained, sort of grin
You try to force a smile that looks fake and tight.
that matches the shape you're in
The fake smile matches the discomfort and distress you're experiencing.
and accept any lies are truth
You resign yourself to accepting lies as truth, knowing that there's nothing else to do.
after the long year that we've been through
A long year of trials and sufferings has passed and has likely caused your current emotional state.
when you say life takes turns like fiery shadows
I understand that you feel like life can suddenly change in unexpected and destructive ways, just like a shadow made of fire.
Contributed by Sophia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.