After signing with Secretly Canadian, they released the 1998 debut EP Hiddenforbidden, which featured an abrasive yet catchy sound and songs that barely passed the two-minute mark. Their sprawling debut album, Today It's You, arrived early the following year and broadened the band's sound (even though the length of their songs stayed as short as ever). In 2001, the band returned with Record in Red, a darker, trippier set of songs; the following year's Mishawaka EP featured cleaner production, more abstract soundwriting, and more detailed arrangements. Marmoset went on hiatus for a few years, during which time Whittaker released a self-titled solo album in 2003.
The band resurfaced, minus Ellrich, on the 2006 Indiana indie rock compilation Delicious Berries and contributed a cover of Jens Lekman's "Sky Phenomenon" to Secretly Canadian's SC100 collection in 2007. Florist Fired, which recalled Today It's You's freewheeling art pop, arrived later that year. Whittaker and company moved to Joyful Noise Recordings for Tea Tornado, released in August 2009.
Summertime Is Easy
Marmoset Lyrics
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Unknowing that it speaks
And the whole thing is a drown
And it slides down the length of the tub
Summertime is easy when you're knowing uneasy and peak
Unknowing and the beat unknowing luck and heat
And the whole beats like a drum
And you wish it all knotted alone
That's when I love you
And the whole beats like a drum (drug) beats (x6)
The lyrics to Marmoset's "Summertime Is Easy" are both cryptic and insightful, as they delve deep into the conflicting emotions that arise during the summer. The first two lines, "Summertime is easy when you're knowing uneasy and tweet I'm looking for the beat," allude to the carefree nature of the summer season, which seems to lessen life's burdens. The line "unknowing that it speaks" suggests an ignorance of the deeper, more complicated aspects of life that are being buried beneath the surface. The next few lines, starting with "And the whole thing is a drown," describe the sensation of slipping under the water, like a person in a bathtub. The singer is feeling overwhelmed and unable to breathe, much like a person who is drowning.
However, the song is not entirely one of despair. The chorus, "Oh and the whole thing comes riding around, that's when I love you," suggests a sense of acceptance of the ups and downs of life. The repeating phrase "And the whole beats like a drum (drug) beats" adds an extra layer of intensity to the song, creating a sense of urgency and passion that also seems to be a part of summer. The final lines, "And you wish it all knotted alone," suggest the paradoxical desire to both be alone and to connect with others, which is another common feeling experienced during the summer.
Line by Line Meaning
Summertime is easy when you're knowing uneasy and tweet I'm looking for the beat
It's easy to enjoy summertime when you're feeling restless and anxious, and I'm searching for a rhythm to follow.
Unknowing that it speaks
Not realizing that the rhythm has a message.
And the whole thing is a drown
And the rhythm is immersive.
And it slides down the length of the tub
And it echoes throughout the space, resonating fully.
Summertime is easy when you're knowing uneasy and peak
It's easy to enjoy summertime when you're feeling restless and at your peak.
Unknowing and the beat unknowing luck and heat
Unaware of the power and energy of the beat.
And the whole beats like a drum
And the rhythm is repetitive and addictive.
And you wish it all knotted alone
And you desire to be fully absorbed and lost in the rhythm.
Oh and the whole thing comes riding around
Oh, and the rhythm comes full circle, returning again and again.
That's when I love you
That's when I fall in love with the rhythm.
Contributed by Joseph B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.