Their songs are notable for their male/female vocal harmony, shifting rhythms, and quirky song structure- most tracks are composed of multiple distinct, almost disjointed movements. Both members sing with great intensity, often in the upper ranges of their voices, and often sing different (yet complementary) melodies simultaneously. Tempos are nearly always fast, with beats often resembling those found in electronic club or dance music.
The main instruments used by the band are drums and electric organ. Although both members started out playing the guitar, they found they ended up fooling around with the organ and drums in their practice space more often than with more traditional instruments.
The band recorded one album on Omnibus Records before moving to Polyvinyl Record Company for their second and third full-lengths. They have also released five 7-inch singles and two EPs. In December 2005, the band signed with Barsuk and since have released an album entitled Bring It Back. In May 2008, they released the album Re-Arrange Us.
Sleep the Clock Around
Mates of State Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put a face on the world, turn your back to the wall
And you walk twenty yards with your head in the air
Down the Liberty Hill, where the fashion brigade
Look with curious eyes on your raggedy way
And for once in your life you've got nothing to say
And could this be the time when somebody will come?
Take a walk in the park, take a Valium pill
Read the letter you got from the memory girl
But it takes more than this to make sense of the day
Yeah, it takes more than milk to get rid of the taste
And you trusted to this, and you trusted to that
And when you saw it all come, it was waving the flag
Of the United States of Calamity, hey
After all that you've done, boy, I know you're going to pay
In the morning you come to the ladies' salon
To get all fitted out for The Paperback Throne
But the people are living far away from the place
Where you wanted to help, you're a bit of a waste
And the puzzle will last 'till somebody will say
"There's a lot to be done while your head is still young"
If you put down your pen, leave your worries behind
Then the moment will come and the memory will shine
Now the trouble is over, everybody got paid
Everybody is happy, they are glad that they came
Then you go to the place where you've finally found
You can look at yourself, sleep the clock around
In Mates of State’s song Sleep the Clock Around, the lyrics tell the story of someone trying to find their place in the world. The song seems to be about a period of transition where the singer is trying to get their life together. The first stanza mentions composure returning, indicating that there was a previous time when the singer was not in control of their life. They then walk down Liberty Hill, where the fashion brigade looks at them curiously. This could represent the feeling of being an outsider in their own life, unsure of how to fit in with those around them.
The second stanza gives some coping mechanisms the singer uses to make sense of their life. They take a walk in the park and take a Valium pill, and they read a letter from a memory girl (someone they used to know). However, these things don’t fully help them make sense of their day or get rid of the taste in their mouth (perhaps representing lingering negative feelings or regrets). The third stanza seems to be about the consequences of previous actions catching up to the singer. They trusted people and things that didn’t end up helping them in the end, and they are paying the price for it.
The final stanza seems to be about finding some sort of resolution. The singer goes to a ladies’ salon to get fitted for the “Paperback Throne,” which could represent a newfound success or place in the world. However, they find that the people who need help are far away from where they are, and the singer feels like they are a bit of a waste. But the puzzle will last until someone says that there’s a lot to be done while the singer’s head is still young. If they put down their pen and leave their worries behind, they will eventually have a moment where their memory shines, and they can finally look at themselves and sleep the clock around.
Line by Line Meaning
And the moment will come when composure returns
A calm moment will eventually come after a period of unrest and chaos
Put a face on the world, turn your back to the wall
Hide your true self and present a fake persona to the world
And you walk twenty yards with your head in the air
You try to exude confidence even though you might not feel it
Down the Liberty Hill, where the fashion brigade
Walking in a trendy neighborhood where people judge you based on your style
Look with curious eyes on your raggedy way
Strangers gaze at you with interest and curiosity because you don't fit in
And for once in your life you've got nothing to say
You feel speechless and unable to match the social norms of the place
And could this be the time when somebody will come?
Wondering if someone will come to your rescue or offer you a job or support
To say, "Look at yourself, you're not much use to anyone"
Someone will finally tell you that you are not contributing to society or making a difference
Take a walk in the park, take a Valium pill
Suggesting that being in nature or taking medication might help alleviate anxiety and stress
Read the letter you got from the memory girl
Reflecting on a past relationship or an old memory that still haunts or inspires you
But it takes more than this to make sense of the day
Telling us that coping mechanisms like walking, medication or nostalgia can only go so far
Yeah, it takes more than milk to get rid of the taste
Milk, a common remedy for getting rid of a bad taste in the mouth, is not enough to ease the burden of difficult experiences
And you trusted to this, and you trusted to that
You relied on certain things or people and they let you down
And when you saw it all come, it was waving the flag
You realized that everything you relied on or believed in was a façade or an illusion
Of the United States of Calamity, hey
A metaphorical reference to the country or system that let you down and disappointed you
After all that you've done, boy, I know you're going to pay
A realization that you will eventually face the consequences and pay for the mistakes or failures you've made
In the morning you come to the ladies' salon
Going to a beauty salon in the morning to get ready for your day
To get all fitted out for The Paperback Throne
Prepping yourself to live up to societal standards and expectations
But the people are living far away from the place
Others are living distant lives and not concerned with the pressure and expectations you feel
Where you wanted to help, you're a bit of a waste
Feeling useless and unproductive because you can't contribute in the way you hoped
And the puzzle will last 'till somebody will say
A complex situation will persist until someone intervenes or offers a solution
"There's a lot to be done while your head is still young"
Encouragement to live life to the fullest while you're still young and capable
If you put down your pen, leave your worries behind
Putting aside your anxieties and fears to create and pursue something meaningful
Then the moment will come and the memory will shine
If you overcome your insecurities and take action, you will create a meaningful memory
Now the trouble is over, everybody got paid
The problems are resolved and everyone is financially settled
Everybody is happy, they are glad that they came
Everyone is content with the outcome, and they feel it was worth the effort
Then you go to the place where you've finally found
Reaching a place where you're content and satisfied with yourself and your life choices
You can look at yourself, sleep the clock around
Feeling complete and confident enough to let the world go by and enjoy restful, untroubled sleep
Contributed by Xavier T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.