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.
So Many Ways
Mates of State Lyrics
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I know we're giving up too soon
There are only so many ways to float upon the sea
It makes no difference to me
It must be pretty nice my fellow man
We'll miss you much
I think we overestimate our places underground
Ooo, done
Ooo, dust
Ooo, done
Jason:
There are only so many ways to earn your own surprise
It's written down and cannot be changed
If that's what you believe
Kori:
I know we're giving up too soon
I'm never coming here again
It makes no difference to me
Jason:
There are only so many ways to float upon the sea
Or collapse on Union Street
I know that you'll be there
Kori:
I know there's beauty in the fool
So I'll keep reminding you'll agree
It must be pretty nice within your clan
I'll miss you much
I think we overestimate our places underground
Nothing and everything
Oh, oh what have you given me?
Nothing and everything
Ooo, done
Ooo, dust
Ooo, done
There are only so many ways to pardon our divide
Let's sew the canyon to the sky
It must be pretty nice my fellow band
I'll miss you much
I think we overestimate our places underground
Oh, oh what have you given me?
Nothing and everything
Done
The song "So Many Ways" by Mates of State is an enigmatic and introspective piece with a unique sound that blends indie rock, pop, and electronic music. The lyrics of the song speak about the limitations of human experience and the futility of trying to earn surprises or float on the sea or make a significant impact in society. The song's first stanza talks about how there are only a few ways in which one can earn their own surprise or float upon the sea. The second stanza speaks about the singer's hopelessness and the feeling of giving up too soon. The third stanza talks about floating upon the sea, collapsing on Union Street, and finding support in a community or person.
The chorus of "So Many Ways" is repetitive and acts as a cathartic release, emphasizing the song's central idea that our efforts are often in vain, and we end up with nothing despite giving everything we have. The song's tone shifts to a slightly more hopeful view towards the end, suggesting that we can make a difference by coming together and overcoming our differences. The ending stanza says that we need to pardon our divide and sew the canyon to the sky to achieve this.
Line by Line Meaning
There are only so many ways to earn your own surprise
It's not easy to do something completely unexpected or new
I know we're giving up too soon
We're quitting before we even give ourselves a chance to succeed
There are only so many ways to float upon the sea
There are only so many paths we can take in life, and some of them may seem more appealing than others
It makes no difference to me
Regardless of what path we take, it won't really matter in the long run
It must be pretty nice my fellow man
I envy those who are content with their lives
We'll miss you much
We'll regret not being able to experience the same kind of contentment
I think we overestimate our places underground
We assume that our lives are predetermined and that we have little control over them
Ooo, done
Whatever it is, it's finished
Ooo, dust
It's over and forgotten, just like dust in the wind
There are only so many ways to earn your own surprise
Once again, it's difficult to do something truly unexpected
It's written down and cannot be changed
We're often limited by what's already been written or decided before us
If that's what you believe
But we don't have to be limited by those beliefs if we don't want to be
I'm never coming here again
I'm giving up on this particular path of life
There are only so many ways to float upon the sea
Once again, there are only so many choices we can make in life
Or collapse on Union Street
Sometimes our choices may lead to negative consequences or difficult situations
I know that you'll be there
But it's comforting to know that there are people who will support us through those difficult times
I know there's beauty in the fool
Sometimes it's better to take an unexpected, foolish path because there may be hidden beauty in it
So I'll keep reminding you'll agree
I'll try to convince others that taking that unexpected path may be worth it
It must be pretty nice within your clan
Once again, I envy those who are content with their lives
Nothing and everything
Life can sometimes feel like it's a mix of nothing and everything at the same time
Oh, oh what have you given me?
What have I gained from this experience?
There are only so many ways to pardon our divide
It's difficult to bridge the gap between our differences
Let's sew the canyon to the sky
But we should still try to bridge that divide, even if it seems impossible
It must be pretty nice my fellow band
Once again, I envy those who are content with their lives
Oh, oh what have you given me?
What have I gained from this experience?
Nothing and everything
Once again, life can sometimes feel like a mix of nothing and everything
Done
And with that, it's finished
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jason Edward Hammel, Kori Gardner Hammel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind