In Medallions, Scott's guitar continues to "stab and dance" as it did in controller.controller, but he explores new territory - lyrically and vocally on top of layered guitars. Jackson and Kaija trade off vocals and work closely to create lyrics and melodies that strive to be challenging and memorable. With Francis and Hunter adding their rhythmic and melodic lines, the result is a flurry of guitar and vocal harmonies propelled by Jackson's hard-driving beats. Although the songs are primarily dark and deeply personal, there are a few tracks that come up for a breath of air - if only momentarily.
The members of Medallions have an extensive musical history, playing and touring across North America and Europe with many established artists such as The Cult, Franz Ferdinand, Death from Above 1979, OK Go, Sloan, The Sadies, and VHS or Beta.
Medallions have written and recorded a dozen songs for their demo and plan on recording a full-length album in the fall. Their fiery live show is not to be missed.
The Letter
Medallions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you just, just won't be true
Darling, I'm writing this letter
Knowing that you ain't never read it
But each time I write you darling
I pen what lips can't say
Because I love you, although you're so far away
I always hope and wish you well
Oh my darling, please hear my plea, please
Darling, what is there worse on this earth
Then to be unable to stop lovin' you
Knowing well that I should
To me a black day, to me a black night
To kiss and love, and then have to fight
All the time...
Let me whisper sweet words of pismotality*
And discuss the pompatus* of love
And put 'em together, and what've you have
Matrimony, oh my darling, please hear my plea
Oh darling, darling, oh how I love you, really do
But you just, just won't be true
In "The Letter," Medallions’ lead vocalist, Vernon Green, expresses his unrequited love for someone who is never faithful to him. The lyrics communicate that the loved one is distant, with Green acknowledging that she will never read the letter he is writing to her. Green uses the letter as a way to express his innermost feelings and desires, as he cannot articulate them in person.
The whole song communicates a sense of longing and despair, as Green cannot seem to stop loving this person despite the pain they are causing him. He grapples with the idea of having to fight for the love he desires and the pain that comes with that fight. The lyrics, especially the lines "Let me whisper sweet words of pismotality and discuss the pompatus of love, and put 'em together, and what've you have / Matrimony," suggest that Green is willing to do anything to get this person to love him back.
Overall, "The Letter" shows the complexities of love and the ways in which people can become consumed by it, even when it is not reciprocated. It is a poignant and emotional exploration of the pains and joys of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling, darling, oh how I love you, really do
I have intense feelings of love for you, my dear.
But you just, just won't be true
You are not being honest with me and are not faithful.
Darling, I'm writing this letter
I am composing a message of my thoughts and feelings.
Knowing that you ain't never read it
I understand that you will not actually receive or read this letter.
But each time I write you darling
Despite this, I continue to write to you.
I pen what lips can't say
I express myself through writing since I cannot articulate these emotions verbally.
Because I love you, although you're so far away
My feelings of love for you continue, even though we are separated by distance.
My words caremily* that love alone can't tell
My written words convey a deep level of emotion that cannot be conveyed by love alone.
I always hope and wish you well
Regardless of our situation, I want the best for you.
Oh my darling, please hear my plea, please
I urge you to take note of my request.
Darling, what is there worse on this earth
There is nothing more painful than my current situation.
Then to be unable to stop lovin' you
I am unable to control my love for you.
Knowing well that I should
I am aware that it may be best for me to move on.
To me a black day, to me a black night
This situation is incredibly dark and bleak for me.
To kiss and love, and then have to fight
Even though we have shared good times, there are still issues to be resolved.
All the time...
This ongoing conflict is a constant source of distress for me.
Let me whisper sweet words of pismotality*
I desire to express words of kindness and affection.
And discuss the pompatus* of love
Perhaps through communication, we can better understand the complexities of love.
And put 'em together, and what've you have
By bringing our thoughts and feelings together, we may discover a more complete picture of our situation.
Matrimony, oh my darling, please hear my plea
I long for us to be together in marriage, please listen to my request.
Oh darling, darling, oh how I love you, really do
I cannot express enough how much I love you.
But you just, just won't be true
Despite this love, your lack of honesty is a significant issue.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.