In 2000 Pierce released the five song EP Collaborations with contributions from artists such as Jim O'Rourke, Aki Tsuyuko and Nobukazu Takemura and started adding vocals to his records with 2004's Obrigado Saudade. Mice Parade's albums were all initially released on Pierce's record label, Bubble Core and later FatCatRecords.
Current band members are Adam Pierce, Doug Scharin (HiM), Dylan Cristy (The Dylan Group), Rob Laakso, Caroline Lufkin, Dan Lippel, Brandon Knights, and Josh Mckay (Macha).
After a decade hiatus, Mice Parade released the album "Iapopo" in 2022. It includes a number of his former collaborators, including Daniel Lippel on guitar.
https://miceparade.bandcamp.com/
Tales of Las Negras
Mice Parade Lyrics
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As the water keeps on coming out and people hide
To the tales of las negras, we can dance with open arms
......(unknown).......... we don't need to hide
And if the myths have gone away, will the stories ever stay in our time?
And the records only play, but the swifts you hear today, thats mine
The first few lines of Mice Parade's song Tales of Las Negras depict a community that is facing challenges but they are determined to remain positive. The place is named Las Negras and the water keeps coming out which could be a reference to the abundance of water or perhaps some sort of natural disaster. Either way, the community is resilient and they keep a smile on their faces. However, there is also a sense that there is a danger lurking in the background which makes people hide. It is not clear whether this danger is coming from the environment or human threats. Nonetheless, the people of Las Negras are determined to remain happy and they can still dance with open arms. The unknown line could be referring to the fact that the community doesn't need to hide their true feelings around each other.
The second verse begins with a philosophical musing on the transience of myths and whether the stories we tell will continue to stay with us in the future. This is juxtaposed with the fact that despite the fleeting nature of myths, the music that we make and listen to will live on, symbolized by the swifts that can still be heard. The song seems to suggest that, in a world that is ever-changing and impermanent, there are still things like music that can bring people together and provide a sense of continuity.
Line by Line Meaning
To the tales of las negras, we can only wear a smile
In the stories of Las Negras, we must put on a happy face and show no worry
As the water keeps on coming out and people hide
While the water continues to flood and people shelter from the storm
To the tales of las negras, we can dance with open arms
In the stories of Las Negras, we can freely dance and express ourselves with no restraints
......(unknown).......... we don't need to hide
During some unknown event or circumstance, we don't have to conceal ourselves
And if the myths have gone away, will the stories ever stay in our time?
If the legends fade away, will these stories be remembered in our time?
And the records only play, but the swifts you hear today, thats mine
The music of the past is replayed, but the sounds you hear now belong to me
Contributed by Amelia W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.