Middle Brother is an American Rock band and supergroup consisting of songwr… Read Full Bio ↴Middle Brother is an American Rock band and supergroup consisting of songwriters and musicians John J. McCauley III of the band Deer Tick, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit. They played their first show at the 2010 the SXSW film conference and festival at the Ale House in Austin, Texas, where they performed under the moniker "MG&V" in an unannounced appearance.[1] The band played their first official show at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California on December 20, 2010 under the official name of Middle Brother.

[1] http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/middle-brother/bio

Wilderness
Middle Brother Lyrics

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If we got to know each other well enough we might end up as friends
I get along with everyone but recently I'm spent
I'm most happy when I'm dreaming of success
And all my good friends call me wilderness

Well every book I read gives different reasons to be free
And I'm being asked to say goodbye to the man I'll never be
I'm actually fine with how things are turning out, I guess

And all my good friends call me wilderness

I plan to be the guy who when he drinks, he disappoints
They'll say 'you'll kill yourself before you know it'
Well isn't that the point? To make it all the more easier to digest?
And all my good friends call me wilderness

And I'm waiting for the day I can explain myself to you
But just because it's honest, well that doesn't make it true
And that's the answer to the questions we have left
And all my good friends call me wilderness

Well I've found all my answers in a plan to be a star
To shine along in the sunrise towards which I lend no part

I'm not invited, but I hope they're having guests
And all my good friends call me wilderness

Overall Meaning

The song Wilderness by Middle Brother is a deeply reflective and introspective piece that explores the themes of identity, friendship, and the search for meaning in life. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is a social person who gets along well with everyone but is feeling drained and weary lately. He dreams of success, but his pursuit of it has left him feeling lost and disconnected.

The second verse sees the singer grappling with the notion of freedom and the tension between the person he is and the person he wants to be. He's resigned to how things are shaping up in his life, but there's a hint of regret there too. He's trying to come to terms with who he is and how he fits in the world.

The third verse sees the singer thinking about the expectations of others and how they perceive him. He's comfortable with the idea of disappointing people when he drinks, and he's even okay with the idea of dying young. There's a sense of recklessness and wildness here that echoes the earlier themes of the song.

The final verse brings the song full circle, with the singer musing on the challenge of expressing himself honestly and the limits of truth. He's still searching for answers and meaning, but he recognizes that some things may never be fully explained or understood. Ultimately, he finds solace in the idea of being an outsider or a wilderness, embraced by his friends who understand and accept him for who he is.

Overall, Wilderness is a poignant and thought-provoking song that explores some of life's biggest questions. It's a testament to the power of music to connect us to our deepest selves and to one another.

Line by Line Meaning

If we got to know each other well enough we might end up as friends
If we spend enough time together, we could potentially become friends

I get along with everyone but recently I'm spent
Even though I usually get along with everyone, I'm currently feeling drained

I'm most happy when I'm dreaming of success
My dreams of success bring me the most happiness

And all my good friends call me wilderness
My friends know me as someone unpredictable and unconventional

Well every book I read gives different reasons to be free
I've read many books that offer different perspectives on freedom

And I'm being asked to say goodbye to the man I'll never be
I'm being pressured to give up on the idea of becoming someone I'm not

I'm actually fine with how things are turning out, I guess
I'm content with the way things are going, I suppose

I plan to be the guy who when he drinks, he disappoints
I anticipate being the person who doesn't live up to expectations when drinking

They'll say 'you'll kill yourself before you know it'
People will warn me that my behavior will lead to negative consequences

Well isn't that the point? To make it all the more easier to digest?
Isn't that the goal? To make my life more manageable and understandable, even if it's self-destructive?

And I'm waiting for the day I can explain myself to you
I'm looking forward to the day when I can fully express myself to you

But just because it's honest, well that doesn't make it true
Being honest doesn't necessarily make what I say accurate or valid

And that's the answer to the questions we have left
That's the answer to the remaining questions we have

Well I've found all my answers in a plan to be a star
My plan to become a star has provided me with all the answers I need

To shine along in the sunrise towards which I lend no part
I hope to shine brightly as part of something great that I didn't contribute to creating

I'm not invited, but I hope they're having guests
Even though I'm not included, I hope others are enjoying the company of guests

And all my good friends call me wilderness
My friends see me as someone unconventional and unpredictable

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TAYLOR P/K/A SIMON DAWES GOLDSMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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