Doughty's sound is that of muted acoustic guitar rhythms and nasally vocals with impeccable melodies. His lyrics are unique, and he can be described as a master wordsmith. He turned to a new direction for his 2008 album, Golden Delicious. Instead of an acoustic gritty sound, he began using things like electric guitars, stronger vocal backgrounds and even a cello.
Doughty's album, Yes and Also Yes, was released in August 2011. In January 2012, The Book of Drugs, Doughty's memoir about his "ugly, drug-doing years", was published by Da Capo Press. In 2012 Doughty recorded a version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" for a fund-raising cd titled "Super Hits Of The Seventies" for radio station WFMU. Doughty's album, The Question Jar Show, was released in late January 2012. It is a two disc set containing highlights from his Question Jar tour.
Discography:
Skittish LP (recorded 1996; released 2000)
Smofe + Smang: Live in Minneapolis LP (2002)
Rockity Roll EP (2003)
Skittish / Rockity Roll double LP (2004): A two disc re-release which includes the out-of-print Skittish, the Rockity Roll EP, and five bonus tracks.
Haughty Melodic LP (2005): Doughty's first full-band album, released on May 3, 2005.
The Gambler EP (2005): Six song EP. Title track is a cover of the Kenny Rogers hit.
Golden Delicious (2008)
Sad Man Happy Man (2009)
Yes and Also Yes (2011)
The Question Jar Show (2012)
The Lo-Fi Lodge (2012)
The Flip Is Another Honey (2012)
Official website: www.mikedoughty.com
White Lexus
Mike Doughty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please show me how to have a day.
I don't want to wake up now.
Why do I have to wake up, anyway?
Like a soap star in anguish, shrill but bland,
When your white Lexus comes
Around
Idling in the long driveway
Try to feel nothing on command
When your white Lexus comes
The thrill
Be damned
I forgive the world right now.
Still I play the chump's role every time.
My world's the surface of the moon.
My heart's down in a diamond mine.
Like the black stars of Memphis, moaning on,
When your white Lexus comes
To drive
Me out
Drive me to the edge of town
Try to feel nothing on command
When your white Lexus comes
The thrill
Be damned
Damn it to the last damned man.
In Mike Doughty's song White Lexus, the lyrics seem to be expressing a feeling of helplessness and resignation. The singer is asking someone, almost pleading with them, to show them how to live and to have a day. They seem to not want to wake up or face the reality of their life. The mention of a white Lexus seems to indicate that the person they are addressing is wealthy and privileged, and perhaps they feel envious or resentful of their privilege. When the white Lexus arrives, it seems to exacerbate these feelings. The singer tries to command themselves to feel nothing, to not be moved by this symbol of wealth and power, but ultimately they cannot resist its allure. They play the "chump's role" every time, knowing that their own life and world pales in comparison to the status and luxury represented by the car.
Throughout the song, there are references to soap stars and black stars of Memphis, both of which seem to represent the idea of despair and anguish. This reinforces the sense of hopelessness and ennui that runs throughout the lyrics. The final line, "Damn it to the last damned man," seems to be a kind of rallying cry, a statement of defiance in the face of the overwhelming force of the white Lexus and all it represents. Ultimately, the song seems to be about the difficulty of finding meaning and purpose in life, especially when one is confronted with the stark reality of social and economic inequality.
Line by Line Meaning
Please show me how to live.
I need guidance and direction in my life.
Please show me how to have a day.
I want to experience a fulfilling day, but don't know how.
I don't want to wake up now.
I lack motivation to start my day.
Why do I have to wake up, anyway?
I question the purpose and necessity of waking up each day.
Like a soap star in anguish, shrill but bland,
My life feels like a cliché, lacking real substance or meaning.
When your white Lexus comes
The symbol of wealth and status is a source of both fascination and resentment for me.
Around
It's always present, looming in the background of my thoughts and experiences.
The way
Its mere existence affects the way I perceive the world and my place in it.
Idling in the long driveway
It's a constant reminder of the distance between my own life and the lives of those who have material success.
Try to feel nothing on command
I attempt to suppress my emotions, particularly those of jealousy or inadequacy, when confronted with symbols of wealth and status.
The thrill
While the Lexus represents a certain level of prestige and achievement, it also brings negative emotions such as envy and inadequacy.
Be damned
I reject these negative emotions and attempt to rise above them, determined to find my own sense of self-worth and fulfillment.
I forgive the world right now.
Though I have been hurt or disappointed, I am attempting to let go of these negative feelings and move forward.
Still I play the chump's role every time.
Despite trying to rise above negativity, I often find myself falling into patterns of self-doubt and self-pity.
My world's the surface of the moon.
I feel isolated, disconnected, and alienated from the world around me.
My heart's down in a diamond mine.
My emotions and inner life feel buried, inaccessible, and unattainable.
Like the black stars of Memphis, moaning on,
I feel a sense of melancholy and despair, similar to that felt by musicians in the blues and soul genres.
To drive
The Lexus becomes a source of escape and fantasy for me, something I want to attain in order to escape my present circumstances.
Me out
I see the Lexus as a means of leaving behind my current situation and rising to a higher level of success and satisfaction.
Drive me to the edge of town
I imagine using the Lexus to physically leave behind my current life and explore new horizons.
Damn it to the last damned man.
I'm determined to overcome my feelings of inadequacy and rise to success, no matter what it takes.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MIKE DOUGHTY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind