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
Words
Mike Doughty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Man in the box wants to burn my soul
And I'm tired, and I'm tired.
Is that the truth he says
That pain is easy
Too many words, too many words
If you're hearing screams
Come back child, come back
My hands are dry
But I know I'm gonna make it
Just one more night
Too many words, too many words
And I can hear 'em
These lyrics from Mike Doughty's "Words" depict a sense of weariness and struggle with internal demons. The line "Three inches above the floor" suggests a feeling of being grounded but also hovering on the edge of despair. Meanwhile, the "Man in the box" wanting to burn the singer's soul represents a darker external force threatening to consume them. The singer acknowledges feeling tired, perhaps implying they've been fighting these battles for a while.
The next verse touches on the idea that pain can be addictive in a sense, as the "truth" is often harder to bear than suffering. The repeated use of "Too many words" could imply that the singer feels overwhelmed by external pressures or expectations to express themselves. The final lines express a sense of hopelessness or desperation, with the singer telling a lost child to return and implying that they feel their own hands are too dry to hold on much longer.
Line by Line Meaning
Three inches above the floor
Feeling low and small, barely keeping myself together.
Man in the box wants to burn my soul
My inner demons are trying to destroy me, and it's a constant struggle to resist their temptations.
And I'm tired, and I'm tired.
I'm exhausted from fighting against myself, and I feel like giving up sometimes.
Is that the truth he says
I question if the negative thoughts I have about myself are valid or if they're just lies I tell myself.
That pain is easy
It's easier to let the pain consume me than to fight against it.
Too many words, too many words
There are too many thoughts racing through my head, and I can't seem to make sense of them.
And I can hear 'em
I can't escape my own mind, and the constant chatter is driving me insane.
If you're hearing screams
If you can hear the desperation in my voice, please help me find a way out of this dark place.
Come back child, come back
I long for the innocence and naivete of my youth when the world was simpler and my problems weren't so overwhelming.
My hands are dry
I'm reaching out for help, but I feel like no one is there to grab my hand.
But I know I'm gonna make it
Despite the constant struggle, I have hope that one day I'll overcome my demons and find peace within myself.
Just one more night
Sometimes, all I can do is take it one day at a time.
Contributed by Sadie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.