The band's current configuration is Isaac Brock (vocals, guitar), Tom Peloso (strings, horns, bass, keyboards), Jim Fairchild (guitar), and Eric Judy (bass)). Plummer has recently become the new drummer for The Shins.
Brock came up with the name "Modest Mouse" when he read the Virginia Woolf stream of consciousness essay The Mark On the Wall in which the author described the working middle class as "modest mouse-coloured people"
Brock frequently moved around with his mother when he was a child. Around this time, his mother left his father for his father's brother (Brock's uncle). Brock's mother's house flooded and forced them to move into his mother's new husband's trailer, but there was no room for Brock. Brock stayed behind, living in the second story of the flooded house, until he was eventually evicted by police. He then moved into a shed next to his mother's house and it is said this is where Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green and bassist Eric Judy first began playing music.
In 1994, the band recorded their debut EP, Blue Cadet-3, Do You Connect?, at Calvin Johnson's Dub Narcotic Studios, which was then released on Calvin's record label K Records. Then followed a single with Sub Pop that was recorded by producer Steve Wold at Moon Studios. Wold, who in the mid-2000's would begin to perform under the name Seasick Steve, would also perform on the band's albums, but was never an official member of the band. After moving to Up Records Modest Mouse put out several releases recorded at Moon Studios, including 1996's This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About. This double LP was produced and recorded by Steve Wold. The next offering on UP was Interstate 8; also produced by Steve Wold. 1997's The Lonesome Crowded West, (also recorded at Moon Studios, by Scott Swayze) turned out to be the band's breakthrough album. The Lonesome Crowded West gained the band a cult following and is now widely considered by many critics to be one of the defining albums of mid-90s indie rock.
In 2000, Modest Mouse released The Moon And Antarctica, their first album on a major label (Epic Records). The band enjoyed some success on alternative radio with the singles "3rd Planet" and "Gravity Rides Everything." Lead singer Isaac Brock has since put out an album with his side project Ugly Casanova on Sub Pop Records.
In 2003, drummer Jeremiah Green quit the band; the official word was that he was quitting to work with his side project, Vells. He was replaced with two members, drummer Benjamin Weikel (who also drummed for The Helio Sequence) and guitarist Dann Gallucci (Murder City Devils). Weikel being new to the band and Gallucci returning to the band for the first time since This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About. On April 6, 2004, Modest Mouse released the platinum-selling Good News For People Who Love Bad News, which scored two hits with "Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty". In 2004 Jeremiah Green returned to the band, and Benjamin Weikel now drums exclusively for The Helio Sequence. Dann Gallucci left the band in August, and they toured with Hutch Harris of The Thermals during the fall of 2004.
Modest Mouse was mentioned by name in the 2005 Supreme Court decision in the case of MGM v. Grokster. Justice Souter wrote that on the Grokster P2P network, "Users seeking Top 40 songs, for example, or the latest release by Modest Mouse, are certain to be far more numerous than those seeking a free Decameron, and Grokster and StreamCast translated that demand into dollars."
In 2005, multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso, who already played various instruments on Good News For People Who Love Bad News, officially joined the band. In 2006, Johnny Marr, former guitarist for The Smiths, became an official member of the band.
On March 20, 2007, the band released their fifth album, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. Four singles were released from the album: "Dashboard", "Missed the Boat", "We've Got Everything" and "Little Motel". The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. James Mercer of The Shins provides backing vocals on three songs.
In 2009, they released No One's First And You're Next, an EP of unreleased songs from around the time Good News and We Were Dead were recorded, and two songs that had already been released, "I've Got It All (Most)" and "King Rat". The video for King Rat was directed by late actor Heath Ledger.
In 2009, Johnny Marr left the band and was replaced by Jim Fairchild, formerly of Grandaddy. The band performed at several festivals throughout 2009 and 2010, including the main stage of the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2010.
After an 8 year wait, the band's latest full-length is "Strangers To Ourselves", released March 17th, 2015- two weeks after the original release date, March 3rd, 2015. The album art is an aerial photo of an RV resort located in Mesa, Arizona. Five singles were released before the album, "Lampshades on Fire", "Coyotes", "The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box", "The Best Room", and "Of Course we Know".
Drummer Jeremiah Green passed away from cancer on December 31, 2022 at the age of 45.
Little Motel
Modest Mouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I hope that the suite sleeps and suits you well
Well, I can see it as time and a sight through smell, and
That's why it's nice to be by yourself
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
We treat mishaps like sinking ships, and
I know that I don't want to be out to drift
Well, I can see it in your eyes, like I taste your lips, and
They both tell me that we're better than this
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
We trade tit for tat, like that for this
And I don't think that there was an insult that was missed
I can see it in your eyes, like I taste your lips, and
I'm very sorry
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for
That's what I'm waiting for, darlin'
Remainders of a shooting star
Landed directly on our broke-down little car
Before that we had made a wish
That we would be missed
If one or the other just did not exist
'Cause that's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, darlin'?
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
The song "Little Motel" by Modest Mouse tells a story of a couple who have gone through difficult times in their relationship. The song begins with the singer expressing his hopes that the woman is happy in her motel room and that she sleeps well. He talks about the importance of being alone and enjoying solitude. The chorus, "That's what I'm waiting for" is repeated throughout the song and suggests that the singer is waiting for something to change or improve in his relationship.
The second verse talks about how the couple has treated their issues like sinking ships and that they don't want to be left adrift. The singer believes that they are better than this and that their eyes and lips tell a different story than their arguments. The third verse discusses how the couple has been trading insults back and forth, but the singer is sorry about this and wants things to improve.
The final verse mentions how the couple had made a wish on a shooting star and hoped that they would be missed if one or both of them disappeared. This suggests that the couple has been through a lot together and have a deep desire to make things work.
Overall, the lyrics of "Little Motel" suggest that the couple is going through a tough time in their relationship but have a strong desire to make things work. The repetition of the chorus, "That's what I'm waiting for" implies that there is hope for a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope that you like it in your little motel
I hope you're comfortable in your temporary lodging
And I hope that the suite sleeps and suits you well
I hope the room is both comfortable and a good fit for you
Well, I can see it as time and a sight through smell, and
I can sense the passage of time and remember things through my sense of smell
That's why it's nice to be by yourself
Being alone is nice because it allows for introspection and reflection
'Cause that's what I'm waiting for
I'm waiting for something specific
That's what I'm waiting for
I'm still waiting for that thing
That's what I'm waiting for, aren't I?
A rhetorical question aimed at oneself, wondering if they're really waiting for the thing they desire
We treat mishaps like sinking ships, and
We tend to exaggerate small issues and make them seem much worse
I know that I don't want to be out to drift
I don't want to be aimlessly floating around with no sense of direction
They both tell me that we're better than this
Your actions and words suggest that you're capable of better behavior
We trade tit for tat, like that for this
We respond to negative actions with equally negative actions
And I don't think that there was an insult that was missed
I'm pretty sure we've insulted each other plenty
I'm very sorry
I apologize for my part in the hurtful exchange
Remainders of a shooting star
The debris from a meteoric explosion
Landed directly on our broke-down little car
The debris fell onto our already unreliable vehicle
Before that we had made a wish
We had previously made a hopeful request
That we would be missed
We hoped that our absence would be noticeable and felt
If one or the other just did not exist
If one of us were to disappear
That's what we're waiting for
We're both waiting for something specific
That's what we're waiting for
Still waiting for that thing
That's what we're waiting for, aren't we?
A rhetorical question asked between the two people, wondering if they're really waiting for the same thing
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE PLUMMER, ISAAC K. BROCK, JEREMIAH MARTYN GREEN, ERIC SCOTT JUDY, JOHNNY MARR, THOMAS P. PELOSO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@probesport
I regularly play this version because I can't bear to watch the video again.
@billiondollardan
this is so true. that video can wreck me if i watch on the wrong day
@chieffourfingers6337
Either way, it wrecks me.
@appleslayer3337
I never understood and never will understand why you guys don’t have more attention and recognition on YouTube, and the internet in general. You guys rock. You’ve made a lot of hard times easier for me, my whole family loves your music. ❤️
@Stankervision
It’s a specific genre of music, not everyone enjoys this type of music and even though it got you through tough times the world doesn’t revolve around your family unfortunately.
@appleslayer3337
@@Stankervision I didn’t think it did, god, how do some of you people wake up in the morning and choose doucheyness immediately. Have some sympathy and be less abrasive why don’t you?
@paulmorgan7814
Thats not what they're about....
I doubt anyone from the mouse posted this..
Just enjoy...
..
But youre right on w your comment fa sho..
Peace
@paulmorgan7814
Brought a cassete tape down to hemet ca. In 93.. after seeing these guys at a party...
Lol.
Now.look..
Eveeyone made fun of me....
Hahahaha whos laughing now... Modest fa life!!
@catfacexkillah
While they may not be everyone's cup of tea, they are so talented and creative! I have been obsessed since I found them over 20 years ago and they've gotten me through some of my hardest and darkest chapters of my life.
@deaddhianna
I love getting any kind of new modest mouse even if it's old things made new