Acoustic five-piece playing bittersweet and beguiling folk-indie-pop songs about love, jealousy, apathy, imaginary friends, and pirates. Having released two albums to critical acclaim, the band announced on December 2, 2007 that after a short tour of Great Britain ending in February 20, 2008 in Scotland, the band would go on an 'indefinite hiatus' Singer-songwriter Nat Johnson is currently working on solo material and recently formed Nat Johnson and the Figureheads with former MSTU member Kevin Gori. Rob Dean has joined The Pete Green Corporate Juggernaut.
For more information, see the official MSTU site.
22
Monkey Swallows the Universe Lyrics
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If I don't have time, you know what I mean
When I'm far, not far from here, when I've signed for another year
I'll be so…you know
When the white old moon's in the dead old sky
And you're looking on from the window of your own room
It is such bad luck that you will not recover
Wake up, light. This place is my right
Night, city light, I can see to the field
And I'll go there someday
I'll look back and I'll see my window
When the white old moon's in the dead old sky
And you're looking on from the window of your own room
It is such bad luck that you will not recover
Do you believe that?
You shouldn't believe that a crack in the pavement
Is to break, not be broken
The cracks are in your mind – it's full of holes
And you shouldn't have believed that after all this time
The song "22" by Monkey Swallows the Universe is a reflective piece about the singer's mortality, as well as her determination to achieve her dreams while she is still alive. The opening line, "For the day I'm not here, when I'm gone and I'm sorry," suggests that the singer is thinking about her own death and apologizing for any pain she may have caused. She acknowledges that she may not have time to accomplish everything she wants to, but expresses a hope that she will at least come close.
The second verse continues with a sense of melancholy, as the singer describes looking out of her window at night and feeling that "you will not recover." The ambiguous phrase could mean that she believes she, herself, will not recover from something, or that she has given up on the idea of ever being able to recover from the various struggles of life. Either way, the line suggests a sense of resignation and sadness. However, the third and final verse offers a glimmer of hope, with the singer expressing a determination to "go there someday" - presumably meaning she wants to achieve her goals and dreams. She acknowledges that there are obstacles in her way, but encourages herself (and the listener) not to believe in negative, limiting thoughts like "you will not recover" or that something as small as "a crack in the pavement is to break, not be broken."
Line by Line Meaning
For the day I'm not here, when I'm gone and I'm sorry
I apologize in advance for the day that I won't be around anymore
If I don't have time, you know what I mean
If I'm ever too busy to spend time with you, I hope you understand
When I'm far, not far from here, when I've signed for another year I'll be so…you know
Although I'll be far away, I won't be too far from your thoughts and I'll still feel some connection
When the white old moon's in the dead old sky And you're looking on from the window of your own room It is such bad luck that you will not recover Do you believe that?
Do you believe in superstitions like the full moon bringing bad luck, or do you think it's nonsense?
Wake up, light. This place is my right Night, city light, I can see to the field And I'll go there someday I'll look back and I'll see my window
I feel at home in this city at night and I know one day I'll leave and look back on my memories
You shouldn't believe that a crack in the pavement Is to break, not be broken The cracks are in your mind – it's full of holes And you shouldn't have believed that after all this time
Don't let small things break you because your mind is what's fragile and needs to be nurtured
Contributed by Declan C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.