The crew augments Theo's book-open vocals and beautiful fingerpicking with a suitably eclectic array of instrumentation. Laura Carter and Robbie Cucchiaro, both formerly of Athens' legendary and notoriously horn-buoyed Neutral Milk Hotel, head up a brass-and-winds section comprised of Laura's celebratory trumpet, Robbie's Baritone Euphonium, a couple clarinets, harmonica, recorder and whatever else you can pack into a touring-trunk and bring along for a blast. Rhythmic backbone comes courtesy of Southern punkrock siren Madeline Adams' bass, Matte Cathcart's drumming and some right-on Fender Rhodes piano provided by Hot New Mexicans' mainman Patrick Jennings.
The catchy, heartfelt crunch of the album's opener, "Circles Round The Moon," segues seamlessly into the brassy, beautiful circus-lullaby, "Tambourine-n-Thyme." Things get sad and stripped down with "Tiny Rainbows" -- a gentle plaint nudged toward the light by the brilliant horns. And "Broken Cityscapes" gets positively naked: Theo's adamant vocal sounds above his acoustic guitar and a couple rattles.
Theo's lyrical voice is ruralist, lovelorn and punkrock in the most primal way: he looks to explicate a world gone way wrong on the most basic, inhumane levels. Experiences gained on the touring road and at his home at the Orange Twin Conservation Community have led him to question the empty life of the modern American, and the disquieting ways the inherent Dystopia have made itself manifest on our own interior landscapes."
-Orange Twin
Grady and Dubose
Nana Grizol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like breakfast, and breathing, and short term memory
Sometimes it gets so cold you almost can't stand it
To remember is to be reminded so insensitively
But it's hard not being told who to be
The tradeoff is incredible just to feel that you're free
No one ever won a jackpot on a gentleman's bet
Yeah, you wake up from your best dream just to find your bed wet
What life ever comes without a hint of regret?
So you can drive to Indiana
Visit your metal friends in Savanna
Or fly to England on a plane
And no, no one can say that you are far away
There are memories, warm feelings which will always remain
Like college radio late nights,
And heart to hearts, curbsides
The sheer beauty of which there are not words to explain
The ghosts in the attic sure beat TV static
We were up all night, quite close to insane
And all the time learning from each other how to keep out the rain
We do not demand surrender
It's not the reason why we came
All we ask is, "may we enter?"
And wonder, is everything okay?
(That was good)
The lyrics to Nana Grizol's song "Grady and Dubose" capture the bittersweet nature of memory and the struggle to find a sense of identity and freedom in a world that often dictates who we should be. The lines "Try to take nothing for granted / Like breakfast, and breathing, and short term memory" highlight the fleeting nature of existence and the need to cherish every moment. The reference to coldness as a reminder also speaks to the harsh realities of life and how pain can shape us.
The second verse addresses the tension between being told who to be and the desire for freedom. The singer acknowledges that being oneself comes with a tradeoff, but ultimately the feeling of independence is worth it. The reference to trapeze artists performing without nets speaks to the risk involved in being true to oneself, and the idea that sometimes we must take a leap of faith. The lines "you wake up from your best dream just to find your bed wet / What life ever comes without hint of regret?" capture the ephemeral nature of happiness and the inevitability of disappointment.
The final verse reflects on the power of memory and shared experience. The references to college radio late nights and heart to hearts are nostalgic and speak to the beauty of human connection. The lines "The ghosts in the attic sure beat TV static / We were up all night, quite close to insane / And all the time learning from each other how to keep out the rain" demonstrate how even in the midst of madness, there is value in learning from one another.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the human experience and the search for meaning and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to take nothing for granted
Try not to assume anything is guaranteed
Like breakfast, and breathing, and short term memory
Be grateful for basic necessities, such as food, air, and memory
Sometimes it gets so cold you almost can't stand it
The harshness of reality can be difficult to bear
To remember is to be reminded so insensitively
Recalling past experiences can be painful and jarring
But it's hard not being told who to be
It's difficult to find your identity without external guidance
The tradeoff is incredible just to feel that you're free
The benefits of independence are worth the sacrifices
The best trapeze artists perform with no nets
Taking risks can lead to the greatest successes
No one ever won a jackpot on a gentleman's bet
There are no guarantees in life, even with a handshake agreement
Yeah, you wake up from your best dream just to find your bed wet
Expectations often fall short of reality
What life ever comes without a hint of regret?
It's difficult to live a life free of mistakes or missed opportunities
So you can drive to Indiana
Travel to new places to gain perspective and experience
Visit your metal friends in Savanna
Spend time with friends who share common interests
Or fly to England on a plane
Explore different cultures and broaden your horizons
And no, no one can say that you are far away
Even when geographically distant, memories and emotions can keep us connected
There are memories, warm feelings which will always remain
Memories have the ability to evoke positive emotions that persist over time
Like college radio late nights,
Shared experiences can create lasting memories
And heart to hearts, curbsides
Meaningful conversations can happen anywhere, at any time
The sheer beauty of which there are not words to explain
Some experiences are so impactful that words fail to capture their essence
The ghosts in the attic sure beat TV static
Exploring the unknown can be more interesting than familiar distractions
We were up all night, quite close to insane
The intensity of certain experiences can push us to the brink
And all the time learning from each other how to keep out the rain
Through collaboration and shared struggles, we can learn to overcome obstacles
We do not demand surrender
We don't expect others to conform to our beliefs or expectations
It's not the reason why we came
We don't need others to change who they are for us to enjoy their company
All we ask is, "may we enter?"
We only ask for the opportunity to be included
And wonder, is everything okay?
We care about others and their well-being
(That was good)
Acknowledging positive experiences or insights
Contributed by Sadie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.