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
Stop And Smell Thee Roses
Nana Grizol Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To a world that encourages us to grow
But sometimes perpetual motion moves so slow
Hunger for a change of scenery
You drive North in search of snow
Were you prepared for certain shadows
To follow you everywhere that you go
Your body's been decaying all this time
And now it finally starts to show
And are you having second thoughts
About that path that you chose
Now that the fire in your eyes
Has burned down like coals
To a warm consistent glow
Well hey that smoke has cleared
You regained the use of your nose
So take take a second now
To stop and smell the roses
Just like you never thought you had time
But always thought that you should
At least for now it okay to take life in smaller doses
Something new has come to town
Seems like he's doing you good
And I've come to a new town
Yeah sure it's somewhat the same
It feels good to be aware of
But still not focused on the cause behind that pain
And sometimes when the mood is right it feels
Like every inch and nothings changed
But in some way that not for one second
Has stayed the same
So you remember to eat dinner
Remember to feel better
Remember your friends
They'll think that you forgot them
If you only write secret letters
Remember not to focus on
Those feelings that you lack
You just might give yourself a heart attack
The song "Stop and Smell Thee Roses" by Nana Grizol is a nostalgic track that urges the listener to stop and appreciate the moment, reflecting on life choices and personal growth. The lyrics start with acknowledging the blessings of being able to grow in a world that is constantly moving forward, but sometimes it moves too slowly. The song talks about the need for a change of scenery and the shadows that follow people wherever they go.
The lyrics then elaborate on the idea that the constant motion of life takes a toll on the body, and people might have second thoughts about their choices while experiencing the aftermath. The fire in the eyes, which represents passion and motivation, simmers down to a warm, constant glow. The song advises the listener to take a moment to appreciate life and the small things that make it worth living. The song concludes with a reminder to take care of oneself and to cherish the people around them.
The message of the song is vital in today's fast-paced world, where people are consumed with achieving their goals and fulfilling obligations, leading to burnout and neglect of personal well-being. The lyrics convey the importance of self-reflection, introspection, and appreciating the present moment. The song inspires the listener to see life from a new perspective and make a conscious effort to cherish the journey and not just the destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Not to say were not fortunate to be born
Acknowledging that we are lucky to have been born into a world that promotes growth and development
To a world that encourages us to grow
Referring to a world that provides opportunities for self-improvement and growth
But sometimes perpetual motion moves so slow
In spite of the opportunities available around, sometimes the pace of development feels unbearably slow
Hunger for a change of scenery
The desire to move away from one's current situation
You drive North in search of snow
Venturing out in search of something new
Were you prepared for certain shadows
Did you anticipate the shadows that would follow you
To follow you everywhere that you go
Those shadows follow you wherever you go despite your efforts to venture out
Your body's been decaying all this time
Your body has been slowly breaking down over time
And now it finally starts to show
You feel the results of the decay physically and emotionally
And are you having second thoughts
You start to question a decision or path you took earlier
About that path that you chose
Questioning the decision to pursue a certain path
Now that the fire in your eyes
The passion that once fueled your drive
Has burned down like coals
Has dissipated and dwindled to nothing
To a warm consistent glow
The constant ember that remains despite the diminishing passion
Well hey that smoke has cleared
After the passion has died down, the confusion or distraction it may have caused is gone
You regained the use of your nose
You are becoming more capable of sensing things around you
So take take a second now
Take a moment to reflect and pause
To stop and smell the roses
To enjoy and appreciate simple pleasures despite your busy schedule
Just like you never thought you had time
Even though you thought you never had a moment to spare
But always thought that you should
You always knew that you should take a moment to appreciate life's small gifts
At least for now it okay to take life in smaller doses
It's alright to take life a bit slower and more manageable pace for now
Something new has come to town
New opportunities or experiences have presented themselves in your life
Seems like he's doing you good
These new opportunities or experiences are likely to be beneficial to you
And I've come to a new town
I have moved on to a new phase in my life
Yeah sure it's somewhat the same
Even though the new phase may seem familiar, something is different
It feels good to be aware of
It is a positive feeling being cognizant of your reality
But still not focused on the cause behind that pain
Despite being aware of the pain, it's best not to get too preoccupied with what caused it
And sometimes when the mood is right it feels
Occasionally, when everything aligns, there's a feeling of completion
Like every inch and nothings changed
It feels like everything and nothing has changed all at once
But in some way that not for one second
However, there is something that is different even for a second
Has stayed the same
There is a constant that has not changed
So you remember to eat dinner
Basic necessities should not be overlooked in times of stress
Remember to feel better
It's vital to remember to take care of yourself mentally
Remember your friends
Remember that you have people who care about you and your well-being
They'll think that you forgot them
They will worry about you if you don't check in with them once in a while
If you only write secret letters
If you only communicate with them privately and not openly
Remember not to focus on
Don't dwell on
Those feelings that you lack
Don't get consumed by your shortcomings or inadequacies
You just might give yourself a heart attack
It's important to not get bogged down by negative feelings that lead to self-doubt, stress, and other health complications.
Contributed by Aaron C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.