Origins
Jeff Mangum was a member of The Olivia Tremor Control, along with his friend Will Cullen Hart and Bill Doss, appearing on their first release, the California Demise 7".
Prior to recording for friends under the NMH moniker, Mangum recorded at least one cassette under the name Milk: the only known tape was called Pygmie Barn in E Minor. This is the earliest known recordings that Mangum initiated and executed himself, on the cover there is "all songs: j.m '89. art: w. cullen hart". There is only an estimated dozen or so copies ever made of this tape, none of which have been made public. The tracklist etc. are also unknown.
Neutral Milk Hotel began life in Ruston, Louisiana, United States in the early 1990s, simply as a recording project for Mangum. He produced several demo cassettes, among them 1991's Invent Yourself a Shortcake, 1992's Beauty and 1993's Hype City Soundtrack, along with two more from this period, seemingly unnamed. Although easily found on the internet, these demos capture the project at a very embryonic state: songs are played in between various sound collages and tape experiments, and even, at one point, a six minute conversation between Mangum and Hart.
During this period, Mangum was wandering the country, staying in the closets of friends, and in a state of permanent unemployment. It was in these circumstances that the band's first formal releases took shape. Strictly speaking, however, the 'band' usually consisted of Mangum and whoever else was present at the time. This is obvious on Neutral Milk Hotel's first release, a 7" entitled Everything Is, recorded when Mangum was spending time in Seattle, Washington, released on Cher Doll Records in 1994.
On Avery Island
A full album, On Avery Island, followed, this time recorded mainly in Denver, Colorado, where Mangum was backed by Robert Schneider of the Apples in Stereo, Rick Benjamin of the Perry Weissman Three and Lisa Janssen of Secret Square. Merge Records released it in 1996. On On Avery Island, Mangum's unique vocal style and the band's quirky but playful arrangements create a carnival atmosphere of moods ranging from excitement, suspense, and melodrama.
After the release of On Avery Island, Neutral Milk Hotel became a fully-fledged band, as Julian Koster, Scott Spillane and Jeremy Barnes joined Mangum, the band now being based in New York. Soon after this, they moved to Athens, Georgia, where many of Mangum's friends had begun to settle, and the Elephant 6 recording company began, fully, to take shape. After this, the band went back to Denver, to record a proper follow up to On Avery Island.
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
The band's second LP, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, released in 1998, is notable as a critically acclaimed work and a widely popular recording. It is a spiritually motivated work, conceptually based on the beauty to be found in the horrific fate of Anne Frank and similarly overwhelming tragedies. (Mangum has, during live performances, including the one released under the title "Live at Jittery Joe's", described some of the songs off this album as based on urgent, recurring dreams he had of a European family during the 1940s.) The album was highly praised by critics for its wildly inventive instrumentation and Mangum's provocative and impassioned lyrics. Although it met with scant response from the general public when it was released, the recording has continued to gain momentum in indie music circles and has become a cult classic, selling well over 100,000 copies according to Merge Records. However, the record along with the year of constant touring that succeeded it took its toll on Mangum. The band quite abruptly went on hiatus turning down all requests for shows, including a support slot for R.E.M.. All of a sudden, the band appeared to go silent and very little has been heard from Mangum since 1999.
Hiatus
Although all the members are still active with one another in other projects, it is unknown whether any more Neutral Milk Hotel albums will be released. There were plans to release a Neutral Milk Hotel rarities album on the Orange Twin label; however, after an announcement in 2005 on the Orange Twin website claiming that Jeff Mangum had in fact eventually decided against the project, it is unclear if this will ever happen.
There has been, however, some activity since In the Aeroplane Over the Sea. First, Orange Twin re-released Everything Is...., complete with extra bonus tracks, as well as Live at Jittery Joe's, a bootleg recording of a show Mangum played in a coffee house in Athens in 1997. The Major Organ and the Adding Machine album, a rather secretive project released by Orange Twin in 2001 and consisting mainly of experimental musical collage, features Mangum, along with Julian Koster, Of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, Elf Power's Andrew Reiger and the Olivia Tremor Control and Circulatory System's Will Cullen Hart and Eric Harris. There was also the release of Orange Twin Field Works, Vol. 1, Mangum's field recording of a Bulgarian folk festival, also on Orange Twin in 2001. Additionally, he plays drums on the first Circulatory System album.
Since the start of the hiatus Neutral Milk Hotel, Jeff Mangum has only played live properly again once, under the pseudonym 'World of Wild Beards, Inc.', at the Kings Arms pub in Auckland, New Zealand, at the request of the Tall Dwarfs' Chris Knox. He has also made appearances with Elf Power, and appeared onstage at the first of The Olivia Tremor Control's New York shows on their 2005 reunion tour, to sing briefly. Further releases from Neutral Milk Hotel, however, are indicated to be unlikely.
The other members are all still releasing or recording material: Julian Koster as The Music Tapes, Scott Spillane as The Gerbils and Jeremy Barnes as A Hawk & A Hacksaw, Bablicon and Marta Tennae.
In 2005, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea saw its re-release by Domino Records in the UK, in a sleeve featuring praise from, among others, Franz Ferdinand and The Arcade Fire, both very much influenced by the band. On Avery Island was re-released in the US in January of 2006 with live bonus tracks. Mangum has also been fairly busy creatively - following a charity auction on eBay of an acoustic guitar decorated by Mangum himself, more guitars hand-decorated by Mangum were sold via Orange Twin Records for $900 apiece. In addition, a number of Mangum's original drawings, this time costing only $10 each, were sold via Neutral Milk Hotel's website.
In 2013, made a reunion tour of the United States, Australia, Taiwan and Japan. The band subsequently played concerts sporadically until going on indefinite hiatus in mid-2015.
Sinking Ship
Neutral Milk Hotel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How long can you hold still?
Your illness spills against my face
Sinking ship-
How long can you hold still?
Oh, can't you feel the coming waves?
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother painting horses all alone
Of lovers and of leavers still believing they are free to come and go
Sinking ship-
How long can you hold still?
Your illness is all that you are
A portrait of my father as a baby sleeping underneath the stars
A small pill of forgiveness I am giving to myself
It's what I need
A small gift of fulfillment I am hoping you will open and receive
Sinking ship-
How long can you hold still?
Your illness fills this empty room
A portrait of your lover softly drowning in the warm waters of June
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother sending signals through the drum
A portrait of my sadness finding shelter in the safety of my home
The lyrics to Neutral Milk Hotel's song "Sinking Ship" are filled with vivid imagery and emotional depth. The repeated line "How long can you hold still?" creates a sense of desperation and uncertainty, begging the question of how much longer the singer can endure the troubles of the sinking ship. The mention of illness adds another layer of complexity to the song, hinting at physical or mental pain that is consuming the singer.
The first verse speaks to the idea of being trapped on a sinking ship with someone who is sick, and the difficulties that come with that situation. The words "your illness spills against my face" paint a disturbing picture of the sickness becoming a physical burden for the singer. The second verse introduces portraits of the singer's parents, perhaps suggesting that these family members are sources of comfort or stability in a chaotic world. The idea of forgiveness and fulfillment is also touched upon, hinting at a desire for healing and redemption.
The final verse returns to the sinking ship, and the consequences of staying on it. The image of a lover drowning in June waters is heart-wrenching, and brings to mind the idea of being powerless to save someone you care about. The Sunday portrait of the singer's mother sending signals through the drum is intriguing, hinting at a deeper connection between art and emotion. The final line, "A portrait of my sadness finding shelter in the safety of my home," is haunting and poignant, suggesting that even in the face of tragedy, there can still be moments of comfort and safety.
Overall, "Sinking Ship" is a beautifully written song that explores themes of love, loss, and resilience. Its vivid imagery and raw emotions make it a standout track on Neutral Milk Hotel's acclaimed album "On Avery Island."
Line by Line Meaning
Sinking ship-
The situation is dire and getting worse, like a ship that is taking on water and will eventually go down.
How long can you hold still?
How long can you remain calm and composed in the face of this disaster?
Your illness spills against my face
Your problems and difficulties are affecting me directly and causing me pain.
Oh, can't you feel the coming waves?
Can't you sense the danger that is approaching and act to avert it?
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother painting horses all alone
A nostalgic picture of a simpler and happier time, when things were peaceful and happy.
Of lovers and of leavers still believing they are free to come and go
People who are in relationships, but still think that they have the freedom to do as they please, even if it hurts others.
Your illness is all that you are
Your problems and difficulties define you and the way you interact with the world.
A portrait of my father as a baby sleeping underneath the stars
A memory of a time when things were peaceful and innocent, before the challenges and difficulties of life took hold.
A small pill of forgiveness I am giving to myself
I am trying to let go of my own mistakes and forgive myself, even if others cannot.
It's what I need
Forgiving oneself is an essential step towards healing and moving on.
A small gift of fulfillment I am hoping you will open and receive
I am trying to offer a gesture of kindness and generosity, in the hopes that it will be accepted and appreciated.
Your illness fills this empty room
Your problems and difficulties are pervasive and overwhelming, and they are affecting everything around you.
A portrait of your lover softly drowning in the warm waters of June
A sad image of someone who is drowning in their problems and difficulties, despite the beauty and warmth of the world around them.
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother sending signals through the drum
A nostalgic and happy memory of a time when everything felt connected and harmonious.
A portrait of my sadness finding shelter in the safety of my home
My sadness and pain are still with me, but at least I am able to find a sense of safety and security in my own personal space.
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kai
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Your illness spills against my face
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Oh, can’t you feel the coming waves
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother painting horses all alone
Of lovers and of leavers still believing they are free to come back home
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Your illness is all that you are
A portrait of my father as a baby sleeping underneath the stars
A small pill of forgiveness I am giving to myself, it’s what I need
A small gift of fulfilment I am hoping you will open and receive
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Oo-ooh
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Your illness fills this empty room
A portrait of your lover softly drowning in the warm waters of June
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother sending signals through the drum
A portrait of my sadness finding shelter in the safety of my home
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Oo-ooh
Bornie ___
kills me how many beautiful unreleased songs they have
neros1234
At least we can hear them!
iamdamosuzuki_
This one has a strong Elliott Smith vibe to it.
neros1234
This is so great!! I love fan made NMH videos. This totally looks like something Jeff would enjoy.
Kai
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Your illness spills against my face
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Oh, can’t you feel the coming waves
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother painting horses all alone
Of lovers and of leavers still believing they are free to come back home
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Your illness is all that you are
A portrait of my father as a baby sleeping underneath the stars
A small pill of forgiveness I am giving to myself, it’s what I need
A small gift of fulfilment I am hoping you will open and receive
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Oo-ooh
Sinking ship, how long can you hold still?
Your illness fills this empty room
A portrait of your lover softly drowning in the warm waters of June
A perfect Sunday portrait of my mother sending signals through the drum
A portrait of my sadness finding shelter in the safety of my home
Ooh
Ooh
Ooh
Oo-ooh
iamdamosuzuki_
This song should've been re recorded for "On Avery Island
Moto Boh
Holy cow I love that song, and this video is perfect.
[PATRYK FILMS]
Love this song still! Thank you for this video!
Fergus Finking
Actually great video, beautiful song, you deserve more subscribers
PAN'S CENTRAL EXPRESS presents
Love the sea horses! man, so meaningful.