Since their first performance at LAโs The Smell in April 2006, the band have continued Wivesโ tradition of incendiary live shows, playing as frequently as possible, expounding a visceral energy on an equal footing with their recorded output, via guitar, drums, vocals and a minimal amount of effects. No Ageโs music is deceptively simple in its construction, yet thoroughly compelling. Raw, considered and skilfully arranged, these eleven tracks are overflowing with ideas, ambition and intent. Both Randy and Dean are also involved at The Smell in a curatorial, social, and artistic sense. The Smell is an all ages space dedicated to underground music and art. Citing The Smell as seminal and inspirational to many, and at least partially responsible for the existence of both their bands to date, itโs a mutually supportive grass roots space reflecting No Ageโs DIY ethic. It is this building that features on the front cover of their debut album for FatCat, โWeirdo Rippersโ. The band also make video, performance and visual art under the name No Age and by themselves, and curated the โGet Hurtโ exhibition in LA, featuring works by Devendra Banhart, Rich Jacobs, Ron Rege Jr., Matthew Thurber, Susan CianCiolo, and Ashley Macomber to name a few.
They have released three albums to date, 2007's "Weirdo Rippers" (a compilation of early material). The band released five limited vinyl-only releases on a variety of DIY indie labels across the globe on the same day. Weirdo Rippers is a collection of highlights for these releases. Despite its multiple sources, the tracklisting for Weirdo Rippers follows a narrative of its own, cohering effectively as an album. In mid-2008, the band released the single "Eraser", which has since become the band's best known song. This was followed by "Nouns" their second release in 2008 titled Nouns, on Sub Pop. The album was rated 9.2 (out of 10) by Pitchfork Media. In 2009 they put out their second Sub Pop release, an EP of loop and sample-based songs called Losing Feeling, a continuation of their punk-filtered pop songs with a few straightforward songs and a few more abstract compositions that harken back to their early EPs. The third release was 2010's "Everything In Between".
Things I Did When I Was Dead
No Age Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Uncle lied and I could die and I said somewhere new
Would you like the things I saw and bring you too
I should tell me more I'd like to see me I know where
I would
Oh
Parties like my policy and I take where I'm some
Damaged like my every thoughts and when you talk I do
Things I did when I was dead and everyone loves you
Oh
The lyrics to No Age's song "Things I Did When I Was Dead" are quite enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song seems to be about the singer's internal struggle to reconnect with someone they used to know, possibly a lover or a friend. The singer mentions that there are "problems" when they try to see this person, and that their "uncle lied" and put them in danger. Despite this, the singer yearns for a new connection, one in which they can share the "things [they] saw" and bring the other person along with them.
The chorus of the song seems to hint at a darker, more violent side to the singer's personality. They mention going "down [their] war" and "shoot[ing] everyone", as well as having a penchant for wild parties and being "damaged". However, there's a sense that these behaviors are in the past, that they are "things [the singer] did when [they] was dead" and that they are ready to move on and connect with the person they're addressing in the song.
One interesting interpretation of the song could be that it's about addiction and recovery. The sense of being "dead" and the emphasis on past destructive behavior could suggest that the singer is in the process of overcoming a substance abuse issue, and that the person they want to connect with now is someone from their past who they've hurt while in the midst of their addiction. The mention of a dangerous uncle could be a reference to drug dealing or being involved in a dangerous lifestyle. Alternatively, the song could be interpreted as a comment on the difficulty of reconnecting with old friends and lovers, the sense of loss and disconnection that comes with the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Problems when I wanna see you everyone I knew
I face difficulties when trying to meet you due to my social circle
Uncle lied and I could die and I said somewhere new
My dishonest relative put me in danger of losing my life, so I moved to a different place
Would you like the things I saw and bring you too
I want to share my experiences with you and take you along
I should tell me more I'd like to see me I know where
I should communicate more about myself and my desires, as I am aware of my preferred destination
Oh
An expression of emotion related to the previous line(s)
I went down my war I shoots and I take everyone
I commence a personal conflict and draw in other individuals to confront the issue
Parties like my policy and I take where I'm some
I attend gatherings according to my principles and claim my place in the setting
Damaged like my every thoughts and when you talk I do
My thought process is affected and distorted, and you exacerbate this when you speak
Things I did when I was dead and everyone loves you
I behaved in a way that was not productive or beneficial, and yet people still hold you in high regard
Oh
An expression of emotion related to the previous line(s)
Lyrics ยฉ Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dean Allen Spunt, Randy Randall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind