The early birthing pains of O’ Brother saw Michael Martens, Johnny Dang, an… Read Full Bio ↴The early birthing pains of O’ Brother saw Michael Martens, Johnny Dang, and his brother Anton Dang joined in making quiet climbs from graceful notes , a struck pose to an older guitar focused indie-rock. But as is the duty of all freshman bands members fade off and new friends, like Tanner Merritt and Aaron Wamack, joined establishing a new vision, and accidentally stumbling into the dark 2009 debut EP The Death of Day.

“The music we like to put together is dark, but so is the subject matter, so the medium has to be as well,” O’ Brother’s lead singer/guitarist Tanner Merritt spells out the capturing of the Georgia band’s first five written songs.

To break the cimmerian shade of an album based around sleep and its emboss to the natural world a dynamic had to be created, a wall of density given breathe and firm grip around melodies unable to wander. The expected sprawl of soft, then loud, then back to soft was sacrificed projecting a new luminance where the strength was in the tiny twisting light that exhales from the EP as a whole.

The band sought to keep their on stage essence by laying the album down live, forgoing the studio temptation to fill each space. Recorded by Brad Fisher with assistance from Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull the best takes were chosen for keys and effects to be added in later creating the soundscapes tucked beneath each song.

Since the 2009 release the band has shared stages with Thrice, Circa Survive, Manchester Orchestra, Biffy Clyro. Ready to record again the band is in a new dawn; where the sun is rising and a new eclectic output is being embraced.

“I think we are enjoying the writing of our full length more than we did with the EP,” Martens explains the bands next step. “It is more of a shared experience with this one because everyone is writing. The music is coming out better than ever and we are really happy to be coming into our sound.”

http://www.myspace.com/obrothermusic

Leave Me Out
O'Brother Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

breathe out, try harder now to breathe out
its pulling harder at your seams now
hearing everything you leave out
i’m trying to see how
i can make you believe i’ll
be the comfort you need without screaming
wring me out darling
wring me out if you need

i’m happy to be your of service
but leave me out if you see me obviously worse off
dream of another time when it was enough
made a mess i couldn’t clean up
feel you stirring in the sheets love
if i could take your cup, if it comes undone
i’m afraid that i’m all used up

leave me out
i just don’t know what to do

Overall Meaning

In "Leave Me Out" by O'Brother, the lyrics explore themes of inner turmoil, longing for comfort, and the fear of not being enough. The song starts with the singer struggling to exhale, suggesting the weight of their emotions becoming overwhelming. They feel like they are being pulled apart, metaphorically represented by their seams. Additionally, they are aware of the things they are leaving unsaid or leaving out in their interactions with others.

The next part reveals the singer's desire to be a source of comfort for someone else. They want to prove themselves as a reliable support system without resorting to screaming or causing distress. The phrase "wring me out, darling" can be interpreted as an invitation for the other person to rely on them and share their burdens. They are willing to be of service and help in any way they can.

However, the following lines introduce a condition to their offer. They ask to be left out if the other person sees them as obviously worse off. This suggests a fear of appearing weak or incapable, unwilling to burden others with their own struggles. The singer yearns for a time when their presence alone was enough, hinting at a nostalgia for simpler times where their worth wasn't dependent on constant acts of service.

The lyrics then reveal that the singer has made mistakes they couldn't fix or clean up, representing a sense of guilt or regret. They feel the presence of their loved one beside them, possibly struggling with similar emotions or consequences. Despite wanting to be there for the other person, they express doubts about their own capacity to provide support, fearing that they may have nothing more to give. The plea to "leave me out" indicates a sense of helplessness and uncertainty about what to do in this situation.

Overall, "Leave Me Out" explores the complexity of emotion, the desire for connection, and the struggle to navigate personal limitations. The lyrics paint a picture of someone wrestling with their own issues while attempting to be a source of solace for someone else, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

breathe out, try harder now to breathe out
Exhale all your worries and troubles, and try your best to let go and find peace.

its pulling harder at your seams now
The pressure and stress are intensifying, causing you to feel overwhelmed.

hearing everything you leave out
I'm listening carefully to the things you don't say, the hidden emotions and thoughts.

i’m trying to see how
I'm making an effort to understand your perspective and feelings.

i can make you believe i’ll
I want to convince you that I will

be the comfort you need without screaming
I'll be there for you, providing support and solace, without causing further distress or chaos.

wring me out darling
Squeeze out all your worries and fears onto me, my love.

wring me out if you need
If it helps, don't hesitate to lean on me and rely on my support.

i’m happy to be your of service
I find joy in being able to assist and help you.

but leave me out if you see me obviously worse off
However, if I'm clearly in a worsening state and it burdens you, feel free to exclude me from your worries.

dream of another time when it was enough
Imagine a past moment when everything felt satisfactory and sufficient.

made a mess i couldn’t clean up
I caused a chaotic situation that I am unable to fix or undo.

feel you stirring in the sheets love
I sense your restlessness and unease, my love.

if i could take your cup, if it comes undone
If I could bear your burden and help you when things fall apart,

i’m afraid that i’m all used up
I fear that I have nothing left to offer or give.

leave me out
Exclude me or let me be on my own.

i just don’t know what to do
I am unsure and lost, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Anton Dang, Jonathan Dang, Jordan Mcghin, Michael Martens, Tanner Merritt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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