Kunek was a genre smoothie. Toss some indie, folk, post-rock, and ambient in a blender and set to awesome. In August 2008, Kunek announced via their Myspace that Kunek will live on only through their fantastic but lone album, Flight of the Flynns. Five members of Kunek have transferred to a new band under the Other Lives moniker. The debut album from the Stillwater, Oklahoma band is finished as of August 2008, produced by Joey Waronker (Beck, REM) and will be released via TBD records (Radiohead, Underworld). Their sophomore album, Tamer Animals, was released in May 2011 on TBD records.
The 5 members of Other Lives/Kunek are as follows:
Colby Owens Drums
Josh Onstott: Bass, Organ
Jonathan Mooney: Keyboards (Acoustic Guitar),
Jenny Hsu: Cello,
Jesse Tabish: Lead Vocals (Piano, Guitar)
How Could This Be?
Other Lives Lyrics
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A man stands so silent and still
The picture's unclear
The view is much farther than here
How can this be?
Our lives will change
It's all we ever knew
We sit and wait
Sidewalk preachers eat their meat on the Sunday morning paper
Land mines make it hard to walk in straight lines
All of the day
Spent counting in ways to get by
Into the night
We sleep to survive
How can this be?
Our lives will change
It's all we ever knew
And at the end of our days
We sit and wait
For things to return
The opening verse of Other Lives' song "How Could This Be?" presents a scene of a man standing on a grass hill, appearing silent and still, while the view in front of him remains unclear and much farther than the current point. The lyrics suggest a notion of uncertainty and doubt about the future, as if the man is contemplating his own life or the fate of humankind. The chorus drives home this sense of unknowing, with the repeated question of "How can this be?" referring to the sense of disbelief that things will inevitably change, even if that change remains unclear. The final verse touches on the struggles and hardships of everyday life, from the sidewalk preachers eating their meat on Sunday morning papers to the landmines that make it difficult to walk in straight lines. Despite these obstacles, people continue to survive, counting the ways to get by during the day and sleeping through the night.
Ultimately, "How Could This Be?" leaves the listener with a sense of unease, with its powerful lyrics conveying a feeling of disorientation, unease, and doubt. It conveys the fragility and uncertainty of life in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. The repeated question "How can this be?" can be interpreted in many ways, but for many listeners, it may symbolize the sense that the world can change in unfathomable ways, sometimes for the worse, sometimes for the better, and we may never fully understand how or why this happens.
Line by Line Meaning
Upon the grass hill
The song sets its opening with an image of someone standing atop a hill. Being on a higher ground, he/she enjoys a better perspective and view of the surrounding.
A man stands so silent and still
The person on the hill stands completely motionless and silent, probably pondering upon something.
The picture's unclear
Despite having a clear view, the person has trouble interpreting what he/she sees. It's either because of the distance, lack of information or something else.
The view is much farther than here
The person on the hill realizes that the world is far bigger and more complicated than what he/she ever realized.
How can this be?
The person is bewildered by the complexity of the world and wonders how such a world can even exist.
Our lives will change
Change is inevitable and we are bound to experience it as we grow older.
It's all we ever knew
Despite the inevitability of change, we find comfort in the familiarity of our current lives.
And at the end of our days
We all face death and mortality is an inescapable reality.
We sit and wait
As we get closer to the inevitable end, it seems that all we can do is to wait for our time to come.
Sidewalk preachers eat their meat on the Sunday morning paper
This verse highlights the contrast between the mundane, everyday life and the otherworldly, spiritual world, which could be perceived as strange or alien.
Land mines make it hard to walk in straight lines
This line paints a picture of the dangers and obstacles that exist in life, making it hard to navigate, causing us to deviate from our intended path.
All of the day
The entirety of the day is consumed by something.
Spent counting in ways to get by
We spend most of our days either counting money, time, or other resources, essentially trying to survive.
Into the night
As the night falls, we find refuge in sleep.
We sleep to survive
Sleep is not just a way to relax but a way to restore and rejuvenate our body, allowing us to be productive again.
For things to return
Despite the inevitable changes and challenges, we hold on to the hope that things will eventually return to some sort of normalcy.
Contributed by Alice S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.