Pallett has been noted for their live performances, wherein they play the violin into a sampler controlled by foot pedals, which then loops back one or more of the previously played musical phrases as they play additional parts simultaneously. Pallett has also performed with more traditional string quartets as backing musicians.
Owen believes their work is somewhat influenced by their sexuality, saying "As far as whether the music I make is gay or queer, yeah, it comes from the fact that I'm gay, but that doesn't mean I'm making music about it." in a recent interview.
"I'm taking a cue from Joel Gibb," Pallett begins, "he and I are very different people, and we're very different in terms of the way we've assessed our sexual identities, but one thing I really respect about him is that his music has less to do with his identity and more to do with the more interesting aspects of himself", states in an earlier interview in Toronto's NOW Magazine concerning Owen's sexual identity and its use in their music.
On 12 February 2005, their debut album, Final Fantasy Has A Good Home, was released by the recording club Blocks (sometimes referred to as 'BlocksBlocksBlocks'), a cooperative, Toronto-based record label of which they are a member. A second album is entitled "He Poos Clouds", and inspiration for the songs are based on the eight schools of magic used for Dungeons & Dragons and how they relate to modern times. It is released under Tomlab.
Owen's previous projects included a 3-piece Toronto-based band, Les Mouches, now defunct. Pallett is still a member of another Toronto band called Picastro. They have also recorded and toured with The Hidden Cameras and Arcade Fire. One of Owen's songs, "This Is the Dream of Win & Regine", was inspired by the principal members of the latter group, Win Butler and Régine Chassagne, and a Dntel song of a similar name ((This is) The Dream of Evan & Chan). Owen also co-wrote the orchestral arrangements for both of Arcade Fire's albums, along with Régine Chassagne.
Lewis Takes Off His Shirt
Owen Pallett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forgot about the odds against an adolescent standing up to all of Owen's wrath.
The heat of prairie summer is impossible to take.
I grab the hem and lift the fabric over my sweet head.
I know what you're looking for and I'm never gonna give it to you.
I'm never gonna give it to you.
I'm never gonna give it to you.
A hegemony armored with a thousand-watt head and seven inches of echo.
I keep up my velocity my spurs are in her sides.
I don't know what I'm doing and it is the only way.
Toward the range I'll ride, singing, I'm never gonna give it to you.
I'm never gonna give it to you.
I'm never gonna give it to you.
"I am overrated" said the sculptress to the sea.
"I've been praised for all the ways the marble leaves the man,
And I was wrong to try and free him"
And as for me I am a vector I am muscle I am bone.
The sun upon my shoulders and the horse between my legs,
This is all I know.
My senses are bedazzled by the parallax of the road.
I concentrate to keep contained the overflow.
My knuckles grip so tightly my fingers start to bleed.
If what I have is what you need,
I'm never gonna give it to you.
I'm never gonna give it to you.
I'm never gonna give it to you.
The lyrics of Owen Pallett's song, Lewis Takes Off His Shirt, are cryptic and open to interpretation. The song tells a story of someone named Lewis, who seems to be on a horse ride through the prairie. The opening lyrics reveal that Lewis is trying to escape something, maybe even Owen's wrath. However, being on the horse makes Lewis forget his worries and he takes his shirt off in the heat of the prairie summer. The lyrics "I know what you're looking for and I'm never gonna give it to you" could be interpreted as Lewis refusing to give in to societal expectations or pressures.
The song then shifts to a reference of government rule established by a dazzling light show, most likely symbolic of propaganda. Lewis, however, continues his ride, unaware of what he's doing, but aware that this is the only way. The lyrics continue to convey a sense of rebellion and defiance with the repetition of "I'm never gonna give it to you."
The last verse brings up the sculptress and her realization that she was wrong to try and free the man from the marble. It seems to be a reflection of the artist's (Pallett) own struggle with achieving expectations and how sometimes the pursuit of creating art may not necessarily lead to freedom. The song ends with Lewis experiencing sensory overload while trying to keep himself contained. Overall, the lyrics are deliberately vague and open to many interpretations, but they seem to convey a sense of rebellion, nonconformity, and the struggles of an artist.
Line by Line Meaning
As soon as I got on the horse I forgot about the math.
When I got on the horse, I stopped thinking about logic and reason altogether.
Forgot about the odds against an adolescent standing up to all of Owen's wrath.
I didn't consider the chances of me, a young person, successfully facing Owen's anger.
The heat of prairie summer is impossible to take.
The extreme heat of the prairie summer is unbearable.
I grab the hem and lift the fabric over my sweet head.
I pull up my shirt and expose my head to the hot sun.
I know what you're looking for and I'm never gonna give it to you.
I understand what you want from me, but I refuse to give it to you.
Government rule established by a dazzling light show.
The government's authority is based more on spectacle and show than true substance.
A hegemony armored with a thousand-watt head and seven inches of echo.
Those in power have a strong, intimidating presence that echoes throughout society.
I keep up my velocity my spurs are in her sides.
I maintain my speed while prodding my horse with my spurs.
I don't know what I'm doing and it is the only way.
Despite my uncertainty, I continue forward because it's the only option I have.
Toward the range I'll ride, singing, I'm never gonna give it to you.
I'll continue riding towards my destination while reaffirming my refusal to give you what you want.
"I am overrated" said the sculptress to the sea.
The sculptress admits that she's received too much praise for her work in front of the ocean.
"I've been praised for all the ways the marble leaves the man, And I was wrong to try and free him"
She realizes she should not have attempted to liberate the man from the marble because the praise she received was not warranted.
And as for me I am a vector I am muscle I am bone.
I am simply a physical being made up of various parts.
The sun upon my shoulders and the horse between my legs, This is all I know.
All I know is the feeling of the sun on my skin and the sensation of riding a horse between my legs.
My senses are bedazzled by the parallax of the road.
The varying perspectives along the road are overwhelming my senses.
I concentrate to keep contained the overflow.
I focus to control my intense emotions.
My knuckles grip so tightly my fingers start to bleed.
I'm clenching my fists so tightly that they're starting to bleed.
If what I have is what you need, I'm never gonna give it to you.
If what you're asking for is what I possess, I will still refuse to give it to you.
Contributed by Makayla A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@revesnoir8498
As soon as I got on the horse I forgot about the math
Forgot about the odds against an adolescent standing up to all of Owen's wrath
The heat of prairie summer is impossible to take
I grab the hem and lift the fabric over my sweet head
I know what you're looking for and I'm never gonna give it to you
I'm never gonna give it to you
I'm never gonna give it to you
Government rule established by a dazzling light show
A hegemony armored with a thousand-watt head and seven inches of echo
I keep up my velocity my spurs are in her sides
I don't know what I'm doing and it is the only way
Toward the range I'll ride, singing, I'm never gonna give it to you
I'm never gonna give it to you
I'm never gonna give it to you
"I am overrated" said the sculptress to the sea
"I've been praised for all the ways the marble leaves the man
And I was wrong to try and free him"
And as for me I am a vector I am muscle I am bone
The sun upon my shoulders and the horse between my legs
This is all I know
My senses are bedazzled by the parallax of the road
I concentrate to keep contained the overflow
My knuckles grip so tightly my fingers start to bleed
If what I have is what you need
I'm never gonna give it to you
I'm never gonna give it to you
I'm never gonna give it to you
@jefflinden4043
This is one of those wonderful songs you play for friends, who at first look at you and are like “What the……?” Later, after several listens, they realize just how brilliant it is.
@MrJacobrabbit
Exactly
@Original_Flanno
One of my alltime favorite songs! I always seem to come back to it
@starfruitiger
same
@corean3polar
Same
@alienbehinddoor
I love that it's so fast and rough, but glittery from time to time. The sorcery stuff, chopped up with stars and stacks of pastel soap and process and friends. That thing is so alive. The guy who made it must have had so much fun shooting it with his friends, in that apartment on a winter weekend (I imagine). It's beautiful.
@headphonegirl11
Every time I watch this video I notice something new.
@starfruitiger
me too
@lukaszahradnicek7518
This is phenomenal song and video clip! Actually this is more than only song and video clip or even kind of art... This is something what he is never gonna give it to you!!
@samuelbantien1943
The video reminds me of a university drama project