The style and sound of the band is a unique, somewhat bizarre mix between Anastasio's jam band style, the bass-oriented funk metal music of Claypool, and the reggae-influenced beats of Copeland. To many, this is considered to be the bridge between the music of Phish and Primus. After the release of the band's only album, The Grand Pecking Order in 2001, the band's members returned to work of material with their main bands.
On February 10, 2006, it was announced that Oysterhead would be reuniting for one more set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival.
Little Faces
Oysterhead Lyrics
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When my toes are cold
They spread their little trinkets on the ground
In the hall
By the closet door
They creep into my bed without a sound
On a cube
In a plastic egg
See them march
Toward me in a line
And dance across the floor in single file
Little faces keep no track of time
Little faces speaking out in rhyme
Little faces smiling in my mind
Tiny doors
For walking through
While sticky fingers clutch forbidden things
And the phone
For talking through
They often pull the cable when it rings
Sinking ships
On a foamy sea
That roll and tumble slowly from
the motion of their filthy
Little hands
Their little hands
Little faces keep no track of time
Little faces speaking out in rhyme
Little faces smiling in my mind
In the dark
When their eyes are wide
They listen to the secrets that I tell
In a ball
On their tiny beds
Or beneath them where the shadow people dwell
And the moon
Beams that split the night
Leave bars of yellow pasted on their faces
As they drift into a dream
In a dream
Little faces keep no track of time
Little faces speaking out in rhyme
Little faces smiling in my mind
The Oysterhead's song "Little Faces" appears to be about childhood and the various toys and objects that we interact with as kids. The song's opening stanza is quite evocative, speaking of toes being cold in the morning while little trinkets are spread around. This could be a reference to a child's habit of collecting little things and stowing them away, only to bring them out at random moments. Children, especially younger ones, often take pleasure in the sensory experiences that objects can provide.
The song's protagonist, possibly referring to band member Trey Anastasio's own childhood, speaks of the various toys and objects that he interacts with throughout the day. The plastic cubes and fabric figures are a normal part of any child's playthings, but the song imbues them with a sense of animacy and energy. The little faces referenced in the song title could be any number of things - dolls, stuffed animals, or even action figures. These objects are not static but seem to have a life of their own in the singer's mind. The chorus speaks of how these little faces keep no track of time, implying that childhood is a time when time has little meaning, and life is all about play and imagination.
The song's final verses maintain the theme of childhood, focusing on the little faces listening to secrets and staring up at the moonbeams. Childhood is a magical time, and it can seem like anything is possible. The shadow people that the song speaks of are likely to be typical childhood fears, things that we imagine as kids and then forget about as we get older. Overall, "Little Faces" captures the spirit of childhood in a simple and evocative way, reminding listeners of the joy and wonder that we all experienced when we were young.
Line by Line Meaning
In the dawn
At the break of day
When my toes are cold
When my feet are freezing
They spread their little trinkets on the ground
Tiny toys scattered everywhere
In the hall
In the corridor
By the closet door
Next to the cupboard
They creep into my bed without a sound
Silently climbing into my bed
On a cube
On a small box
In a plastic egg
Inside a toy container
A hundred fabric figures in a pile
Many small cloth dolls in a heap
See them march
Watch them walk
Toward me in a line
Approaching me in single file
And dance across the floor in single file
And move in unison across the room
Little faces keep no track of time
Childish expressions don't keep time
Little faces speaking out in rhyme
Childlike faces talk in verse
Little faces smiling in my mind
Little expressions that keep me happy
Tiny doors
Small entrances
For walking through
To go through
While sticky fingers clutch forbidden things
While little hands hold onto off-limits stuff
And the phone
Telephone
For talking through
To converse with
They often pull the cable when it rings
They frequently yank the cord when it rings
Sinking ships
Ships that are sinking
On a foamy sea
On top of the frothy water
That roll and tumble slowly from the motion of their filthy
Moving slowly from dirty hands
Little hands
Small hands
In the dark
In the cover of darkness
When their eyes are wide
When their pupils are dilated
They listen to the secrets that I tell
They hear the whispers I share
In a ball
Curled up
On their tiny beds
On their small beds
Or beneath them where the shadow people dwell
Or below them where imaginary creatures exist
And the moon
The moon
Beams that split the night
Moon rays dividing the darkness
Leave bars of yellow pasted on their faces
Yellow spots shining on their faces
As they drift into a dream
As they fall asleep
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: LES CLAYPOOL, STEWART COPELAND, ERNEST ANASTASIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind