The bands’ debut release is described as The Fall meets Neil Young- which all makes sense on the band’s debut release, “American Specialties”. The quartet wanders through the American and British underground, picking away their favorite parts with confidence. The lyrics, when intelligible, are bizarre and dramatic. “She looked at me like a fry pan reducing,” moans Savage, from the same lustful subconscious built by the darker moments of psychedelia. Then at times, such as on the 70’s folkish “Square States”, thoughts are more sentimental and transparent. The setting for “American Specialties” ranges from a crusty Brooklyn bodega, to an endless Texas desert. If these sorts of soundscapes appeal to your mind, then you're sure to stumble upon Parquet Courts sooner or later.
Human Performance
Parquet Courts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
First saw you the way I see you now, through these eyes, waiting to retry
Those pristine days I recall so fondly
So few are trials when a life isn't lonely, and now if only
I'd never felt it, I'd never heard it
I know I loved you, did I even deserve it, when you returned it?
There's no suspicion, no hesitation
Believing through the eyes of sore, adoration
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
Ashtray is crowded, bottle is empty
No music plays and nothing moves without drifting, into a memory
Busy apartment, no room for grieving
Sink full of dishes and no trouble believing, that you are leaving
Mid-sentence tremors, mind at its weakest
One way of shaking off the thoughts that it sleeps with
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
In walks the darkness, I pitch without you
Asks me do I realize what I'd done and who I'd done to, indeed I do know?
It never leaves me, just visits less often
It isn't gone and I won't feel its grip soften, without a coffin
Breathing beside me, feeling its warmness
Phantom affection gives a human, performance
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
The lyrics to "Human Performance" by Parquet Courts delve into the pain and longing that comes with lost love and the aftermath of a failed relationship. The opening lines reflect on the first encounter with the person being addressed, and how their current perception is tainted by the knowledge of what went wrong in the past. The singer reminisces about the seemingly perfect days when their life wasn't lonely, longing for those simpler times and wondering if they even deserved the love that was given to them.
The song continues with introspective questions and musings about the nature of love and trust. The singer expresses a desire to go back to a state of innocence, where they hadn't experienced the pain of lost love. They acknowledge that their adoration for this person is unclouded by suspicion, and they are willing to endure the fractures and hurt that come with it. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of finding solace in memories, as the emptiness of the present is contrasted with the crowded ashtray and sink filled with dishes, symbolizing the absence of the person they loved.
As the song progresses, the singer reflects on the aftermath of the breakup and the lingering presence of darkness and regret. The darkness serves as a constant reminder of what was lost, always lurking and rarely dissipating. They describe the phantom affection they feel, knowing that it's not real, but still giving them a semblance of a human experience.
Overall, "Human Performance" explores the complexities of love, loss, and the lingering impact of failed relationships. The lyrics capture the pain of separation, the longing for what once was, and the struggle to move on from the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I know exactly where I was when I
I have a clear memory of the moment when
First saw you the way I see you now, through these eyes, waiting to retry
I first encountered you and I still perceive you in the same way, eagerly waiting to give it another try
Those pristine days I recall so fondly
I have very pleasant memories of those perfect days
So few are trials when a life isn't lonely, and now if only
There are very few challenges or hardships when life is not filled with loneliness, and now I wish for that
I'd never felt it, I'd never heard it
I had never experienced it before, I had never heard about it
I know I loved you, did I even deserve it, when you returned it?
I'm aware that I loved you, but did I really deserve your love when you reciprocated?
There's no suspicion, no hesitation
There is complete trust, no doubt or reluctance
Believing through the eyes of sore, adoration
Having deep admiration and affection, believing wholeheartedly
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Observe and understand, experience pain and emotional damage
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Eyes reflective of intense emotions, blinking naturally and uncontrolled
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Protecting oneself like a house, shutting out external influences
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
Crouching in the darkness, remnants of your presence
Ashtray is crowded, bottle is empty
The ashtray is filled with cigarette butts, the bottle is drained of its contents
No music plays and nothing moves without drifting, into a memory
There is silence and stillness, everything fades into a distant memory
Busy apartment, no room for grieving
An occupied apartment, no space or time to mourn
Sink full of dishes and no trouble believing, that you are leaving
The sink is filled with dirty dishes, and it's not difficult to accept the fact that you are departing
Mid-sentence tremors, mind at its weakest
In the midst of speaking, tremors shake me, my mind vulnerable and feeble
One way of shaking off the thoughts that it sleeps with
One method to rid myself of the thoughts that I constantly dwell on
In walks the darkness, I pitch without you
The darkness enters, and I am thrown into chaos without your presence
Asks me do I realize what I'd done and who I'd done to, indeed I do know?
It asks me if I am aware of the actions I've taken and the impact they've had on someone, and indeed, I do know
It never leaves me, just visits less often
It never completely abandons me, but its visits become less frequent
It isn't gone and I won't feel its grip soften, without a coffin
It hasn't disappeared, and I won't experience its hold weakening until I am in a coffin
Breathing beside me, feeling its warmness
Existing by my side, sensing its warmth
Phantom affection gives a human, performance
This illusionary fondness presents itself as a convincing display of humanity
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Observe and understand, experience brokenness and pain
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Eyes fixated on the intense flames, blinking naturally and spontaneously
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Protecting oneself like a shelter, shutting off from the outside world
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
Huddled in the darkness, traces or memories of your presence
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: MAXWELL SAVAGE, AUSTIN BROWN, ANDREW SAVAGE, SEAN YEATON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Manu Vargas B
[Verse 1]
I know exactly, where I was when I
First saw you the way I see you now, through these eyes, waiting to retry
Those pristine days I, recall so fondly
So few are trials when a life isn't lonely, and now if only
I'd never felt it, I'd never heard it
I know I loved you did I even deserve it, when you returned it
There's no suspicion, no hesitation
Believing through the eyes of sore, adoration
[Chorus]
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
[Verse 2]
Ashtray is crowded, bottle is empty
No music plays and nothing moves with-out drifting, into a memory
Busy apartment, no room for grieving
Sink full of dishes and no trouble believing, that you are leaving
Mid-sentence tremors, mind at its weakest
One way of shaking off the thoughts that it sleeps with
[Chorus]
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
[Verse 3]
In walks the darkness, I pitch without you
Asks me do I realize what I'd done and who I'd done to, indeed I do know
It never leaves me, just visits less often
It isn't gone and I won't feel its grip soften, without a coffin
Breathing beside me, feeling its warmness
Phantom affection gives a human, performance
[Chorus]
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
thesandyohms
I know exactly where I was when I
First saw you the way I see you now, through these eyes, waiting to retry
Those pristine days I recall so fondly
So few are trials when a life isn't lonely, and now if only
I'd never felt it, I'd never heard it
I know I loved you, did I even deserve it, when you returned it?
There's no suspicion, no hesitation
Believing through the eyes of shore adoration
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shields like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
Ashtray is crowded, bottle is empty
No music plays and nothing moves without drifting, into a memory
Busy apartment, no room for grieving
Sink full of dishes and no trouble believing, that you are leaving
Ana UK
Absolutely love this video! The visual interpretation of the lyrics, the ever present dark humour, saturated colors, film grain... Still the best thing PC ever made to date!
Psyche
Human Performances is their best album
GreenJeepAdventures
Somewhere in the lyrics is a line that is 100% real for me. I return to this song every so often, for if I can keep it caged up here, perhaps, it won't live as much in me.
Tom Elliott
Has to be one of my all time favourite music videos. This deserves to have WAY more than 76,000 views
David Evans
This song - even just on a musical level- should not be incredibly sublime but it is. I cannot see how they welded that chorus to those verses and yet it works as though for all of time immemorial it was waiting to be born! Astoundingly good. I have yet to work out the lyrics and the art of the video (but of course see there is both humor and pathos involved). Cannot yet get past the tremendous melodies, rhythms and musicality here, only that indeed he does, recognize what he has done and to whom he has done it and that he seems to register some regret looking back.
Kenneth Guitar Fiend
Incredible band! How on earth have I missed them!
Matt MacNeil
i think this is the best written song of the 2010s
OneAfter 909
Honestly one of the best song's I've heard.
Aguacat
I love this song and video so much. If you do too, please recommend more music. ♡
Manu Vargas B
[Verse 1]
I know exactly, where I was when I
First saw you the way I see you now, through these eyes, waiting to retry
Those pristine days I, recall so fondly
So few are trials when a life isn't lonely, and now if only
I'd never felt it, I'd never heard it
I know I loved you did I even deserve it, when you returned it
There's no suspicion, no hesitation
Believing through the eyes of sore, adoration
[Chorus]
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
[Verse 2]
Ashtray is crowded, bottle is empty
No music plays and nothing moves with-out drifting, into a memory
Busy apartment, no room for grieving
Sink full of dishes and no trouble believing, that you are leaving
Mid-sentence tremors, mind at its weakest
One way of shaking off the thoughts that it sleeps with
[Chorus]
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours
[Verse 3]
In walks the darkness, I pitch without you
Asks me do I realize what I'd done and who I'd done to, indeed I do know
It never leaves me, just visits less often
It isn't gone and I won't feel its grip soften, without a coffin
Breathing beside me, feeling its warmness
Phantom affection gives a human, performance
[Chorus]
Witness and know, fracture and hurt
Eyes in the fire, blink unrehearsed
Shield like a house, closing its doors
Curved in the dark, rinses of yours