Phosphorescent is the solo project of American musician and songwriter Matthew H… Read Full Bio ↴Phosphorescent is the solo project of American musician and songwriter Matthew Houck (born 1980 in Alabama). Houck began recording and performing under this nom de plume in 2001 in Athens, Georgia, USA. He is currently based in Brooklyn, New York.

Before recording under the name Phosphorescent, Houck traveled the world playing under the moniker Fillup Shack and, in 2000, self-released a limited pressing of the album "Hipolit". In 2001 Houck changed his recording name to Phosphorescent, and, in 2003, released the full-length album "A Hundred Times or More". Interestingly, in the liner notes of the album, Fillup Shack is credited with the drum recordings. The following year, he released the EP "The Weight of Flight".

Phosphorescent rose to wider critical acclaim after releasing "Aw Come Aw Wry" in August 2005 and "Pride" in October 2007. The latter was named the 12th best album of 2007 by Stylus Magazine and received a 8.0 rating from indie website Pitchfork Media. In 2009, inspired by Willie Nelson's tribute album to Lefty Frizzell entitled "To Lefty From Willie", Houck crafted a tribute album to Nelson himself entitled "To Willie" which was released through Dead Oceans. Phosphorescent released "Here's to Taking It Easy" in 2010 and "Muchacho" in 2013.

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A Charm / A Blade
Phosphorescent Lyrics

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Give me ten long limbs, I'll hold
Lazy rolling things of gold
Dress me down in a New York crowd
Lay me down an bawl me out

Tell me everything's been sold
Tell me everything. I'll go
Pressed apart those skins still hold

This can't be what you want
This can't be what you want

There's a charm, there's a blade
There's a lot in the way
There's a child, there's a grave
There's a lot in the way
There's a colt, there's a cane
There's a lot in the way
There's a heart, there's a chain
There's a lot in the way

Cut my heart but do it fast
We don't want that hurt to last
Take that violence from your brow
Shake it down and hold it out

Tell me anything's my home
Tell me anything. I'll go
Pressed apart those skins still hold
This can't be what you want
It can't be what you want

There's a charm, there's a blade
There's a lot in the way
There's a heart, there's a grave
There's a lot in the way
There's a colt, there's a cane
There's a lot in the way
There's a child, there's a chain
There's a lot in the way

There's a mark, there's a stain
There's a lot in the way
There's a phone, there's a flame
There's a lot in the way
There's a fawn, there's a fang
There's a child in the rain

There's a charm, there's a blade
There's a lot in the way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Phosphorescent's "A Charm / A Blade" are full of imagery that is both beautiful and unsettling. The first verse describes someone with "ten long limbs" holding "lazy rolling things of gold," which could be interpreted as material possessions or perhaps even drugs. They are in a New York crowd, feeling out of place and vulnerable. The second verse talks about everything being sold, perhaps a commentary on the emptiness of consumerism. The lines "Pressed apart those skins still hold/This can't be what you want" suggest a struggle with identity and a sense of self.

The chorus is a repetition of the phrase "there's a lot in the way," which could mean anything from physical obstacles to emotional barriers. The objects listed (charm, blade, child, grave, colt, cane, heart, chain) are all significant in their own right but their purpose in this song is open to interpretation. The second half of the chorus introduces more objects, including a mark, a stain, a phone, and a flame. It creates a sense of chaos and confusion, reinforcing the idea that there is a lot standing between the singer and their desires.

The final verse talks about cutting the heart but doing it quickly, hoping to avoid prolonged pain. The line "Tell me anything's my home" could be a desperate plea for stability or a recognition that home is wherever one chooses to find it. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, leaving the meaning of the objects and imagery up to the listener's interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

Give me ten long limbs, I'll hold
If you give me the tools, I'll do my work

Lazy rolling things of gold
The precious things in life come easily

Dress me down in a New York crowd
I am not afraid to be myself even in a crowd

Lay me down an bawl me out
I am vulnerable and open to criticism

Tell me everything's been sold
The world has lost its value and meaning

Tell me everything. I'll go
I am searching for answers and will leave if necessary

Pressed apart those skins still hold
Underneath it all, the truth remains

This can't be what you want
This is not the goal or desire

There's a charm, there's a blade
In life there is beauty and danger

There's a lot in the way
There are obstacles to overcome

There's a child, there's a grave
Life is both new and fleeting