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.
Official site
Down To Go
Phosphorescent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How can’t you know, I mean by now?
We’re kids forever, ain’t we tho?
Ain’t we so high and wild?
You say, Oh, you’ll spin your heartache into gold
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know
But if I’m waking each morning babe
All vacant and thorny, hey I’m down to go
The kids of summer, don’t we glow?
Oh ain’t we bold, just winding out
Hey can this kill me? Hey, I don’t know
But I been sho' finding out
You say, Oh, you’ll spin this heartache into gold
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know
But if I’m waking each morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All vacant and thorny, no, it’s time to go
Leave the city. Can’t we go?
Can’t we tho? I mean, right now.
I know it’s a pity. Hey, but it’s getting cold
And it’s getting old, this whoring around
You say, Oh, you’ll spin this heartache into gold
And I suppose, I ain’t got much choice now do I tho?
See I can’t wake every morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All jaded and thorny, no, I’m down to go
The song "Down To Go" by Phosphorescent explores the life of kids who refuse to grow up and take advantage of their youth while they still can. The singer of the song expresses his desire to leave the city and find something new, something that will make him feel alive. He's tired of the routine and the endless cycle of partying and heartaches. The phrase "Leave another, how can you go? How can’t you know, I mean by now?", sets the tone of the song and it's the first sign that the singer is trying to abandon the life he has right now.
Phosphorescent also talks about the idea of turning heartache into gold, meaning that he tries to make something extraordinary out of his pain, but it's ripping him apart. It's clear that he's looking for a change in his life, something more meaningful and fulfilling. The chorus 'But if I’m waking each morning babe / All aching and ornery babe / All vacant and thorny, hey I’m down to go' perfectly illustrates his emotional state and his willingness to move on.
The song also touches on the idea that sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and leave the familiar behind to embrace the unknown. The last line of the song 'All jaded and thorny, no, I’m down to go' signifies that he's ready for a change, and he's not afraid of what the future holds. Overall, "Down To Go" is a song that encourages listeners to take chances and embrace change.
Line by Line Meaning
Leave another, how can you go?
How can you leave someone else and not know the pain you cause?
How can't you know, I mean by now?
You should be aware of the impact of your actions by now.
We’re kids forever, ain’t we tho?
We always feel young and free, don't we?
Ain’t we so high and wild?
We're so carefree and adventurous.
You say, Oh, you’ll spin your heartache into gold
You claim to be able to turn heartache into something beautiful and valuable.
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know
I understand, but it hurts me deeply to hear that.
But if I’m waking each morning babe
Every day, when I wake up...
All aching and ornery babe
Feeling physically uncomfortable and moody...
All vacant and thorny, hey I’m down to go
Feeling empty and prickly, I'm ready to leave.
The kids of summer, don’t we glow?
We have a youthful energy that radiates like the summer sun.
Oh ain’t we bold, just winding out
We're fearless, living life to the fullest.
Hey can this kill me? Hey, I don’t know
I'm open to new experiences, not sure what the consequences may be.
But I been sho' finding out
But I'm definitely learning along the way.
Leave the city. Can’t we go?
Let's get away, leave the city behind.
Can’t we tho? I mean, right now.
Is it possible? Can we do it immediately?
I know it’s a pity. Hey, but it’s getting cold
It's unfortunate, but the situation is becoming uncomfortable and unpleasant.
And it’s getting old, this whoring around
I'm tired of living recklessly without a clear purpose.
And I suppose, I ain’t got much choice now do I tho?
I guess I don't have many other options, do I?
See I can’t wake every morning babe
I can't keep waking up every day...
All aching and ornery babe
...feeling physically uncomfortable and moody.
All jaded and thorny, no, I’m down to go
Feeling cynical and irritable, I'm ready to leave.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW HOUCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Hallucino_Ray
Leave another, how can you go?
How can’t you know, I mean by now?
We’re kids forever, ain’t we tho?
Ain’t we so high and wild?
You say, Oh, you’ll spin your heartache into gold
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know
But if I’m waking each morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All vacant and thorny, hey I’m down to go
The kids of summer, don’t we glow?
Oh ain’t we bold, just winding out
Hey can this kill me? Hey, I don’t know
But I been sho' finding out
You say, Oh, you’ll spin this heartache into gold
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know
But if I’m waking each morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All vacant and thorny, no, it’s time to go
Leave the city. Can’t we go?
Can’t we tho? I mean, right now.
I know it’s a pity. Hey, but it’s getting cold
And it’s getting old, this whoring around
You say, Oh, you’ll spin this heartache into gold
And I suppose, I ain’t got much choice now do I tho?
See I can’t wake every morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All jaded and thorny, no, I’m down to go
Arnab Dasgupta
he is an awesome composer, a soulful singer and a magnificient writer. his words have pain and emotions attached to it. He is Phosphorescent
Panayota A.
one of the most beautiful sounds I've listened to lately.. original, simple and beautiful..
MultiKimmyKimKim
Love the tiny drops of humor hidden in his lyrics, like the line "hey can this kill me? I don't know, but I been sho findin' out." Love it, he is layered.
Dave Norman
life.. :D Tried that..
Hallucino_Ray
Leave another, how can you go?
How can’t you know, I mean by now?
We’re kids forever, ain’t we tho?
Ain’t we so high and wild?
You say, Oh, you’ll spin your heartache into gold
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know
But if I’m waking each morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All vacant and thorny, hey I’m down to go
The kids of summer, don’t we glow?
Oh ain’t we bold, just winding out
Hey can this kill me? Hey, I don’t know
But I been sho' finding out
You say, Oh, you’ll spin this heartache into gold
And I suppose but it rips my heart out don’t you know
But if I’m waking each morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All vacant and thorny, no, it’s time to go
Leave the city. Can’t we go?
Can’t we tho? I mean, right now.
I know it’s a pity. Hey, but it’s getting cold
And it’s getting old, this whoring around
You say, Oh, you’ll spin this heartache into gold
And I suppose, I ain’t got much choice now do I tho?
See I can’t wake every morning babe
All aching and ornery babe
All jaded and thorny, no, I’m down to go
polesaremelting
I love this song. The album had to grow on me, but it has. I bought it at the start of the summer, and it rained like crazy the first two months. And I did like some of it even though it was pretty heartbreaking but now the album has this hidden beauty and hope to it I didn't notice.
Priyam Gulati
This is kind of the tune you play when the air is gushing and you are infinite. This is beauty. Thanks phosphorescent
sanadele
je trouve ca magnifique!
ACM 1PT
This is poetry.
MidletonButerfingers
0nly 392 views?! That's criminal! This song is lovely.