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
The Mermaid Parade
Phosphorescent Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I could be there by this evening
Said the girl on the airline line.
So I bought that ticket, and I got in that cab,
But I didn't make it babe
To the airport like that.
No I wound up walking
And there were naked women
Dancing in the Mermaid Parade.
And oh Amanda did you see me today
Watching those women dancing
In the Mermaid Parade?
And oh Amanda were you with me today
Watching those women waltz by
In the Mermaid Parade?
Now our hearts were on fire
Only two weeks ago,
And our bodies were like live wires
Down on the beach in Mexico.
I came back to this city,
And you stayed home in LA,
And our two years of marriage
In two short weeks somehow just slipped away.
I know all about your new man
Your new, older, old man
And I heard that he's married,
Oh, you be careful Amanda.
Yeah, I found a new friend too,
And yeah she's pretty and she's small,
But God damn it, Amanda,
Oh, God damn it all.
The Phosphorescent song, The Mermaid Parade, tells a story about a man who was supposed to take a flight to meet his lover but didn't make it to the airport. Instead, he ends up walking by the ocean and watching women dancing naked in the Mermaid Parade. He thinks about his lover Amanda and wonders if she was there with him watching the parade as well. The song then goes on to talk about how their passionate love affair in Mexico didn't seem to translate to their mundane everyday lives in different cities. The man knows that Amanda has moved on to an older, married man, and even though he has found a new friend, he is angry and frustrated. The song ends on that note of frustration and brokenness.
The Mermaid Parade is a symbol of freedom and self-expression, and it represents the ultimate escape from society's norms. The man in the song watches the parade as a way to escape his mundane and difficult everyday life. The parade's nudity and body positivity express freedom, self-love, and sexuality, all of which the man feels are missing from his life.
Phosphorescent's The Mermaid Parade is based on a true story of a man who missed his flight to meet his lover and ended up watching the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island.
The song's lyrics mention an Amanda in the story, and it is believed that Amanda is a reference to Matthew Houck's (the lead singer) ex-girlfriend.
The Mermaid Parade is an annual event held in Coney Island, New York, where people dress up in mermaid costumes and march through the streets.
The song has been used in various movies and TV shows, including Orange Is the New Black and The Good Doctor.
The Mermaid Parade was released as part of Phosphorescent's album Pride in 2007.
The song's lyrics explore themes of failed relationships, loneliness, and the search for meaning in life.
The Mermaid Parade is a song that takes you on a personal journey of self-discovery, love, and loss, challenging your perceptions of the world and the meaning of relationships.
The song's acoustic guitar is accompanied by drums, gentle harmonies, and some strings towards the end. The melody is somber and reflective, and the lyrics are emotionally charged.
The Mermaid Parade is a tribute to the people who choose to live their lives outside the norm and celebrate their uniqueness.
Chords: The chords for The Mermaid Parade are G, C, D, E minor. (Capo on 3rd fret- G, Bm, C, D).
Line by Line Meaning
In New York this morning; it was 8 am LA time,
I woke up early in New York while it was still early morning in LA and I could be there by the evening.
And I could be there by this evening
The girl on the airline line said that I could make it to LA by evening.
So I bought that ticket, and I got in that cab,
I bought a ticket and got into a cab in order to go to the airport.
But I didn't make it babe To the airport like that.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the airport like that.
No I wound up walking Out by the ocean today
Instead, I ended up walking by the ocean on that day.
And there were naked women Dancing in the Mermaid Parade.
There were women without clothes on who were dancing in the parade called the Mermaid Parade.
And oh Amanda did you see me today Watching those women dancing In the Mermaid Parade?
Hey Amanda, did you happen to see me watching those women dancing in the Mermaid Parade?
And oh Amanda were you with me today Watching those women waltz by In the Mermaid Parade?
Amanda, were you with me when I was watching those women walk by in the Mermaid Parade?
Now our hearts were on fire Only two weeks ago,
Just two weeks ago, our hearts were filled with passion.
And our bodies were like live wires Down on the beach in Mexico.
When we were on the beach in Mexico, our bodies were full of energy and excitement.
I came back to this city, And you stayed home in LA,
I returned to this city while you stayed back in LA.
And our two years of marriage In two short weeks somehow just slipped away.
Sadly, the two years of our marriage somehow escaped us in just two weeks.
I know all about your new man Your new, older, old man
I am aware of your new older lover.
And I heard that he's married, Oh, you be careful Amanda.
I heard that the new man you're seeing is already married; please be careful.
Yeah, I found a new friend too, And yeah she's pretty and she's small,
I also made a new friend who is petite and attractive.
But God damn it, Amanda, Oh, God damn it all.
But damn it, Amanda, I am frustrated with the situation.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW HOUCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AllRiseForDrEvil
Every once in a while an album comes along that just blows you away. And that's exactly what this album did. Fantastic stuff!
Caleb Todd
Will always come back for these songs. Thank you Phosphorescent!
Jackie Manoon
Just saw them at Independent, SF. They gave great show, great vocal, great music. Thanks for the beautiful music!
tdottim
Best album of the year! Amazing.
seaotteR79
This is so sad and so ecstatic at the same time. Brilliant.
Daniel Geiger
This is absolutely amazing
kgaugelo malebye
It has been over 7 years ago since heard the song for the 1st time,even today (03/11/2020) this song is still rocking me like then...Simon Kgaugelo Malebye.
Rachel Griffith
i cannot stop thinking about this song, i heard it on the radio, and have been singing it for weeks,
Keith Drummond
Simply perfect.
Busk A Groove
Joy & sorrow masterfully crafted...