In 2001, Preston School of Industry released All This Sounds Gas, which was recorded mainly in Stockton, California. The album is said to be comprised of the songs that were rejected by Pavement on their final album, Terror Twilight. The band released its second album, Monsoon, in 2004, with studio contributions from members of The Minus 5 and Wilco.
Preston School of Industry went inactive after their September 2004 Australian tour, though Kannberg revealed in late 2006 he had been slowly working on a record: "Don't know when it's going to be released. Just taking my time, nothing special. I've got the songs, I just haven't figured out how I want to do it yet. This winter, I'll probably get it done."
tone it down
Preston School of Industry Lyrics
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Crush now what you once thought was mine
The price I got was clearly overbidding
The price I got was oh so out of line
That's the right thing for you
where you sit determines what you eat dear
What you eat determines who you are
In this duck that was also out of view
That's the right thing for you
now's the time to tone it down
Now's the time to tone it down
Now's the time to tone it down
Now's the time to tone it down
well alright now
It's alright now…
The lyrics to Preston School of Industry's "Tone it Down" may seem quite enigmatic at first, but upon closer inspection, the themes of power, control, and manipulation become clearer. The song seems to be written from the perspective of someone who has had something taken from them through dishonest means - "Crush now what you once thought was mine/The price I got was clearly overbidding" - and who is now urging the other person to "tone it down."
The lines "where you sit determines what you eat dear/What you eat determines who you are" seem to allude to the idea that power and status are closely linked, and that those who hold power have the ability to control not only material resources but also the identities of those around them. The "duck that was only slyly hidden" and "also out of view" could be interpreted as a metaphor for power and control, which are often disguised or hidden from view.
The repeated refrain of "now's the time to tone it down" seems to suggest a desire for the balance of power to be restored, for those in positions of power to exercise restraint and for those without power to be able to claim what is rightfully theirs. The final lines - "well alright now/It's alright now" - could be seen as a glimmer of hope, that perhaps the balance of power can be restored and justice can be served.
Line by Line Meaning
Go don't feel roll it over
Don't give in easily, don't be vulnerable
Crush now what you once thought was mine
Destroy what you thought belonged to me
The price I got was clearly overbidding
I paid too much for what I got
The price I got was oh so out of line
The cost was unreasonable
That's the right thing for you
That suits your agenda
where you sit determines what you eat dear
Your position influences your access to resources
What you eat determines who you are
Your choices define you
In this duck that was only slyly hidden
There's an issue hidden in plain sight
In this duck that was also out of view
A problem that's hard to see
That's the right thing for you
That benefits you
now's the time to tone it down
It's time to calm down
Now's the time to tone it down
It's time to be less aggressive
Now's the time to tone it down
It's time to be more reasonable
Now's the time to tone it down
It's time to settle down
well alright now
Everything's okay now
It's alright now…
Everything's good now
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SCOTT KANNBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind