Pygmy Lush (sometimes spelled as one word) is a band from Sterling, Virgini… Read Full Bio ↴Pygmy Lush (sometimes spelled as one word) is a band from Sterling, Virginia. The band was formed by ex-Pg. 99 members Mike and Chris Taylor and Johnny Ward. Other members include Mike Widman and David Krepinevich, and previous associated acts include City of Caterpillar, Majority Rule and Malady.

In 2007, they released an album of previously and newly recorded material on Robotic Empire entitled Bitter River. The songs alternate between two general styles, hardcore punk and acoustic folk, described by one reviewer as "ramshackle trashy punk rave-ups between beer-soaked bouts of twisted folk."

In June 2008, they released their second album, Mount Hope, which was recorded by Kurt Ballou of Godcity Studio and released on Lovitt Records. This album consisted entirely of quieter, folk style songs. Various reviewers described the album as a "metamorphosis" and that the band "has grown up and into a new sound, leaving hardcore behind" to describe the stylistic evolution of the band.

Their 2009 split LP with Turboslut is available on LP from Exotic Fever Records of Washington, DC.

Tumor
Pygmy Lush Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

you never listen when i'm talking.
you're always waiting to hear yourself.
well, how am i doing? "how do you feel?" to be honest with you, simply ill.
simply ill.
simply ill.
simply ill.
simply ill.
i had a tumor.

it never healed.
it just stayed there.
until it killed.
until it killed.
until it killed.

until it killed.
until it killed.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pygmy Lush's song "Tumor" tell the story of a person who is struggling to communicate with someone close to them. This person is never really listened to and is always interrupted by the other person who is only interested in hearing their own voice. The singer then asks the question "how am I doing?" and "how do you feel?" but the other person does not seem to care, and the singer admits to feeling "simply ill". This phrase is repeated several times, emphasizing the powerful feeling of sadness and resignation that the singer is experiencing.

The lyrics then take a darker turn, as the singer introduces the image of having had a tumor that never healed. This tumor is used as a metaphor for the problem that the singer is experiencing in their relationship with the other person: something that is growing, unnoticed and unchecked, leading to a fatal outcome. The repetition of the phrase "until it killed" emphasizes the idea that this relationship was ultimately destructive and led to the singer's downfall.

One possible interpretation of these lyrics is that they are addressing a feeling of neglect or abandonment. The singer is struggling to communicate their emotions to the other person, and feels as though their needs are not being heard or seen. The tumor metaphor could be seen as a way of expressing the deep sense of pain that this neglect has caused. This could be a deeply personal song for the band, as it reflects their own struggles with their mental health and addiction.

Line by Line Meaning

you never listen when i'm talking.
Your lack of attention and focus is a constant barrier to effective communication between us.

you're always waiting to hear yourself.
Your preoccupation with your own voice and perspective prevents you from fully participating in our conversations.

well, how am i doing? "how do you feel?" to be honest with you, simply ill.
In response to your inquiry about my state of being, I must admit that I am simply not well and have been feeling quite ill.

simply ill.
My illness is not a complex matter, but rather a straightforward and troubling reality.

simply ill.
There is no need to overcomplicate or minimize the severity of my illness; its impact on me is quite clear.

simply ill.
Despite my best efforts to maintain my health, my illness remains an undeniable and persistent concern.

simply ill.
There is no getting around the fact that I am not well and may continue to struggle in the days to come.

simply ill.
My illness is not a mystery or something to be trivialized, but rather a serious and potentially life-altering condition.

i had a tumor.
At one point in my life, I was diagnosed with a growth or abnormality on my body that demanded attention and care.

it never healed.
Despite interventions and treatments, the tumor did not disappear or resolve, but rather remained a presence in my life.

it just stayed there.
The tumor's physical and emotional impact was not something that could be easily shaken or forgotten; it was a constant and unwelcome reminder.

until it killed.
Ultimately, the tumor's presence and effects proved fatal, bringing an end to my life and ensuring its ongoing legacy.

until it killed.
Despite my best efforts to manage and cope with the tumor's impact, its damage was too great and ultimately led to my demise.

until it killed.
The tumor's insidious nature and relentless progression made it a formidable adversary, and one that ultimately proved to be my undoing.

until it killed.
Even as I struggled to come to terms with the tumor's implications, its power and reach remained unabated, leading to the end of my journey on this earth.

until it killed.
The tumor's final victory marked an end to my mortal existence and ensured its ongoing impact on those left behind.

Contributed by Isabelle V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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