Philadelphia band Restorations have managed to both attract and defy labels… Read Full Bio ↴Philadelphia band Restorations have managed to both attract and defy labels since their humble origins in 2008. Formed by singer/guitarist Jon Loudon and guitarist Dave Klyman following the breakup of their post-hardcore band Jena Berlin, the two casually assembled a new band with little more ambition than having a reason to get together once a week and play. It took a couple of years to get going, but by 2010 Restorations had begun a string of releases that would garner them ardent critical praise for their marriage of post-rock, punk, Americana, folk-rock, and anthemic indie. Their self-titled 2011 debut album was preceded by a handful of singles and an EP. Clearly the floodgates had been opened and the rapid progression showed a versatile and constantly evolving band. Their efforts were aided by collaborator/producer Jonathan Low (the War on Drugs, the National), whose adventurous spirit helped bolster the new, more grandiose sounds of their second album, 2013's LP2. The band continued to gain fans and momentum and eventually landed a deal with established L.A. indie SideOneDummy Records. In October 2014 Restorations delivered their third album, the vast heartland rocker LP3.

The Future
Restorations Lyrics

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When I heard it climb out of your mouth
I knew it like my own name
Like my home address
Such sweet distraction
Silent, frozen glass river
Tiny helicopters flying low over my house
Cackling slow
I know its been wild for a while now

But the things they say on TV
That ain't me
I always liked you because you talk about the future
So, what do you do with your free time? What ghosts go through you? And me? I sit inside
I sit inside and freak out about money and time
I always liked you because you talk about the future
I always liked you
Never had a future before

History cuts clean
So, where you headed? So, where you going?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Restorations' "The Future" are deeply introspective, filled with musings on the passage of time and the anxiety that can come with it. The opening lines, "When I heard it climb out of your mouth, I knew it like my own name, like my home address," suggest a feeling of familiarity with the emotions being expressed. The sweet distraction of the singer's thoughts is interrupted by a glass river, silent and frozen, and tiny helicopters flying overhead. These details create a vivid atmosphere of stillness and detachment, further emphasizing the singer's sense of isolation.

The refrain, "I always liked you because you talk about the future," is repeated throughout the song, and seems to serve as a reminder of hope amidst the darker themes. The singer struggles with worries about money and time, feeling stuck and unable to move forward. The line "Never had a future before, history cuts clean" suggests a feeling of being untethered from one's past and uncertain about what's to come. The song ends with the question, "So where you headed? So where you going?" as if to turn the focus outward and encourage the listener to consider their own path.

Overall, "The Future" is a poignant exploration of time, memory, and uncertainty. The lyrics are poetic and introspective, offering a glimpse into the inner workings of the singer's mind as they grapple with the complexities of life.

Line by Line Meaning

When I heard it climb out of your mouth
As soon as I heard you say it, I knew what you meant.

I knew it like my own name
I was absolutely certain of it, just like I am of my own identity.

Like my home address
As familiar and understandable as my own house.

Such sweet distraction
A pleasant diversion from the harsh realities of life.

Silent, frozen glass river
A metaphor for the stillness and clarity of a person's thoughts.

Tiny helicopters flying low over my house
A surreal, almost disjointed image that represents the chaos and confusion of the world around us.

Cackling slow
An eerie, unsettling laugh that seems to hover in the air like a bad omen.

I know its been wild for a while now
I'm aware that things have been difficult and unpredictable for some time.

But the things they say on TV
The messages that are broadcast on television and other media outlets.

That ain't me
I don't identify with or subscribe to those messages.

I always liked you because you talk about the future
Your vision for what lies ahead has always interested me and given me hope.

So, what do you do with your free time? What ghosts go through you? And me? I sit inside
A series of philosophical questions about how people spend their time and what thoughts haunt them, followed by the artist's admission that they prefer to avoid such questions and stay inside their own head.

I sit inside and freak out about money and time
The singer is preoccupied with financial concerns and the passage of time, causing them anxiety and stress.

I always liked you because you talk about the future
Reiterating the earlier sentiment that the singer admires the person they're addressing for their positive outlook on what's to come.

I always liked you
Affirming the affection the singer feels for this person.

Never had a future before
The artist implies that they've never had hope for the future until meeting this person and hearing their vision for it.

History cuts clean
The past is immutable and has a definitive impact on the present and future.

So, where you headed? So, where you going?
Asking where this person's life is taking them and what direction they're headed in.

Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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