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.

Wales
Restorations Lyrics

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Threw my keys into the desert
Kicked a hole in the side of the car
Ate a half cup of sand and fell asleep
Woke up clutching an origami list of things I thought I'd never need
Slowly crumbled it up
Slowly crumbled
They'll dig you up
They'll set you free

What speaks to me: How its all connected
Give me the screen

Give me the glowing coals
I love these protest songs but who can afford to go see them be sung?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Restorations' song Wales suggest a state of chaos and desperation. The lines "Threw my keys into the desert, kicked a hole in the side of the car, ate a half cup of sand and fell asleep" alludes to a heightened sense of frustration and fatigue. The image of eating sand implies that the singer has been stranded in the middle of nowhere for a long time, with no source of nourishment. The fact that the singer has thrown away their keys and damaged their car suggests a level of hopelessness and surrender.

The lines "Woke up clutching an origami list of things I thought I'd never need, slowly crumbled it up" demonstrate a sense of realization and newfound clarity. The singer has come to the realization that material things are not what's important, which is why the origami list is of things they thought they would never need. However, they then crumble it up, suggesting a rejection of that realization, or perhaps a sense of resignation that it doesn't matter anyway. The final lines "Give me the screen, give me the glowing coals, I love these protest songs but who can afford to go see them be sung?" suggests an awareness of the futility of activism and resistance in modern society.

Overall, the lyrics to Wales paint a picture of despair and disillusionment, yet with moments of clarity and realization. The singer seems to be struggling with their own sense of purpose and the meaning of it all in a world that seems to value material possessions over all else.

Line by Line Meaning

Threw my keys into the desert
I gave up everything and abandoned all means of transportation.

Kicked a hole in the side of the car
I succumbed to despair and vented my frustrations.

Ate a half cup of sand and fell asleep
I was so exhausted and demoralized that I lost my sense of judgement.

Woke up clutching an origami list of things I thought I'd never need
I realized that I have to prioritize what I have left and be resourceful with it.

Slowly crumbled it up
I let go of my preconceived notions of what I thought I wanted and needed.

Slowly crumbled
I learned to be flexible and adaptive in the face of adversity.

They'll dig you up
If you don't take control of your own life and make changes, someone else will do it for you.

They'll set you free
The only way to truly be free is to take ownership of your choices and actions.

What speaks to me: How its all connected
I have come to realize that everything in life is interconnected and that my actions have consequences.

Give me the screen
I seek distraction and escape from the harsh realities of life.

Give me the glowing coals
I yearn for the warmth and comfort of home and hearth.

I love these protest songs but who can afford to go see them be sung?
I appreciate the message behind protest songs, but practical considerations often prevent me from taking action.

Contributed by Alexis B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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