He was the founder, owner, and recording engineer of National Freedom, a recording studio located in Oregon, and has worked as producer for such acts as The Shins, Damien Jurado, David Bazan, Foxygen, Jessie Baylin, Nathaniel Rateliff, The Mynabirds, Wake Owl, Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, Gardens & Villa, Cayucas, and Guster. Swift is a former member of indie rock band The Shins and The Arcs. In April 2014, Richard announced via Twitter that he had joined The Black Keys as their touring bassist and backing singer.
In his youth, Swift moved frequently with his family, spending time in rural locations in Northern Minnesota and Southeastern Utah. He started performing and singing in a variety of churches around the age of fourteen. As a teenager, he was known to make movies on the family's handheld video camera, and soon started experimenting with a four-track cassette recorder. He began writing and recording original material at home.
In 2001, Swift moved to Southern California to pursue his solo recording career. He recorded Walking Without Effort but, unsure as to how it should be released, shelved it. In 2002–03 Swift recorded The Novelist, selling home-made copies at shows in and around Los Angeles. Later in the year he went on to release a small pressing of "properly manufactured" versions via Velvet Blue Music. As well as the first four Richard Swift 7"s.
In 2004, Swift combined The Novelist and Walking Without Effort to create the double-disc The Richard Swift Collection Vol. 1. He signed to indie label Secretly Canadian, who then re-released the Collection in 2005. After touring in the US and Europe and releasing half a dozen 45s/EPs, UK major label Polydor signed Swift, and yet again the double disc was re-released in hopes of introducing Swift to the UK.
In 2007, Polydor/Secretly Canadian issued his proper follow-up "Dressed Up For the Letdown". Fans and critics praised the record as Swift's greatest work to date. Later in the year Swift met Wilco-frontman Jeff Tweedy during a taping of the BBC program "Later...with Jools Holland". Tweedy asked Swift to support Wilco on their Sky Blue Sky US tour. During the tour Tweedy invited Swift to record at their Loft in Chicago, IL. In October 2007, Swift started his fourth LP at the Wilco Loft. The year ended with Richard canceling a string of November shows with friends Cold War Kids due to a wrist injury.
In late February 2008 the Secretly Canadian website announced the future release of a double EP named "Richard Swift As Onasis", which was released in April of that year. In August 2008, Swift released an EP entitled "Ground Trouble Jaw" as a digital download. In April 2009, Secretly Canadian released "The Atlantic Ocean" which saw the return of Swift's pop-centric song writing.[5] The album featured special guests such as Pat Sansone (Wilco), Casey Foubert (Sufjan Stevens, Crystal Skulls, Pedro the Lion), Sean Lennon, producer Mark Ronson, and singer/songwriter Ryan Adams.
In 2014 and 2015, Swift toured and performed with The Black Keys as their bassist. Swift's music has been featured in various movies (Drinking Buddies) and television (Tim & Eric's Bedtime Stories) (Eastbound & Down). Richard also had a small role as "Richard" in Rick Alverson's 2012 film "The Comedy", starring Tim Heidecker, Eric Wareheim, and Gregg Turkington.
In 2009, Swift began spending more time working with other artists as producer. May 2010 saw the release of fellow Secretly Canadian recording artist Damien Jurado's record "Saint Bartlett". In 2010, Swift also produced The Mynabirds' "What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood" and co-produced Laetitia Sadier's album "The Trip". Swift is known to often provide hefty contributions as a multi-instrumentalist to the albums he produces. In a 2007 interview, Swift commented on his techniques as a producer and engineer, stating "Most of my recording techniques come from looking at photos on the inside of Sly & The Family Stone or Beatles LPs, or from watching 'Sympathy for the Devil' and thinking, 'Oh! That's where they put the mic!'."
In addition to the music recorded under his own moniker and producing work, he was also briefly a keyboardist in the band Starflyer 59 in 2003, playing live shows and contributing to their 2003 album "Old". He also currently fronts his own ambient-electronic-outfit-side-project, Instruments of Science and Technology. He produced the breakthrough self-titled album for Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats.
On June 19, 2018, Pitchfork reported that Swift was in the hospital recovering from an undisclosed "life-threatening condition" and that a GoFundMe had been set up to help cover his medical expenses.[8] He was pronounced dead at the age of 41 on July 3, 2018.
Discography
Albums
Library Catalog Music Series: Music for Paradise Armor - Released under the name Instruments of Science & Technology (2010)
The Atlantic Ocean (2009)
Richard Swift As Onasis - US (2008)
Music From the Films of R/Swift - Released under the name Instruments of Science & Technology - US (2008)
Dressed Up for the Letdown - US & UK (2007)
The Novelist - US (2005)
Walking Without Effort - US (2005)
EPs and singles
Ground Trouble Jaw - Limited Vinyl Pressing (2015)
Kensington (2014)
Walt Wolfman (2011)
3" CD EP as a part of the Laminar Excursion Monthly (2010)
Lady Luck (2009)
Ground Trouble Jaw (2008)
The Songs of National Freedom (2007)
Kisses for the Misses (2007)
Beautifulheart (2006)
Nothing to Do with Foxy Boxing (2005)
P.S. It All Falls Down (2005)
You're Lying (2004)
Buildings in America (2004)
The Novelist (2003)
Box sets
The Richard Swift Collection, Volume 1: The Novelist / Walking Without Effort - US (2005), UK (2006)
Nancy
Richard Swift Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To lose your sister far too young
We’re swept away by the never ending ocean waves Her eyes are always grey
You know
She’s never coming back You know
She’s never coming back
A broken floor
Never spilled so many tears before Living on your hill
You know
She’s never coming back You know
She’s never coming back
The lyrics to Richard Swift's song "Nancy" are a poignant and moving tribute to a loved one who has passed away. The opening lines of the song, "You are so strong/To lose your sister far too young," acknowledge the immense strength and resilience required to cope with the loss of a family member. The image of being "swept away by the never-ending ocean waves" conjures up a sense of overwhelming grief, and the repeated refrain that "she's never coming back" is a painful reminder of the finality of death.
The lyrics use vivid imagery and sensory details to paint a picture of the singer's emotional state. The "broken floor" that has "never spilled so many tears before" is a powerful metaphor for the weight of grief, while the line "Living on your hill/Yet you miss the girl against your will" suggests the ongoing struggle to accept the reality of the loss. The final line, "She lay there oh so still," captures the stillness and finality of death.
Overall, the lyrics to "Nancy" are a moving tribute to a loved one who has passed away, and a powerful meditation on the grief and loss that come with such an experience.
Line by Line Meaning
You are so strong
Despite facing the tragedy of losing your sister at a young age, you have shown remarkable strength.
To lose your sister far too young
It is heartbreaking to have experienced the loss of your sister at such an early age.
We’re swept away by the never ending ocean waves
Life can sometimes feel like being caught in an endless ocean wave, carrying us away from those we love.
Her eyes are always grey
The sadness and grief of losing your sister is always present, reflected in the constant grey of your eyes.
You know
She’s never coming back
You have accepted the painful truth that your sister will never return.
A broken floor
Never spilled so many tears before
The weight of your sorrow has broken even the floor beneath your feet, leaving you with an overwhelming sense of sadness.
Living on your hill
Yet you miss the girl against your will
Despite the comfort of your surroundings, you cannot help but miss your sister dearly.
She lay there oh so still
You know
She’s never coming back
You know
She’s never coming back
The image of your sister lying still and lifeless is forever burned into your memory, a haunting reminder that she is gone forever.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Richard Swift
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind