In their career from 1996 to 1998, they released three full-lengths and three EPs (two of which were splits, one with Puller and one with Frodus). All of their releases were on Tooth and Nail Records. In 2002 they reformed, but disbanded a year after. In 2022 they reformed.
More precisely, Roadside Monument played the Slint-inspired "Louisville sound" math-rock sub-genre, stylistically similar to Slint, Rodan, and June of 44.
Sunken Anchor
Roadside Monument Lyrics
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ten ton iron ore [blood] maybe more
sail away to sink
it should have been me going down with the ship
the romantic way to die
put it back and chain me to the sunken anchor
The lyrics in "Sunken Anchor" by Roadside Monument are full of metaphorical meaning and paint a picture of a sinking ship and tragic decisions. The singer describes an iron anchor that was found in the sound, weighted down by ten tons of bloody iron ore. The imagery of the anchor symbolizes something that is holding the singer back, dragging them down into a pit of despair.
The next line, "sail away to sink," suggests that the singer wishes they had gone down with the ship instead of living with the guilt of surviving. The idea of sinking with the ship is seen as romantic or noble, as if it would have been a better fate than the one they are currently experiencing.
The last line, "put it back and chain me to the sunken anchor," is the most powerful metaphor in the song. The singer seems to be saying that they would rather be bound to the thing that drags them down than to be free from it. It's a poignant reminder that we often hold onto the things that hurt us, even when we know it's not good for us.
Line by Line Meaning
this anchor was found in the sound
The anchor was discovered underwater
ten ton iron ore [blood] maybe more
The anchor likely weighs a significant amount, potentially containing rusted iron or demonstrating the casualties of a previous shipwreck
sail away to sink
Leaving port and facing potential disaster at sea
it should have been me going down with the ship
Suffering the same fate as one's vessel, rather than living through the aftermath of a shipwreck
the romantic way to die
Glamorizing death at sea, as if it were a noble and romanticized form of demise
put it back and chain me to the sunken anchor
Rather than tempt fate and set sail, preferring instead to return the anchor to its watery grave and take up a connection to that fate by binding oneself to it
Contributed by Alexandra G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.