Robert Pollard (born October 31, 1957) is a Dayton, Ohio singer-songwriter,… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Pollard (born October 31, 1957) is a Dayton, Ohio singer-songwriter, who is the leader and creative force behind indie rock group Guided by Voices. During his high school years, he was a successful basketball and baseball player. Pollard was a fourth grade schoolteacher until 1994, when Guided by Voices first broke into the national consciousness with the release of the album Bee Thousand. With over 1300 songs registered to his name with BMI, Pollard is among the most prolific songwriters of his time. In 2006 Paste Magazine listed him at the 78th greatest living songwriter.

Pollard began releasing solo records in 1996, alongside regular releases from Guided by Voices. These albums were typically recorded with a small group consisting of current or former Guided by Voices members, and they were generally considered to informally be part of the Guided by Voices canon, as that band would regularly perform selections from the solo releases in concert.
After the dissolution of Guided by Voices in 2004, Robert Pollard launched his official solo career with the release of From a Compound Eye in February 2006. Pollard's recent studio work has eschewed the live-band format, instead relying on the multi-instrumental talents of Todd Tobias, who produced several Guided by Voices albums. In 2006, he resumed touring with a new band informally dubbed "The Ascended Masters", which featured Tommy Keene on lead guitar and keyboards, Dave Phillips on guitar, Jon Wurster on drums, and Jason Narducy on bass. After Normal Happiness was released, the band returned to the road but subsequent to the cancellation of some 2006 dates due to a leg injury, Pollard announced his retirement from touring. Pollard, however, has since toured with Boston Spaceships.

Pollard resides just outside of Dayton, OH. with his wife, Sarah.

And My Unit Moves
Robert Pollard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well this thing changes
look over a job well done
spies in the hangar
a computer's belly of foreign parts

And my unit moves
So this points cut a villain
everything in perfect order

I've not snitched out the banger
narcoleptic cliff hanger
now that it's safe

And my unit moves

Overall Meaning

The song "And My Unit Moves" by Robert Pollard is fairly cryptic, but it seems to be discussing changes or transformations that are taking place. The first verse talks about something changing, but it's not clear what that thing is. The mention of a "job well done" suggests that the changes may be related to some kind of work or task that has been completed successfully. However, the second line is somewhat ominous, with a reference to "spies in the hangar." This could suggest that the changes are not entirely positive, and that there may be some kind of threat involved.

The second verse is even more cryptic. It seems to be describing a person who has cut something, perhaps with a sharp object like a knife. The line "everything in perfect order" seems almost sarcastic, as though the person is trying to convince themselves that what they've done was necessary and justified. The mention of not "snitching out the banger" is also mysterious, as it's not clear what a "banger" might be in this context. The final line of the verse, "narcoleptic cliffhanger, now that it's safe," is perhaps the most intriguing. It's possible that this line is describing a state of exhausted relief, as though the person has been holding their breath and is now able to relax.

The chorus, "and my unit moves," is repeated several times throughout the song. It's unclear what exactly "my unit" refers to, but it seems to suggest some kind of group or organization that is going through the changes described in the song.

Overall, "And My Unit Moves" is a mysterious and intriguing song that invites interpretation.

Line by Line Meaning

Well this thing changes
The situation is evolving

look over a job well done
Reflect on the accomplishments

spies in the hangar
Secret agents are present

a computer's belly of foreign parts
The computer has international components

And my unit moves
I am taking action

So this points cut a villain
This step brings me closer to defeating the enemy

everything in perfect order
All variables are under control

I've not snitched out the banger
I haven't betrayed my allies

narcoleptic cliff hanger
An intense situation that keeps me on edge

now that it's safe
After the danger has passed