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.

I've Owned You for Centuries
Robert Pollard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you were drowsier
You were not quick to scare
Back then I could take you
Back then I could move you around and:

"Go down now!" you insist
So I want to ride along the fried out beaches
Everything is moving fast

Everything is new and clean

Things have changed and quite soon
Condominiums on the moon
Will you still hate me?
Will you still rate me so low?

And no man is beautiful
But be kind to me
I'll make a sudden change in uniform

But it's still me
I've owned you for centuries

Overall Meaning

In this song, Robert Pollard seems to be reflecting on a past relationship with someone who was once more timid and less prone to fear. He remembers being able to control and manipulate this person, but acknowledges that things have changed and they have moved on from him. The line "go down now!" suggests a desire for submission, which could be interpreted as either sexual or emotional. The following lines describe a desire to escape to a place of freedom and possibility, where everything is "moving fast" and "new and clean."

The next verse takes a more surreal turn, with a reference to "condominiums on the moon." Pollard seems to be asking if this person will still hate and rate him poorly despite the advancements they may see in the world. He then acknowledges that no one is truly beautiful, but asks for kindness nonetheless. The final line "I've owned you for centuries" brings everything full circle, suggesting that even though things have changed, there is still a sense of ownership and possession that lingers between them.

Line by Line Meaning

When you were drowsier
When you were in a more vulnerable state

You were not quick to scare
You were less likely to be afraid

Back then I could take you
In the past, I had control over you

Back then I could move you around and:
I was able to manipulate you

"Go down now!" you insist
You are making demands of me

So I want to ride along the fried out beaches
I desire to have freedom and adventure

Everything is moving fast
Life is changing quickly

Everything is new and clean
The future holds positivity and possibilities

Things have changed and quite soon
The circumstances have been altered and will continue to transform

Condominiums on the moon
New advancements will emerge that seem impossible now

Will you still hate me?
Are your negative feelings toward me permanent?