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.
John Strange School
Robert Pollard Lyrics
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Where forests are dripping
But no one seals the sap in no bottle
Let it rain rich and muddy to a war
And a cage of kind mockingbirds
Lonely and hungry will starve
And that's who it is for you
The lyrics of Robert Pollard's song "John Strange School" present a vivid picture of an eerie place, where the forests are rich with moisture, but no one is there to collect the sap. This creates a poignant contrast between the abundance of nature and the neglect that it suffers. The next lines describe a war and a cage of mockingbirds, who are left alone and hungry to fend for themselves. The choice of mockingbirds is an interesting one, as they are known for their ability to mimic other birds' calls, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the way that society often mimics popular culture without fully understanding or appreciating its nuances.
The final lines of the verse bring the meaning of the song into sharper focus. The use of the second-person pronoun "you" suggests that the song is directed at someone specific, and that the bleak imagery is meant as a warning or a message. The phrase "that's who it is for you" is open to interpretation, but it could be seen as a commentary on the destructive forces unleashed by humanity's neglect of the natural world. Overall, the lyrics of "John Strange School" are a haunting and thought-provoking commentary on the state of our planet and our relationship with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Enter now into a place
Come and experience this particular setting
Where forests are dripping
In a location where the woods are wet
But no one seals the sap in no bottle
Despite the presence of sap, nobody preserves it in a container
Let it rain rich and muddy to a war
Allow the rain to pour abundantly, making the surroundings even more chaotic
And a cage of kind mockingbirds
There exists a group of mockingbirds in a birdcage
Lonely and hungry will starve
These birds, being deprived of company and nutrition, will eventually perish
And that's who it is for you
This unpleasant fate is what awaits you as well
And that's who it is for you
This grim ending is intended for no one but you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT E. JR. POLLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind