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.
Port Authority
Robert Pollard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When my needle points north.
The blue south elegant with lovely lake
Eyes in a smiling river on fire look at me
Ape, the tailor whose fine linens he knows
Makes a man out of safety pins
Proud as an Indian
Of desperate clinging
Miracle girls commercially perfect
Excel at Port Authority
Shall I run out to meet your hopes
Of liquor, tobacco & chocolate?
Up on chalkleg mirror mountain
Subtle and juicy
The lyrics of Robert Pollard with Doug Gillard's song Port Authority seem to be a reflection of a person who feels lost and disoriented. The first two lines of the song "I can't know the song of the south when my needle points north" could signify a feeling of being out of place and disconnected from one's environment. The next lines, "The blue south elegant with lovely lake, Eyes in a smiling river on fire look at me" might indicate a sense of awe and beauty in the surroundings, yet the singer is unable to truly connect with it.
The lyrics then turn towards describing a character named Ape, a tailor who makes a man out of safety pins. This could represent the idea of someone who is disconnected from their own identity and is trying to create a new one. The singer then speaks of being "stained by the tears of desperate clinging" - this might signify a fear of attachment, and a desire for detachment and freedom.
The chorus speaks of "Miracle girls commercially perfect, Excel at Port Authority" which could represent a feeling of being powerless and ineffectual, while others around are succeeding with ease. The song then ends with the lines "Shall I run out to meet your hopes, Of liquor, tobacco & chocolate? Up on chalkleg mirror mountain, Subtle and juicy" which might signify a temptation to escape and indulge in worldly pleasures, yet feeling conflicted and unsure about it.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't know the song of the south
I am unable to understand something so foreign and distant.
When my needle points north.
When my compass directs me elsewhere.
The blue south elegant with lovely lake
The Southern region appears aesthetically pleasing with its bodies of water and blue skies.
Eyes in a smiling river on fire look at me
I am gazed upon by lively and passionate individuals, similar to a river eternally ablaze with joy.
Ape, the tailor whose fine linens he knows
Ape, an expert in his craft, understands his materials well.
Makes a man out of safety pins
He can create something magnificent from the simplest of resources.
Proud as an Indian
Filled with immense pride, like that of a Native American
I figure in future years I'll be stained by the tears
I believe that in the years to come, I will be marked by emotional pain and sorrow.
Of desperate clinging
Resulting from a desperate cry for help and holding onto life.
Miracle girls commercially perfect
Women who defy ordinary expectations of flawlessness and are products of seemingly impossible fate.
Excel at Port Authority
The women perform phenomenally, especially in the busy and demanding Port Authority.
Shall I run out to meet your hopes
Should I go out of my way to meet your expectations and wishes?
Of liquor, tobacco & chocolate?
What will you ask of me? Will it be as indulgent as alcohol, tobacco, and chocolate?
Up on chalkleg mirror mountain
In a place high, clear, and reflective like a chalk or snow-covered mountain.
Subtle and juicy
Having nuances that are both delicate and lively like ripe fruit.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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