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.

Rumbling Joker
Robert Pollard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Rumbling joker hides a lot
Rumbling joker lies a lot to you
Leads a calibrated life
Never does it rudely, foolishly
Cool inside

May we always cry
May we drink them dry

May we wake up small and pale
Asking very good questions
Justifying an existence
In the belly of the whale

Rum professor gathers wounds
Hidden in the frozen dunes by the highway
And a sour arrangement cries
Dead before the ink dries

Im not surprised
Bruised inside

Overall Meaning

The song Rumbling Joker by Robert Pollard depicts the character of a person who is always hiding something and lying to others. The joker leads a carefully measured life and never behaves rudely or foolishly, which makes the person appear cool on the surface. The lyrics suggest that the singer isn't necessarily admiring the joker but is instead offering commentary on the character's nature.

The second section of the song features the lines "may we always cry, may we drink them dry, may we wake up small and pale." These lyrics can be interpreted as a desire for the singer to experience all of life's emotions fully, even the painful ones. Asking good questions to justify one's existence is a better alternative to lying and hiding like the rumbling joker. The phrase "in the belly of the whale" is a reference to the story of Jonah in the Bible, where he was swallowed by a large fish and spent three days in its belly. The metaphor suggests that the singer recognizes the futility of trying to hide from life's challenges.

In the final section of the song, the singer introduces the rum professor, who gathers hidden wounds in the frozen dunes by the highway. The person seems bitter and upset about something, and the lyrics suggest that an arrangement has gone sour before it could even be implemented properly. The final line "bruised inside" suggests that the rum professor is deeply affected by these wounds, and it's unclear whether the singer has sympathy for this character or not.

Line by Line Meaning

Rumbling joker hides a lot
The subject, a deceitful person, conceals much from others

Rumbling joker lies a lot to you
The subject habitually deceives the listener

Leads a calibrated life
The subject operates with precision and intentionality

Never does it rudely, foolishly
The subject conducts themselves with reserve and wisdom

Cool inside
The subject is clear-headed and composed

May we always cry
Expressing sadness is a necessary and valuable part of life

May we drink them dry
It is desirable to savor every experience to its fullest extent

May we wake up small and pale
It is humbling to remember one's mortality

Asking very good questions
Questioning and seeking understanding is both healthy and enriching

Justifying an existence
Finding meaning and purpose in life is a worthwhile endeavor

In the belly of the whale
During difficult times, it is possible to gain insight and wisdom

Rum professor gathers wounds
An intoxicated individual collects injuries or hurtful experiences

Hidden in the frozen dunes by the highway
The damage or pain is not immediately visible or obvious

And a sour arrangement cries
An unpleasant agreement or situation causes emotional distress

Dead before the ink dries
Something is doomed to fail from the outset, despite appearances

Im not surprised
The artist has anticipated this outcome or is unaffected by it

Bruised inside
The subject has been emotionally harmed or is suffering

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT E. JR. POLLARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS