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.
Same Things
Robert Pollard Lyrics
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Same things allure me assure me
I'm not getting in or through
Going nowhere faster than most
That's the way the eyecrust crumbles
The everlasting holyman stumbles
A thread of resistance contains me
The lyrics of Same Things express a sense of apathy and disillusionment towards a conventional message that's constantly being relayed. The singer recognizes that the same things always allure and assure them, but they're not able to make any progress or find a way out. They feel like they're stagnant and are going nowhere, possibly even slower than most people around them. The lines "That's the way the eyecrust crumbles" and "The everlasting holyman stumbles" indicate that they're witnessing the failure of something constant and seemingly unshakable, perhaps referring to ideology or belief systems. The thread of resistance mentioned is what's holding them back from completely succumbing to this conventional message, yet at the same time, they feel weighed down by unwanted assistance from it.
The song touches on themes of conformity and disillusionment with societal norms but leaves the interpretation of what that conformity may be open-ended. It could refer to anything from politics to social norms. The lyrics evoke a sense of societal pressure to conform to certain messages that are constantly being espoused, yet the artist recognizes how this ultimately leads to a feeling of being stuck in one place. The song's tone is melancholic and introspective, with a guitar-heavy instrumental that adds to its somber quality.
Line by Line Meaning
I listen to your conventional message
I hear your typical words and ideas
Same things allure me assure me
The familiar things attract me and make me feel secure
I'm not getting in or through
I feel stuck and unable to make progress
Going nowhere faster than most
I'm not making any progress and falling behind compared to others
That's the way the eyecrust crumbles
Things are falling apart and deteriorating
The everlasting holyman stumbles
Even people who are perceived as always successful or wise can make mistakes
A thread of resistance contains me
A small amount of opposition or difficulty is preventing me from moving forward
Your unwanted assistance often restrains me
Your help is not always helpful and can get in the way or hold me back
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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