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.
Steeple Of Knives
Robert Pollard Lyrics
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This occasion rattled me a lot
We build our island towers high
Will it fall on me?
A steeple of knives
Caught in core emotions rising
Now our eyes have seen the hurt
Below
The lyrics of Robert Pollard's song Steeple of Knives are cryptic and leave room for a lot of interpretation. It can be inferred that the song is about a relationship that has gone sour and left the singer feeling exhausted and rattled. The line "We build our island towers high" could be a metaphor for the couple's isolation and detachment from the world around them. However, the fear of their own creation - a steeple of knives - falling on them indicates the realization that their isolation has left them vulnerable and in danger of self-destruction.
As the song progresses, the emotions rise, and the listener gets the sense that the relationship is doomed to fail. There is a sense of premonition and an impending relapse, indicating that the couple is headed towards a dark path. The mention of hurt and the use of the word "below" in the last line suggests that there is no way out of the situation, and the couple is heading towards a painful end.
Line by Line Meaning
Im tired of you
The singer is expressing weariness towards someone or something in their life.
This occasion rattled me a lot
The singer was deeply affected by a recent event or experience.
We build our island towers high
As humans, we tend to create our own isolated environments or personal 'towers' to protect ourselves from harm.
Will it fall on me?
The artist expresses fear or uncertainty about an impending danger or consequence.
A steeple of knives
This particular danger or consequence is represented as a steeple made of knives, emphasizing the potential harm or pain it can cause.
Caught in core emotions rising
The singer is overwhelmed by intense and powerful emotions coming from within.
Now our eyes have seen the hurt
The singer and perhaps others have experienced the painful effects of the danger or consequence mentioned earlier.
Premonition/relapse
The artist is experiencing a sense of foreboding or anticipation of future harm or failure.
Below
This one-word line could represent the artist's resignation or acceptance of the situation they find themselves in, or be a literal reference to something or someone below them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ROBERT E. JR. POLLARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind