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.
You Can
Robert Pollard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Manifested in psychobabble & holiday
Out to pattern
In pasteurization
You the priest
You the creator of self pain
In the house you built
On stilts
Psychic realtor
The lyrics to Robert Pollard's song "You Can't Hold Your Women" appear to paint a picture of someone who is drained and directionless. They have lost their sense of selflessness and instead turned to psychobabble and holiday to fill the void. They are trying to pattern their life, but it feels pasteurized and lacking in authenticity. The person singing the song seems to be addressing someone else, perhaps a self-proclaimed "priest" or someone who creates their own self-pain. The house they built on stilts is a metaphor for their fragile and unstable existence above the crashing waves. The reference to a "psychic realtor" is intriguing, suggesting the person is seeking guidance or insight from someone who claims to have a unique perspective on their life.
The song is open to interpretation, but it seems to convey a sense of the singer's disillusionment and frustration with the direction their life has taken. They may feel alienated from society or disconnected from their own emotions. The use of abstract imagery and wordplay adds to the cryptic nature of the lyrics and invites the listener to dig deeper into their meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Drained of selflessness
Devoid of the act of being selfless
Manifested in psychobabble & holiday
Expressed in jargon and leisure time
Out to pattern
Attempting to conform to a certain pattern or mold
In pasteurization
Going through a process of purification or sterilization
You the priest
You take on the role of a religious leader
You the creator of self pain
You are the one responsible for inflicting pain upon yourself
In the house you built
You reside in the dwelling that you have constructed
On stilts
The house is suspended above the ground on supports
Above the crashing waves
The house is located near a tumultuous body of water
Psychic realtor
Someone who can tap into the spiritual realm to assist with real estate transactions
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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