Rotorelief Records, reissued in 2017 the first two mythical albums, eponymous from 1968 and "contact" from 1969
(rotorelief.com)
Contrasting the flowery psychedelic rock music of the late-1960s, the New York City-based Silver Apples created an avant-garde sound based on little more than a homemade synthesizer (named the Simeon after their lead singer - Simeon) and an extensive drumkit, originally played by Dan Taylor. They reformed in the 1990s, making new records and playing live again.
Silver Apples were one of the first groups to employ electronic music techniques extensively within a rock idiom, and their minimalistic style, with its pulsing, driving beat and frequently discordant modality, anticipated not only the experimental electronic music and krautrock of the 1970's, but underground dance music and indie rock of the 1990s as well.
You And I
Silver Apples Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You and I Could have each other
You and I Could touch each other
But we don't have time for the little things.
No, there just ain't room for the little things, why?
You and I Could fly together
You and I Could hide together
You and I Could see each other
But we don't have time for the little things.
No, we don't have time for the little things, because
Life is full of important things.
Life is full of necessary things.
Life is full of big machines
And there ain't no room for the little things.
No there just ain't room for the little things, why?
The lyrics of Silver Apples' song "You and I" are a poignant reflection on the importance of prioritizing in life. The singer states that "you and I could walk together, talk together, have each other, touch each other, fly together, hide together, see each other, love each other" but sadly there is no time for these little things because life is full of important and necessary things that leave no room for the little things. The repeated phrase "there just ain't room for the little things, why?" emphasizes the impossible weight of the tasks we are faced with in our lives, and the way in which our priorities often leave us neglecting simpler, more emotionally satisfying pleasures.
However, while the lyrics convey a sense of sadness and frustration, they also suggest a desire to break free from the constraints of daily routine and reclaim something of the joy of life. The singer's lament implies a longing to reconnect with those little things that make life worth living, even in the midst of a hectic and demanding existence. The choice of music underscores the lyrics' message, since the electronic and futuristic sound of the song seems to suggest the sound of the "big machines" that dominate our lives, further emphasizing the need for us to make time for emotional connections and simpler pleasures in our lives.
Overall, the poignant lyrics of "You and I" bring to light the harsh reality of a modern life that is lived only for the sake of fulfilling our daily obligations, highlighting the need to pause and prioritize the truly important things in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I Could walk together
We have the capability to walk side by side
You and I Could talk together
We have the capability to hold a conversation
You and I Could have each other
We have the capability to be there for each other
You and I Could touch each other
We have the capability to physically connect
But we don't have time for the little things.
However, we are too busy for these small actions
No, there just ain't room for the little things, why?
We are prioritizing important matters, so we do not have the space or time for the little things
You and I Could fly together
We have the capability to soar through life together
You and I Could hide together
We have the capability to seek refuge with each other
You and I Could see each other
We have the capability to truly see each other
You and I Could love each other
We have the capability to care deeply for each other
But we don't have time for the little things.
Nevertheless, we are preoccupied with more pressing matters
No, we don't have time for the little things, because
We are too busy prioritizing important tasks and responsibilities
Life is full of important things.
Our lives are filled with weighty matters that require our attention
Life is full of necessary things.
There are many things in our lives that we must do
Life is full of big machines
Our society is focused on industrialization and technological advancement
And there ain't no room for the little things.
As a result, there is no space or time for small, insignificant actions
No there just ain't room for the little things, why?
We are too consumed with important matters and societal expectations to give attention to the minutiae of life
Contributed by Evan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.