Pavement, a band started by Malkmus post-Ectoslavia, pre-New York, at this point began to gain attention. This attention resulted in a record deal and a constant inferiority plague placed upon the 'Joos with Berman totally at the forefront of the group. Misinformed music fans now saw the band as a side-project and, even worse, Berman as being not good enough to play with Pavement, many band members being shared between the two bands.
The connection to Malkmus and the now blossoming Pavement was not all negative, however. Drag City, then not the bastion of American folk music it is today, agreed to release the band's debut EPs which has led to a fruitful relationship (the label continues to release the band's records, right up to album number 7 in 2008, (Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea).
The Silver Jews in their later days primarily consisted of David and Cassie Berman who contributed most of the lyrics, and a changing cast of characters. They had numerous indie stars in a rotating line up, including Willie T. of Lambchop, and Brian Kotzer of Tim Chad and Sherry.
David Berman is also a poet and has been published in numerous poetry magazines and journals. He also has a book of poetry and rants entitled "Actual Air," which was released in 1999 and received favorable reviews from The New Yorker and GQ.
On the 22nd of January, 2009, David Berman announced on the Drag City messageboard that their show on the 31st of January in Tennessee would be their last. "Can't be like all the careerists doncha know. I'm forty two and I know what to do. I'm a writer, see? I always said we would stop before we got bad." After 10 years off, Berman reappeared in 2019 as Purple Mountains.
David Berman died from suicide on August 22, 2019 after a long battle with depression.
Honk If You
Silver Jews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cruising the strip on a Saturday night.
I smile and I wave and I hide all my pain
but the sign on my bumper gives me away:
Honk if you're lonely tonight
If you need a friend to get through the night
A toot on your horn, a flash of your brights
I know honky-tonk where we can go.
A booth in the back with the lights way down low.
The jukebox is playing a sad melody
for heart-broken lovers like you and me.
We'll laugh and we'll flirt and we'll dance every dance
and before the night's over we'll take a chance.
The morning will find us with a smile on our face
and we'll be together in a lover's embrace.
(chorus)
I know it seems sad to be so damn blue
but there's always the chance that you'll meet someone new.
I know that somewhere waiting for me
is a sad lonely lover with a bumper that reads:
(chorus)
The lyrics to Silver Jews’ Honk If You’re Lonely convey the feeling of loneliness and the human need for companionship. The singer is driving around on a Saturday night, trying to hide their pain, but the sign on their bumper gives away their inner longing for friendship. The chorus invites others who are in need of a friend to honk their horn and flash their brights, suggesting a sense of community despite feeling isolated. In the second verse, the singer suggests going to a honky-tonk where they can commiserate with others over a jukebox playing sad songs. They take a chance on finding love in the night, and although it may seem sad to be blue, there is the possibility of finding someone new.
This song speaks to the universal need for human connection in a world where it can be hard to find. The incorporation of a car ride and a lonely drive through town adds to the melancholic atmosphere of the song. The feeling of alienation that can come from living in big cities or even small towns are portrayed through the lyrics. The lyrics are open to interpretation; however, and some people may interpret them as a romantic song or others as a song about making friends. Whatever interpretation a listener may have, Silver Jews crafted a beautiful piece of music with lyrics that speak to anyone who has ever felt isolated.
Line by Line Meaning
Radio's on, feeling all right
I'm driving around with the radio on, trying to feel okay.
Cruising the strip on a Saturday night.
It's the weekend and I'm out driving around aimlessly.
I smile and I wave and I hide all my pain
I'm pretending to be okay and hiding my sadness.
but the sign on my bumper gives me away:
My bumper sticker lets people know that I'm lonely.
Honk if you're lonely tonight
If you're feeling as lonely as I am, honk your horn.
If you need a friend to get through the night
If you're lonely and need someone to talk to, I'm here for you.
A toot on your horn, a flash of your brights
Just a small gesture to acknowledge that we're in this together.
Honk if you're lonely tonight.
Again, if you're lonely, honk your horn and we'll be lonely together.
I know honky-tonk where we can go.
I know a place where we can go to drink and forget our loneliness.
A booth in the back with the lights way down low.
We'll sit in the back of the bar where it's dark and hopefully won't be bothered.
The jukebox is playing a sad melody
The music is setting the mood and making us feel even sadder.
for heart-broken lovers like you and me.
The music is meant for people like us who are feeling heartbroken and alone.
We'll laugh and we'll flirt and we'll dance every dance
We'll try to have a good time and forget about our troubles.
and before the night's over we'll take a chance.
Maybe we'll take a risk and try to connect with each other on a deeper level.
The morning will find us with a smile on our face
If all goes well, we'll wake up feeling happy that we found each other.
and we'll be together in a lover's embrace.
We'll have each other and maybe that'll be enough for a little while.
(chorus)
Repeating the chorus to remind people that if they're lonely, they're not alone.
I know it seems sad to be so damn blue
I know it's a bummer to feel so down all the time.
but there's always the chance that you'll meet someone new.
But there's always hope that things will get better and you'll find someone to share your life with.
I know that somewhere waiting for me
I believe that there's someone out there for me too.
is a sad lonely lover with a bumper that reads:
There are other lonely people out there and maybe we'll find each other someday.
(chorus)
Final chorus to drive home the message that we're not alone in our loneliness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hkhjg1734
i went back to my hometown for a college break. I was staying at my grandmas, all alone and with nothing to do so i decided to borrow her car at 1am and just cruze around. I was super depressed and seeing my hometown just made it worse. I was driving slow with the windows down when the dj on the radio played this song in honor of dave and his passing. It felt so perfect and I completely fell into the song, 3 minutes of bliss. Thanks Dave
@erickr.4495
RIP David Berman. The world's a lonelier place without you.
@davecespedes5674
I will honk for you David, I'm definitely a lonely person and you music has helped a lot, but ever since you've been gone I've been feeling lonelier than ever. We miss you, and I'm sorry this world was too much for you
@patricialowther4807
ive just discovered this guy, this is the definition of less is more
@teutonicbohemian
Such a fun song.
@mmworldwide88
Malkmus with the back up vocals! <333
@benjomein
Yeah on the whole album lol
@marinaonmarz
i noticed him immediately as well!!
@ot909
sad day
@cartersmith1220
What a special talent. Love this song.