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.
Introduction II
Silver Jews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
hello, my friends
come on, have a seat
come on, in my kitchen
my friends, take it easy
my friends, have a seat
my friends, don't you know that I never
want this minute to end
In "Introduction II" by Silver Jews, the singer warmly greets their friends and invites them into their home. The use of repetition--"hello, my friends" and "come on"--creates a sense of familiarity and ease, drawing the listener into the scene. The singer then invites their friends to sit and relax, emphasizing that they want this moment to last forever. However, despite this desire, the moment inevitably comes to an end, leaving the singer and their friends with a bittersweet feeling of fleeting happiness.
The song's simple yet evocative lyrics capture the beauty and transience of human connection. The singer recognizes the importance of the present moment and cherishes it, while also acknowledging that it cannot last forever. The song's melancholic tone and the repetition of the phrase "my friends" give the impression that the singer truly values the people they are addressing, making the final line--"and then it ends"--all the more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello, my friends
Greetings to all those who I consider to be close to me
hello, my friends
Repeating my welcome to emphasize the importance of their presence
come on, have a seat
Please make yourself comfortable in my space
come on, in my kitchen
I invite you to my personal and intimate domain
my friends, take it easy
I urge you to relax and let go of any worries or stresses
my friends, have a seat
I invite you to sit and be present with me
my friends, don't you know that I never
I want to emphasize that my enjoyment of this moment is genuine and lasting
want this minute to end
I wish that this pleasant and enjoyable moment would last forever
and then it ends...
Unfortunately, the moment inevitably comes to a close, despite my desire to hold onto it
Contributed by Sydney C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.