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.
Let's Not and Say We Did
Silver Jews Lyrics
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The fireplace burns backwards, let's not and say we did.
There's a trapdoor in the country where we can disappear.
These giant evergreens are a promise redeemed
Let's walk down the glassy top of a frozen pasture stream
Our minds can dream like soda machines
And that's exactly what we did.
You can't be against forever, let's not and say we did.
There's a party in the country, where we can disappear.
Dig if you will, a picture of you girl
Finding the fiercest way to live
We can ride all day in a one horse open sleigh
And that's exactly what we did.
And that's exactly what we did.
The lyrics to Silver Jews's song Let's Not and Say We Did paint a picture of an idyllic escape from reality. The singer proposes various activities - hunting blackbirds, throwing snowballs from the bridge, walking down the glassy top of a frozen pasture stream, and riding down the ridge to the military bridge. Yet, with each proposal, there seems to be a reluctance to actually do these things. Instead, the singer suggests "let's not and say we did." This creates a sense of restrained longing, a desire to retreat into a simpler life but also an awareness that such an escape is not possible.
The line "our minds can dream like soda machines" adds to this idea of an unrealizable escape. Soda machines are an everyday object that offers a wide array of options and flavors. In this context, the singer is suggesting that their minds are capable of endless possibilities and fantasies, but ultimately, they cannot act on them. The theme of disappearing also runs through the lyrics, suggesting a desire to abandon one's current life and start anew. However, even this is tempered with the realization that true escape is not possible.
Silver Jews's Let's Not and Say We Did is a study in wistful longing for an escape that can never fully be achieved. The lyrics are a reminder that sometimes, the most appealing thing is the one that remains out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's go hunting blackbirds, let's throw snowballs from the bridge
Let's engage in youthful activities and indulge in some harmless fun
The fireplace burns backwards, let's not and say we did.
Let's ignore the strange occurrence and not talk about it later
There's a trapdoor in the country where we can disappear.
We can escape from the world and live in seclusion
These giant evergreens are a promise redeemed
The beauty of nature fulfills its promise of serenity and joy
Let's walk down the glassy top of a frozen pasture stream
Let's enjoy the beauty of winter landscapes and frozen streams
Our minds can dream like soda machines
Our imagination is limitless and can generate endless possibilities
And that's exactly what we did.
We pursued our dreams and let our imaginations run wild
Let's ride down the ridge to the military bridge
Let's embark on an adventure and explore new places
You can't be against forever, let's not and say we did.
Let's not dwell on negativity or opposition and move on
There's a party in the country, where we can disappear.
We can immerse ourselves in the joy of a party and escape from reality
Dig if you will, a picture of you girl
Imagine a picture of a woman with a fierce spirit and passion
Finding the fiercest way to live
Finding a way to live life with courage, determination and passion
We can ride all day in a one horse open sleigh
We can enjoy a leisurely ride in a classic mode of transportation
And that's exactly what we did.
We indulged in adventure and lived life to the fullest
Contributed by Ava N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.