Forming in 1995 after a chance meeting in New York City club The Knitting Factory, the band's first release was the 1995 Human Pin Cushion EP on Dedicated Records. After some personnel changes the band released an eponymous EP on Motel Records in 1996 that Rolling Stone said "shows how pop culture and high culture can bring everyone to the same place." Original members Steve Calhoon and Rick Lee left the band soon after making this recording, going on to form the band Enon. Soon after their departures, Skeleton Key inked a deal with Capitol Records and put out the critically acclaimed (and Grammy nominated [for artwork]) Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon in 1997. The band then toured the US and Europe with a diverse assortment of acts (Melvins, Girls vs. Boys, Cibo Matto, The Jesus Lizard, They Might Be Giants, Morphine, Brainiac, Primus) before headlining their own US tour. After two gruelling years on the road and a half-finished album recorded, Chris Maxwell departed, leaving the future of Skeleton Key in jeopardy. (From Ipecac Records)
Eventually the band, which had by now been reduced to a lone Erik Sanko, signed with Mike Patton's Ipecac Recordings to release Obtainium in 2002. With a revamped lineup the band hit the road again, playing several successful tours with bands such as Tomahawk, Melvins, Alien Ant Farm and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. That lineup of Sanko, Craig LeBlang, Ben Clapp and Sean Sankey recorded and released the five song EP The Lyons Quintette on Do Tell Records and a live album (Skeleton Key Live at Metro) which is available exclusively through eMusic.
Sankey amicably left the band at the end of 2006 and new drummer Bob Vacarelli was recruited just days before the band headed out on tour with Chemlab and USSA in late 2007.
Official Website: http://www.skeletonkey.org
All The Things I've Lost
Skeleton Key Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lost something more important than that
I lost the silence to a swirly sound
"Ring". The melody to this song, came in a dream but I lost that too
And my friends, I've lost face
I was reading a book "the captive mind", but I lost my place.
I've missplaced my patience, from time to time.
Before you lost yours and I lost mine.
Of all the thing's I've lost, I miss you the most.
Of all the thing's I've lost, I miss you the most.
I feel the ground slippin' under me
And I'm backslidin' into things I don't wanna see
Along with my foothold, I'm losing control
I used to tell you what to do, now I get told by your friends
Your losing faith, I'm losing track
Some things you lose you find, and some things never come back
Of all the thing's I've lost, I miss you the most.
Of all the thing's I've lost, I miss you the most.
You told me about your favorite doll, you lost in Peru
And your dead father's watch, you told me about that too
You said you lost interest in the struggle with me
You said you lost your freedom, now how do you feel?
In Skeleton Key's song "All The Things I've Lost," the singer details the many losses they have experienced. They begin by describing the loss of tangible objects, such as their favorite hat, and then move into more abstract losses. They "lost the silence to a swirly sound," referring to the constant noise and chaos of life. They also lost their creativity and inspiration, as the melody to a song they dreamed of is now gone. Additionally, they have lost face with their friends and their place in a book they were reading. They admit to losing their patience as well, before others lost theirs as well.
However, the most significant loss for the singer is the loss of a person. They declare "Of all the things I've lost, I miss you the most" twice throughout the song, emphasizing this point. The singer misses this person incredibly, and it seems as though they were the only thing that could make up for all the other losses. The loss of this person appears to be one that will never quite be regained.
As the song progresses, the singer's loss of control and hold on their life becomes more apparent. They feel as though they are backsliding and losing their foothold. They used to be able to tell the person they lost what to do, but now they are being told what to do instead. The other person is losing faith, while the singer is losing track of things. The song ends with the other person listing the things they've lost, including their freedom.
Overall, "All The Things I've Lost" is a song about loss, both tangible and abstract. The singer has lost many things, including their patience and inspiration, but the loss of a person is the most significant. They appear to be struggling with control and feel as though they are losing their grasp on things.
Line by Line Meaning
Last week in high wind, I lost my favorite hat
I lost something I valued, but it wasn't the most important thing I lost
I lost something more important than that
I lost something more significant than my favorite hat
I lost the silence to a swirly sound
I lost my peace of mind and tranquility to a disruptive noise
"Ring". The melody to this song, came in a dream but I lost that too
I lost the inspiration and creativity for a potential song that came to me in a dream
And my friends, I've lost face
I've lost my reputation and respect among my peers
I was reading a book "the captive mind", but I lost my place.
I lost my progress and location in a book I was reading
I've misplaced my patience, from time to time.
I sometimes struggle to maintain my composure and calmness
Before you lost yours and I lost mine.
Before we both became frustrated and acted impulsively
Of all the thing's I've lost, I miss you the most.
I've lost many things, but losing you is the most significant and painful loss
I feel the ground slippin' under me
I feel like I'm losing my stability and control
And I'm backslidin' into things I don't wanna see
I'm reverting to negative behaviors and patterns that I had worked hard to overcome
Along with my foothold, I'm losing control
I'm losing my foundation and grip on a situation, leading to a loss of control
I used to tell you what to do, now I get told by your friends
I've lost my power and influence in our relationship, and now your friends have more control
Your losing faith, I'm losing track
You're losing your trust and confidence in me, and I'm struggling to keep track of everything happening
Some things you lose you find, and some things never come back
Some losses can be recovered, but some are permanent and cannot be regained
You told me about your favorite doll, you lost in Peru
You shared with me your own significant loss - the disappearance of your favorite doll in Peru
And your dead father's watch, you told me about that too
You also lost a meaningful item - your deceased father's watch and the memories associated with it
You said you lost interest in the struggle with me
You no longer want to continue fighting and working through our issues together
You said you lost your freedom, now how do you feel?
You've lost your sense of freedom and autonomy, and now you're questioning your emotions around this loss
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J WylandNot
This was one of my favorite bands from Lollapalooza way back in the day. I will be repurchasing this album this week...