The band tour the U.S. frequently in a renovated vintage Green Tortoise bus, and their live performances have featured puppet shows, pseudo-scientific scholarly presentations, and performances by members of the Butoh group inkBoat. SGM's music has been categorized as anything from avant-prog to art rock to experimental metal to RIO (Rock In Opposition). Many reviewers have remarked that the group is altogether unclassifiable.
The band uses many homemade devices as instruments, such as the viking row-boat and the spring-nail guitar. Rathbun plays a stringed bass instrument of his own construction called The Log which uses piano strings and is perhaps 7 feet long; it is played with two sticks: one in the left hand generally used as a fret, another in the right hand striking the strings. Mellender's percussion instruments consist of restaurant kitchen equipment, trash can lids, and other "found" metal objects, in addition to traditional percussion instruments.
They've announced their imminent end, as their last concerts will be held early April around California. But 2011 will still see a new album, a movie and a live DVD.
02 The Donkey-Headed Adversary of Humanity Opens the Discussion
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The d.h.a.o.h. opens the discussion
I am the adversary and must remain the adversary
I am not yours to embrace
I am not yours to invoke
The d.h.a.o.h. sleeps in the hall
Watches for signs of our imminent demise in the scratchings on the wall
The d.h.a.o.h. sleeps in the park
Mankind is a plague
Breathing hell into every corner of the rotting earth
Even now in this our finest hour I feel the hate of every stone, tree & flower
Even now we fall under the long shadow of the donkey's ears
Even now we listen for the slow grinding of the donkey's teeth
Lalala we weep in the din of the stomping of the donkey's black hoof
Lalala we weep for the slow coming of our doom (Dance)
Mankind is a plague
Breathing hell into every corner of the rotting earth
Even now in this our finest hour I feel the hate of every stone, tree & flower
Eaters of the soil take us into the ground
Death by worm
Eaters of the air drive us from the blue
Death by sparrow
Eaters of the sea take us into the green
Death by eel
Eaters of the scraps take in our beds
Death by dog
Eaters of the soil take us into the ground
Death by sand
Eaters of the air drive us from the sky
Death by flower
Eaters of the green take us into the sea
Death by water
Eaters of the scraps take us in out beds
Death by stone
Death by silence
Death by sorrow
The d.h.a.o.h. closes the book
The d.h.a.o.h. closes the discussion
The song "The Donkey-Headed Adversary of Humanity Opens the Discussion" by Sleepytime Gorilla Museum can be interpreted as a commentary on the destructive nature of humanity on the planet. The d.h.a.o.h. (donkey-headed adversary of humanity) is portrayed as an ominous presence, constantly watching and waiting for the downfall of humanity. The lyrics suggest that mankind is a plague that is slowly destroying the earth, and even in its supposed "finest hour," the hate of every stone, tree, and flower can be felt. The repetition of the phrase "death by" also reinforces this idea, as each natural element is personified as an eater that ultimately brings about the demise of humanity.
The d.h.a.o.h. is presented as a symbol of the earth's retaliation against mankind's destruction. It is not something to be embraced or invoked, but rather feared and respected. The song suggests that if humanity does not heed the warning signs and change its ways, it will ultimately meet its demise.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Donkey-Headed Adversary of Humanity Opens the Discussion" can be seen as a call to action to address the climate crisis and take responsibility for the impact of our actions on the planet.
Line by Line Meaning
The d.h.a.o.h. opens the book
The Donkey-Headed Adversary of Humanity (d.h.a.o.h.) initiates the discussion.
The d.h.a.o.h. opens the discussion
The d.h.a.o.h. starts talking about his stance as being the adversary.
I am the adversary and must remain the adversary
The d.h.a.o.h. states his position as the adversary and is unwilling to shift from it.
I am not yours to embrace
The d.h.a.o.h. is not something that can be accepted or embraced.
I am not yours to invoke
The d.h.a.o.h. cannot be called upon or summoned.
The d.h.a.o.h. sleeps in the hall
The d.h.a.o.h. rests in the hall, while watching for signs of humanity's destruction.
Watches for signs of our imminent demise in the scratchings on the wall
The d.h.a.o.h. is observant of humanity's foretelling omens.
The d.h.a.o.h. sleeps in the park
The d.h.a.o.h. rests in the park, and listens for sounds that signify humanity's decay.
Listens for sounds of our eminent decay in the singing of a solitary lark
The d.h.a.o.h. hearkens to the signs of humanity's downfall, even in the chirping of a lone bird.
Mankind is a plague
Humanity is a spreading and destructive disease.
Breathing hell into every corner of the rotting earth
Humanity is spreading disaster to all aspects of the dying planet.
Even now in this our finest hour I feel the hate of every stone, tree & flower
Even at our best moments, humanity is despised by everything in nature.
Even now we fall under the long shadow of the donkey's ears
Humanity is overshadowed and overpowered by the d.h.a.o.h.
Even now we listen for the slow grinding of the donkey's teeth
We anticipate and hear the incremental destruction wrought by the d.h.a.o.h.
Lalala we weep in the din of the stomping of the donkey's black hoof
We cry and lament amidst the cacophony of the d.h.a.o.h.'s destructive march.
Lalala we weep for the slow coming of our doom (Dance)
We grieve and dance for the inevitable, slow approach of our downfall.
Eaters of the soil take us into the ground
The earth consumes us by burying us in soil.
Death by worm
Death is brought upon us by worms.
Eaters of the air drive us from the blue
The sky and its inhabitants exiles us from it.
Death by sparrow
We face death due to sparrows.
Eaters of the sea take us into the green
The sea encompasses us by submerging us in it.
Death by eel
Eels are the cause of our demise.
Eaters of the scraps take in our beds
Animals that consume our remains are taking us to our resting places.
Death by dog
We die due to dogs.
Eaters of the soil take us into the ground
The earth swallows us by spiraling us into soil.
Death by sand
We perish because of sand.
Eaters of the air drive us from the sky
Avians oust us from the sky and we are forced to fall.
Death by flower
We face death at the hands of flowers.
Eaters of the green take us into the sea
Plants consume our deceased bodies and take us into the water.
Death by water
We die by drowning.
Eaters of the scraps take us in out beds
Their consumption of our remains puts us in our final resting place.
Death by stone
We face death due to rocks.
Death by silence
Our demise is caused by the lack of sound, resulting from our destruction.
Death by sorrow
We die due to the overwhelming grief and despair resulting from our plight.
The d.h.a.o.h. closes the book
The d.h.a.o.h. brings the discussion to a close.
The d.h.a.o.h. closes the discussion
The d.h.a.o.h. ends the conversation.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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