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.
Powerless
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Lyrics
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That leaves me...powerless
I see my face from another time
From another day gone by (good-bye)
Arrogant and fast
A smile that leaks onto the saddest things
I know I know then what I don't know now
What I'll never know again
Powerless
Finding some shoes
Losing your feet
Finding some food
Losing your teeth
There was a time when the world was mine
Now it's yours and I'm...powerless
I hear your voice from another time
From a day yet to come (here it comes)
Beautiful and slow
A tear that washes through the gladdest things
Now I've forgotten how not to give it all to the
Very small joy that leaves me in tears and...closer now
Powerless
The lyrics of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum's song "Powerless" describe a sense of humility and acceptance in the face of life's uncertainties and transience. The song opens with a reflective verse on the small things that render us powerless, suggesting that it is often the insignificant details and fleeting moments that shape our lives. The singer laments the passing of time and the loss of knowledge and experience that comes with it, feeling increasingly diminutive and powerless.
The second verse presents a contrast to the earlier sense of arrogance and confidence, expressing a sense of resignation and acceptance of the impermanence and surreality of life. The lyrics describe the singer searching for shoes and food, only to lose parts of their body along the way. This verse highlights the precariousness of life and the inevitability of loss, reminding us that we are all mere mortals with little control over our fate.
The song concludes on a note of bittersweet beauty, as the singer hears a voice from the future which brings them to tears. The final verse celebrates the power of small joys to move us deeply, suggesting that despite our powerlessness, we can find solace in the beauty of the world around us. Ultimately, the song concludes that it is our capacity for vulnerability and emotional connection that makes us truly powerful.
Line by Line Meaning
Let me give it all to the very small things
I want to cherish and appreciate the little things in life, because they hold a special kind of power over me.
That leaves me...powerless
They have the ability to render me powerless, but in a positive and life-affirming way.
I see my face from another time
I remember a version of myself that existed in the past, but is now gone forever.
From another day gone by (good-bye)
Long gone, never to return again.
Arrogant and fast
I used to be overconfident and in a hurry to accomplish everything, but now I've learned to slow down and appreciate life more.
A smile that leaks onto the saddest things
I used to joke and smile even when things were tough, but now I've learned to embrace my emotions more fully.
I know I know then what I don't know now
I used to think I had all the answers, but now I realize how much I still have to learn.
What I'll never know again
There are certain experiences and moments from my past that I can never revisit or recapture.
Smaller now
I've learned to be more humble and recognize my own smallness in the grand scheme of things.
Powerless
But this newfound humility and appreciation for the small things has given me a different kind of power.
Finding some shoes
Even the most mundane tasks can become meaningful and satisfying if approached with the right mindset.
Losing your feet
But if you're not careful, you can lose sight of what's truly important in life.
Finding some food
Even the act of nourishing yourself can be something to be grateful for and take pleasure in.
Losing your teeth
But if you focus too much on the material things of life, you can lose touch with the deeper aspects of yourself.
There was a time when the world was mine
There was a point in my life when I felt like I had everything under control and the world was at my feet.
Now it's yours and I'm...powerless
But now I see how life is constantly changing and evolving, and I've learned to appreciate the power of letting go and surrendering to the universe.
I hear your voice from another time
I can remember the sound of your voice from a time that now feels very far away.
From a day yet to come (here it comes)
And I can also sense the promise of a future that hasn't arrived yet, but is on its way.
Beautiful and slow
I've learned to appreciate the quiet beauty and slowness of life, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
A tear that washes through the gladdest things
I've learned that even joy and happiness can be bittersweet, because of the impermanence of all things.
Now I've forgotten how not to give it all to the
But even though everything is fleeting and temporary, I've learned to give all of myself to the present moment anyway.
Very small joy that leaves me in tears and...closer now
Because it's in those small moments of joy that I feel the most alive and connected to the universe.
Powerless
And paradoxically, it's by surrendering my power to the universe that I've found a different kind of strength and resilience.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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