Sleepytime Gorilla Museum formed in 1999 in Oakland, California, United Sta… Read Full Bio ↴Sleepytime Gorilla Museum formed in 1999 in Oakland, California, United States. The band was founded by Nils Frykdahl (guitars, flutes, vocals) and Dan Rathbun (bass, log, trombone, lute, vocals) of the band Idiot Flesh, with Carla Kihlstedt (violins, percussion guitar, autoharp, organ, bulbul, vocals) of Tin Hat Trio, 2 Foot Yard and The Book of Knots, after the three worked together in Charming Hostess. Matthias Bossi (drums, glockenspiel, xylophone, vocals) and Michael Mellender (percussion, assorted melodic instruments, vocals) both joined in 2004. Previous members include percussionist Moe! Staiano, founding drummer David Shamrock, and drummer/manager Frank Grau.

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.

Puppet Show
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When in doubt you
Must repeat this
Elemental
Post-script refrain
Where I love you
Doesn't matter
It's the what
That loves who we are

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Puppet Show" speak of the importance of looking beneath the surface, the importance of paying attention to what is inside a person rather than simply how they appear on the outside. The chorus, which repeats several times throughout the song, stresses that "Where I love you doesn't matter, It's the what that loves who we are." This suggests that love is not about the external things that may attract us to someone, such as wealth or physical beauty. Instead, love should be about appreciating and valuing a person for who they are on the inside, regardless of their external circumstances.

The song also explores the idea of being trapped or controlled by someone or something else, much like a puppet on a string. The lyrics suggest that we all have the potential to be puppets, controlled by our fears, desires, or societal expectations. The song encourages listeners to break free from these constraints, to recognize the beauty and uniqueness of individuality, and to embrace the love and connection that can be found within ourselves and with others.

Line by Line Meaning

When in doubt you
In times of uncertainty, it is important to remember to

Must repeat this
reinforce this belief within oneself

Elemental
fundamental

Post-script refrain
a recurring reminder or message

Where I love you
The location or circumstance of love is not important

Doesn't matter
It is inconsequential

It's the what
The thing that matters is the essence or quality of the love

That loves who we are
The love we receive is based on who we are at our core

Contributed by Mia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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