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.
The Companions
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are coming out tonight
They'll be here soon
They want to be here with us in our glorious times
And when they start to laugh, we'll laugh too
But when they start to cry, they'll ruin it for everyone
We'll ask them to leave
And they'll pull out their knives and kill us all
Close the gate
Lock the door
Bring the lights down
Put the light s out
Close the bar
Maybe they'll give up and go next door
Lets pretend we're gone
Pretend we're not here
Let's pretend we're gone
I'm too strong now I can't lose
I try but I can't lose
I stole everything from you
I stole your disaster from you
I can't give it back
Este recuerdo guarda su alma
Su alma guarda esta tumba
Dios guarda su cuerpo
Su cuerpo guarda su aliento
Behold the breath of the dragon
Mira el brillo del cuchillo
All the desperate people in this town
Are coming out tonight
They'll be here soon
The song "The Companions" by Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is about a group of people who feel a sense of superiority over the rest of society. The opening lines reveal that there are many people in the town who are desperate and unhappy with their lives. When the group of companions come together, they feel a sense of power and glory. However, in their arrogance, they fail to recognize the humanity of those outside their group. When the outsiders cry, the companions see this as a threat and want to get rid of them. This ultimately leads to violence and destruction.
The lyrics also touch upon themes of individualism versus community. The companions are too focused on their own desires and ambitions to care about those around them. They steal from others and refuse to give back what they took. The chorus "Let's pretend we're gone" suggests that they are trying to escape their responsibilities and the consequences of their actions. In the final lines, it becomes clear that the desperate people are still coming, implying that even though the companions may try to ignore them, they cannot escape the reality of the world around them.
Line by Line Meaning
All the desperate people in this town
The residents of this town who are struggling and hopeless
Are coming out tonight
They are emerging from their homes to seek solace
They'll be here soon
They will arrive here shortly
They want to be here with us in our glorious times
These desperate people aspire to share in our joyful moments and contentment
And when they start to laugh, we'll laugh too
We will enjoy their happiness as it is contagious
But when they start to cry, they'll ruin it for everyone
Their sadness is not welcomed and will ruin our collective experience
We'll ask them to leave
We will request that they depart
And they'll pull out their knives and kill us all
These people will react violently towards us
They're here now
The desperate people have arrived
Close the gate
We must shut the entry point to ensure our safety
Lock the door
We must secure our refuge
Bring the lights down
Decrease the brightness to conceal our presence
Put the lights out
We should turn off all illumination to avoid detection
Close the bar
We must shut the doors of our establishment to prevent the desperate people from entering
Maybe they'll give up and go next door
Perhaps these people will relent and go elsewhere
Let's pretend we're gone
We will feign absence to mislead these people
I'm too strong now I can't lose
I possess an unbreakable will and cannot be defeated
I try but I can't lose
Despite my efforts, I cannot experience defeat
I stole everything from you
I took everything you had
I stole your disaster from you
I took your tragedies and hardships from you
I can't give it back
I cannot return what I have taken from you
Este recuerdo guarda su alma
This memory holds their soul
Su alma guarda esta tumba
Their soul rests within this tomb
Dios guarda su cuerpo
God protects their body
Su cuerpo guarda su aliento
Their body holds their breath
Behold the breath of the dragon
Observe the exhalation of a terrifying creature
Mira el brillo del cuchillo
Look at the gleam of the knife
Contributed by Katherine J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
kungfuasgaeilge
I dig it. It's, well, 'glorious' how the album version blows you down with that huge gainy full mix, but this 'lounge metal' version works really well. Can something be chilled and creepy at the same time?
Dr. Robert T. Mullane III
I think so, yes. If one can be happy and depressed at the same moment; why not? It's great theatre in any case. Intriguing, is it not? It is the natural reaction to: 1. the times and current culture; or progression from...2. the natural need of the performing artist to progress into something 'other than' what has gone before. And so it goes.
Mihail Sirbu
fucking awesome !!! Makes my drop a tear...
MauVideos
Amazing. Come to México, please :)
Rudyard Cesar Rojas Abarquez
Amen.....
meatforyourmom
all the desperate people in this town are coming out tonight,truly and indeed they'll be here soon...a promise.
BillsSoundTown
nils needs a cough drop, hehehe. GREAT UPLOAD!!!