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.
What Shall We Do Without Us?
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum Lyrics
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Expect to find all of you
Marching through the streets
With great bunches of
Wildflowers in your arms
Now when I get back here
The lyrics of "What Shall We Do Without Us?" by Sleepytime Gorilla Museum offer a contemplative and melancholic reflection on the human condition and the cycles of life and death. The singer seems to be addressing a group of people, perhaps friends or followers, and expressing his anticipation of their actions when he returns. He imagines them gathering and marching through the streets with wildflowers in their arms, suggesting a sense of renewal and hopefulness.
This image stands in stark contrast to the rest of the song, which is filled with unsettling and surreal imagery. The lyrics touch on themes of decay, violence, and despair, with references to burning cities, blood on the walls, and animal slaughterhouses. The overall effect is one of disorientation and unease, as the listener is forced to confront the darker aspects of existence even as the singer yearns for beauty and connection.
Overall, "What Shall We Do Without Us?" is a powerful and complex work of art that rewards careful listening and contemplation. It blends elements of folk, rock, and experimental music with evocative lyrics that challenge and inspire in equal measure.
Line by Line Meaning
Now when I get back here
At a future point in time when I return to this place
Expect to find all of you
Anticipating to encounter every individual present here
Marching through the streets
Walking together in a group formation on the roads
With great bunches of
Holding significant quantities of
Wildflowers in your arms
Carrying various untamed, delicate flowers in your embrace
What shall we do without us?
What actions will occur without the current state of our existence?
Contributed by Ella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.