Callahan started out as a highly experimental artist, utilizing sub-standard instruments and recording equipment. His reason for using the lo-fi approach was not so much an aesthetic choice, rather it came from his lack of knowledge of recording studios, and fear of giving up control to professional engineers.
His later work saw him overcoming his fear of studios and producers, and in this period he recorded two albums with the influential producer Jim O'Rourke and musicians from the circles around Drag City, as well as collaborating with the similar-minded Neil Hagerty.
His songs are based on simple, repetitive structures, strikingly characterized by his baritone vocal. His lyrics are often centered around themes of spiritual searching and the complexity of emotions, with the use of subtlety and dark irony in the classic sense. There is also a broad swathe of joy throughout Callahan's work (and a singular obsession with horses that he shares with Will Oldham and Mark Linkous). He is a keen storyteller using simple words to project large and deeply echoing tales.
Callahan's love life has been documented with vigor in numerous hipster publications, including his romantic relationship with Chan Marshall (Cat Power), who allegedly penned "To Be a Good Woman" in tribute to Callahan while referencing his song "To Be Of Use." It has recently been rumored that Callahan is now involved with Drag City labelmate Joanna Newsom.
Callahan is widely seen as one of the important figures of American rock in the '90s. He currently resides in Austin, TX.
On his 2007 album "Woke on a Whaleheart" he dropped the name Smog and used his real name, Bill Callahan.
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Smog was a psychedelic rock band from Perù, wich in 1971 released the single Time for the Blues
3. Sludge/doom metal from Nuremberg, Germany
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4. Black metal from Kraków, Poland
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Let's Move to the Country
Smog Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just you and me
My travels are over
My travels are through
Let's move to the country
Just me and you
A goat and a monkey
A mule and a flea
Let's move to the country
Just you and me
Let's start a
Let's have a
My travels are over
The song "Let's Move to the Country" by Smog revolves around the idea of leaving behind city life and starting afresh in the countryside. It highlights the singer's desire to move away from their mundane life of constantly traveling and explore a simpler way of living. The lyrics, "My travels are over, my travels are through" imply that the singer has grown tired of constantly being on the move and is ready to settle down.
The chorus of the song, "Let's move to the country, just you and me," is a call to their partner to join them on this adventure. They envision a life where they can live off the land with a goat, monkey, mule and flea, enjoying the simple pleasures that nature has to offer. The repetitive nature of the chorus emphasizes their longing for a simpler life and the desire to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind.
Overall, the song is an ode to the power of nature and the desire to escape the mundanity of modern life. It speaks to the universal longing for a simpler, more fulfilling existence and highlights the importance of companionship on this journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's move to the country
Let's leave the city and move to a rural area
Just you and me
It will be a new adventure for just the two of us
My travels are over
I am done with my wanderings and ready to settle down
My travels are through
I have completed my journey and don't intend to leave again
Let's move to the country
The peaceful and simple country life appeals to us both
Just me and you
We want to escape the crowds and noise of the city and enjoy each other's company
A goat and a monkey
We want to live close to nature and enjoy the company of animals
A mule and a flea
We are willing to embrace everything the rural life has to offer, regardless of its size or reputation
Let's start a
Let's begin a new chapter in our lives
Let's have a
Let's have a simpler, more peaceful life
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind