Formed in the summer of 2005 and fronted by the Reverend Marcus, a distant relative of famous author Mark Twain, Strawfoot performs with violin, banjo, harmonica, upright bass, guitar, mandolin, percussion and the occasional accordion. Their high-energy shows regularly include burlesque dancers and a tongue-in-cheek absolution of the audience’s sins.
A part of the burgeoning Gothic Americana scene gaining popularity both in the US and abroad, Strawfoot has performed with Th' Legendary Shack Shakers, The Ditty Bops, Curtis Eller, The Meat Purveyors, Reverend Glasseye, Humanwine, Of Montreal, Bobby Bare, Jr., Jason Ringenberg, the Black Diamond Heavies, the Monads, The Redwalls, Tim Barry, The Hackensaw Boys and William Elliott Whitmore among others.
Releases
* Chasing Locusts, (2007)
* The Space Parlour Vol. 1, (2007)
* Will Rock For Food Vol. 3, (2006)
* A Very Bert Dax Xmas Vol. 6; Fairytale of New York, (2007)
* Rodentia: the Best of Dark Roots Music, Disc 1, (2008)
* How We Prospered, (2009)
Invisible Man
Strawfoot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He lost his soul
Went hand in hand
With his self control
So he cried out loud
And shook his chains
Then punched a wall
To feel the pain
So he said goodbye
To the man he was
Did all the things
The dying does
Then looked real close
Into a mirror
And wondered how
He got to here
He didn't see
His face stare back
The cheeks were hollow
The eyes were black
A stranger's glare
Was all he found
Reflection gone
His spirit bound
So he screamed again
With all his might
Loud enough
To cause a fright
Oh, he felt a fool
Yeah, he felt absurd
But the invisible man
Was finally heard
The song "Invisible Man" by Strawfoot tells the story of a man who has lost his soul and his self-control. This person is feeling invisible and unheard, which is reflected in the lyrics "He didn't see his face stare back, the cheeks were hollow, the eyes were black. A stranger's glare was all he found, reflection gone, his spirit bound." This man is feeling so lost and alone that he resorts to punching a wall just to feel something, anything. He then begins to reflect on his life and all the things he has done up to this point, and wonders how he got to this place.
The song takes a dark turn as the man realizes that he is invisible not just to others, but to himself as well. He is unable to see his own reflection in the mirror and feels trapped in his own body. The lyrics "So he screamed again with all his might, loud enough to cause a fright. Oh, he felt a fool, yeah he felt absurd. But the invisible man was finally heard" express his desperation to be seen and heard, to have someone acknowledge his existence.
Overall, the song "Invisible Man" is a powerful reflection on the feelings of isolation, desperation and hopelessness that can consume a person when they feel like they are invisible to others and to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
The invisible man
The person being referred to has become invisible, forgotten, and unnoticed by society.
He lost his soul
The person has lost his core values, morals and is feeling empty, lonely, and lost.
Went hand in hand
The person's loss of soul and control occurred simultaneously and have been affecting him equally.
With his self control
The person lacked self-control, he couldn't protect himself from the uncertainties of life and gave in to his weakness.
So he cried out loud
The person felt an overwhelming pain and had to express his emotions out loud, he was seeking help and attention.
And shook his chains
The person was caught up in a situation that he couldn't control, his circumstances were hindering him and he needed to break free.
Then punched a wall
The person resorted to physical harm to feel any emotion other than numbness, trying to feel human again.
To feel the pain
The person wanted to feel alive again, and in the absence of any other emotions, he chose pain and resentment.
So he said goodbye
The person gave up on his former self and accepted the changes forced on him by life.
To the man he was
The person adopted a new persona to face the new reality of his life.
Did all the things
The person knew that he had to complete his last wishes because he had become hopeless about his future and life.
The dying does
The person was living his last moments with the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of life dying one by one.
Then looked real close
The person tried to introspect and understand how he reached this critical stage of his life.
Into a mirror
The person tried to look at himself from different angles but could only see his negative aspects.
And wondered how
The person couldn't understand how he ended up where he is despite being a good person.
He got to here
The person was trying to make sense of his current miserable life conditions and find a way out.
He didn't see
The person couldn't recognize himself anymore because of the considerable changes he experienced.
His face stare back
The person could only see the physical features; he couldn't see any life in his reflection.
The cheeks were hollow
The person's face looked empty, pale and he had lost the glow of his face.
The eyes were black
The person's eyes lost their glitter and depth that used to reflect his lively soul.
A stranger's glare
The person couldn't recognize himself. He resembled a different, lost, and unknown individual.
Was all he found
The person was unable to connect with himself, his identity was lost, and felt alienated.
Reflection gone
The person witnessed that he had lost his unique reflection, which he represented as an individual.
His spirit bound
The person felt hopeless and stuck, as his spirit and soul are now bound, preventing him from making any progress in life.
So he screamed again
The person couldn't bear the sense of isolation and lack of meaning in his life.
With all his might
The person was pouring every ounce of his energy and voice into the scream, hoping that someone might hear him.
Loud enough
The person was screaming loud enough to communicate that he needed help and attention.
To cause a fright
The person's scream was enough to scare anyone who heard it, illustrating the person's desperation and pain.
Oh, he felt a fool
The person knew that his behavior could be seen as foolish, but he had no other choice to make himself visible.
Yeah, he felt absurd
The person realized that his life had become meaningless and pointless, having to scream for someone to acknowledge him.
But the invisible man
The person was reminded again that he had become invisible and needed some acknowledgment to feel human again.
Was finally heard
The person could illuminate their struggles with being released only when someone could hear him and understand his pain.
Contributed by Owen I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.