Following the dissolution of Red House Painters after the tumultuous release of their last album Old Ramon, Kozelek released a handful of solo recordings before forming Sun Kil Moon in 2002. Their debut album, Ghosts of the Great Highway, was written entirely by Kozelek, and released by Jetset Records in 2003. It is an album centered around the theme of memory, connecting Kozelek's haunting memories with the true-life stories of deceased boxers, such as featherweight champion Salvador Sanchez and flyweight Pancho Villa. Kozelek's music with Sun Kil Moon spans genres such as the simple acoustic country-folk of "Glenn Tipton" to the heavy, Crazy Horse-esque rock of "Salvador Sanchez" and the light-hearted "Lily And Parrots," onto the fourteen minute psychedelic tour de force, "Duk Koo Kim" (another homage to a deceased boxer) and the beautiful and haunting "Gentle Moon" and "Carry Me Ohio." Kozelek's voice is now more flexible and less downcast than in his work with Red House Painters, resulting in a resonant and often beautiful album.
The band's follow-up Tiny Cities was released on November 1st 2005 on Kozelek's own Caldo Verde label. The album covers eleven songs by the indie/alternative group Modest Mouse and, in its sparse production and spare instrumentation, is more or less a solo work by Kozelek.
Kozelek is known for covering songs from bands not normally associated to his genre of slow, introspective music. They are more than traditional covers, as they are extensively re-worked and re-interpreted to the point that they are often not recognizable to the originals, and take on a different meaning despite the lyrics remaining intact word-for-word. Kozelek's 2000 solo debut Rock 'n' Roll Singer featured covers of songs by AC/DC and John Denver.
His solo 2001 follow-up, What's Next to the Moon was an entire album of AC/DC songs done in his typically languid, hypnotically melancholy acoustic style. Even further back, Songs For A Blue Guitar, the 1996 Red House Painters album, featured covers of Yes's Long Distance Runaround, Paul McCartney & Wings's Silly Love Songs and The Cars' "All Mixed Up". Tiny Cities is very much in this tradition, taking the often frenetic, noisy songs of Modest Mouse and transforming them into haunting, acoustic guitar-dominated midtempo ballads filled with a deep-seated, haunting melancholy.
Lily and Parrots
Sun Kil Moon Lyrics
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In the early morning hours
For the moment, I am disrupted
But in time she'll make me smile
All the wonderous animals
Roamin' round the earth
Bring us songs of calm
They do no wrong
You don't know just how much I miss you
Yah my stomach aches in your absence
I don't know what I'd do without you
'Cause I'd have no one to follow
You are my love
I hold you above
Everything and everyone
Yeah everyone
Everyone
Hear outside all the kids are playin
They're my wake up call each day
Look at them,
Their little lives beginning
I have watched them over years
Blooming like sweet roses
Dryin' their wet noses
No thought of the cold
Yeah I feel old
I feel old
Yesterday we found a hidden passage
And I opened my sleepy eyes
Through the trees parrots swept up past us
And the gardens there smelled good
All the pretty houses
Decoratively coloured
Tonight I want no other
Than my own
Than my own
In the song "Lily and Parrots" by Sun Kil Moon, the singer describes the experience of being interrupted by someone early in the morning, but ultimately finding happiness in their presence. The first verse describes the disruption caused by this person, but also hints at their ability to bring joy ("in time she'll make me smile").
The second verse pays tribute to the beauty of animals and how they bring a sense of calm to the world. The repetition of "they do no wrong" emphasizes the innocence and purity of these creatures. The third verse is a love letter to the person who has entered the singer's life, expressing how much they are missed and how essential they are to the singer. The words "you are my love, I hold you above everything and everyone" show the depth of the singer's affection.
The final verse reflects on the passage of time and the beauty of seeing children grow up, while also acknowledging the toll that aging takes on the singer ("Yeah I feel old"). The last few lines bring the focus back to the present, with the singer expressing a desire to be at home rather than somewhere else. Overall, the song is about finding happiness in the small moments and people in our lives, and cherishing them while we can.
Line by Line Meaning
Here she comes breakin through my window
A girl enters the singer's life unexpectedly and disrupts his peace and quiet, but he knows that she will eventually make him happy.
In the early morning hours
The girl arrives at the singer's place early in the morning, which suggests that she's a spontaneous and adventurous person who doesn't follow a typical schedule.
For the moment, I am disrupted
The girl's arrival has disrupted the singer's routine, but he's not necessarily upset by it.
But in time she'll make me smile
The artist knows that the girl will eventually make him happy and bring joy to his life.
All the wonderous animals
Animals, which are a natural part of the earth's ecosystem, are fascinating and amazing creatures that remind us of the beauty and complexity of the world.
Roamin' round the earth
Like the girl in the first verse, animals move freely and independently around the world, without any rules or restrictions.
Bring us songs of calm
Animals and their nature offer a soothing presence, which reminds the singer to stay calm and enjoy life.
They do no wrong
In contrast to humans, who are capable of harming others and the world around them, animals are innocent creatures who don't intentionally cause any harm.
You don't know just how much I miss you
The artist longs for someone who is not present, and their absence is causing him physical pain and discomfort.
Yah my stomach aches in your absence
The artist is experiencing a deep longing and affection for someone who is not there, which is causing him physical pain and discomfort.
I don't know what I'd do without you
The presence of the person whom the singer is missing is so important to him that he cannot imagine his life without them.
'Cause I'd have no one to follow
The artist is so deeply attached to this person that he perceives them as his guiding light, the one he can look up to and follow for inspiration and direction.
You are my love
The person whom the singer is missing is his beloved and cherished one, someone he deeply cares for and loves unconditionally.
I hold you above
The singer regards this person as someone special and above all others, possibly even idealizing them and putting them on a pedestal.
Everything and everyone
The singer's love for this person is all-encompassing and overshadows everything and everyone else in his life.
Yeah everyone
The artist emphasizes that his love for this person is superior and more important than any other love or relationship he has with anyone else.
Hear outside all the kids are playin
The artist hears children playing outside, which implies that life goes on and the world is constantly changing and evolving.
They're my wake up call each day
The sound of children playing serves as a reminder to the singer that each day is a new beginning and there are always new things to discover and experience.
Look at them,
The singer is observing the children and what they do, possibly with a sense of nostalgia or longing for his own childhood.
Their little lives beginning
The children represent new life and new beginnings, which makes the artist reflect on his own life and what he has experienced so far.
I have watched them over years
The artist has observed the children throughout their growth and development, which is making him feel observant but also a little sad about his own aging and time passing.
Blooming like sweet roses
The children are growing up beautifully and naturally, like flowers that bloom and blossom in the right conditions.
Dryin' their wet noses
The children are carefree and happy, experiencing childhood without much worry or concern, like animals that don't have a care in the world.
No thought of the cold
The children are playing outside despite the cold weather, showing their bravery, resilience, and carefree attitude.
Yeah I feel old
The singer reflects on his own aging and feels a sense of melancholy or even regret for the time that has passed him by.
Yesterday we found a hidden passage
The singer and someone else, possibly the person he loves, discovered a secret passage, which evokes a sense of mystery, excitement and adventure.
And I opened my sleepy eyes
The singer suggests that the discovery in the previous line was perhaps a dream, which the singer just woke up from or which felt surreal to him.
Through the trees parrots swept up past us
The artist sees parrots flying over him and someone else, which implies that they are in a tropical or exotic location where parrots might be indigenous.
And the gardens there smelled good
The place where the artist is with someone else is beautiful and fragrant, and provides a sensory experience that suggests they have found a secret paradise.
All the pretty houses
The singer observes the houses around him and finds them all beautiful or charming in some way, even though he belongs to only one of them.
Decoratively coloured
The houses around the singer are richly adorned, stylishly designed, and painted in bright and bold colors.
Tonight I want no other
The artist expresses his devotion to his living situation, his loved one and the people around him, showing that he's content and satisfied with what he has in life.
Than my own
The artist emphasizes that his loyalty and attachment is to his own home and the people living with him, which represents his sense of belonging and identity.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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