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.
Unlit Hallway
Sun Kil Moon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's hope I know
There's an angel she follows me
Follows me close
She touches my shoulder
Sings words so clear they bring comfort to my ear
She guided me home
Breathe my love, wake my love
Hold me my love
Looking out into the skyline today
How will we ever stay
Composed her smile her soul
Rising for miles, soul's rising for miles
Looking out into this morning she left
How will we ever rest
Staring at the ground we spread her around
They spread her around
[Chorus]
Coming in the haunted city at last
My heart beat fast
Down Kearney, down Pine, down Stockton, down Hyde
She followed me home
And I found you there asleep on my chair
I found you there
And I feel you near like you are still here
I feel you near
[Chorus: x2]
The lyrics of Sun Kil Moon's song "Unlit Hallway" describe a journey through life, likening it to walking down an unlit hallway. Despite this, the singer acknowledges that there is hope and that they are accompanied by an angel who brings comfort to them. The angel touches their shoulder and sings clear words that guide them home. The chorus of the song is a call for love and to be held by someone dear.
The second verse portrays the contrast between the beauty of the rising sun and the loss of a loved one. The singer seems to be struggling to come to terms with this loss and wonders how they will ever find rest. They then speak of spreading the loved one's remains as they stare at the ground. In the chorus, the plea for love and comfort is repeated.
The final verse describes how the singer reaches the haunted city, and their heart beats fast. They mention different streets as they move through the city, and the angel follows them home. Upon arriving, they find a person they deeply care about asleep on their chair, and they feel that the presence of their lost loved one is still with them. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus.
Overall, "Unlit Hallway" is a poignant song that deals with themes of loss, hope, and love. The lyrics paint a picture of someone trying to navigate the ups and downs of life, guided by an angel and comforted by the presence of those they care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking down the unlit hallway of life
Moving forward through the unknown journey of life
There's hope I know
Maintaining faith in something to anchor oneself amidst the uncertainties
There's an angel she follows me
The singer feels watched over by a divine being
Follows me close
The angel's presence is intimate and never leaves the singer's side
She touches my shoulder
The angel's comfort and guidance is palpable
Sings words so clear they bring comfort to my ear
The angel's words console and inspire the singer
She guided me home
The angel led the singer to a place of peace
Looking out into the skyline today
Observing the world with a contemplative eye
How will we ever stay
Wondering how one can find stability in the fast-changing world
Composed her smile her soul
The memory of someone's smile and essence brings calmness to the singer
Rising for miles, soul's rising for miles
The expansiveness of the soul's nature is emphasized
Looking out into this morning she left
Reflecting on the departure of someone dear during daylight
How will we ever rest
Questioning whether peace can be found amidst grief and loss
Staring at the ground we spread her around
The ritual of spreading the ashes of the deceased is observed
They spread her around
Others present at the ritual also participate in spreading the ashes
Coming in the haunted city at last
Finally arriving in a place that has a sense of eeriness
My heart beat fast
Feeling a rush of emotions upon entering the city
Down Kearney, down Pine, down Stockton, down Hyde
Navigating the specific streets of the city
She followed me home
The angel's presence continues to be felt in a new location
And I found you there asleep on my chair
Discovering someone or something familiar in a new location
And I feel you near like you are still here
The presence of the familiar entity is still felt
Breathe my love, wake my love
Expressing a longing to be with the beloved entity
Hold me my love
Desiring physical contact with the beloved entity
Chorus repeated twice
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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