The band consists of singer-songwriter and guitarist Ted Leo, guitarist James Canty, bassist Marty 'Violence' Key, and drummer Chris Wilson. After his previous band, Chisel, broke up in the late 1990s, Ted recorded the Tej Leo(?) Rx Pharmacists [sic] album in 1999, followed by the Treble in Trouble EP in 2000.
His next album, 2001's The Tyranny of Distance, quickly gained him a cult following and critical praise. Dave Lerner and Chris Wilson became permanent members of the band during the tour that year, as did keyboard player Dorien Garry. James Canty (ex-Nation of Ulysses, Make-Up, etc.) also played with the band during this time.
The album Hearts of Oak followed in 2003, which also saw the release of the concert film Dirty Old Town and the Tell Balgeary, Balgury is Dead EP. Garry left the band before the recording of 2004's Shake the Sheets, which has led them into their current setup as a power trio. The new record featured fewer obscure references and more overt political content than his previous releases did, though his music has always been known for its engagement with politics.
The band tours extensively around North America. Leo is a strict vegan. His brother Chris Leo is also a singer/songwriter and a member of The Lapse. Ted Leo graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1994 with a degree in English.
The Sons Of Cain
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists Lyrics
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Cold morning rises from the night
No smile smiles back through the glare
No voice calls back from the stairs
Oh, those wounds on your blistered feet
That march you on along that dusted street
Oh, that dust gathers 'round your head
All the talking, this and that
None taking me to where you're at
Oh, as fine as the day is long
Oh, my fineness, where have you gone?
And I know I'm not to sing of fights I've missed
But alone, I've got to sing just to exist
And to resist
So you're gone now and who's to blame?
Left down here among the sons of Cain
Have you gone on to their heavenly flame?
Leaving me here among the sons of Cain
So you're gone now and who's to blame?
Left down here among the sons of Cain
Oh, you're gone now and who's to blame?
All alone among the sons of Cain
The Sons of Cain by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists talks about a person's loneliness and their struggle to find someone who understands them. The song begins with a mention of a lonely and endless light, a metaphor for the person's internal emotional state. The cold morning that rises from the night portrays the harsh reality that the person faces. They are left with no support, no one to call out to, and no one to back them up. The wounds on the blistered feet represent the difficulties that they face in their life journey. Despite all the struggles, they continue to march on tirelessly.
The chorus of the song speaks about the longing to find someone who understands them. The songwriter sings about how he has been talking to others about his troubles, but none of them take him to where his loneliness resides. The verse "As fine as the day is long, Oh, my fineness, where have you gone?" represents the search for someone who understands and accepts them for who they are.
The song ends with a mention of the sons of Cain, the descendants of the biblical Cain. The songwriter reflects on whether the person they were searching for has left them for a better place. In contrast, they are left alone with the sons of Cain, implying that they are stuck in a world filled with constant struggle and negativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, lonely and endless light
The singer feels isolated and overwhelmed by an all-consuming emptiness.
Cold morning rises from the night
The singer is describing the beginning of a new day that feels bleak and unwelcoming.
No smile smiles back through the glare
The singer feels unacknowledged and unnoticed; no one returns their smile.
No voice calls back from the stairs
The artist is calling out but receiving no reply, feeling unheard and abandoned.
Oh, those wounds on your blistered feet
The artist is referring to the physical or metaphorical wounds that one carries while struggling to survive.
That march you on along that dusted street
The singer is admiring the strength and resilience of the person who continues to push forward despite adversity.
Oh, that dust gathers 'round your head
The singer is describing the hardships of life and how they build up around a person over time, becoming oppressive.
As clean I rise from my lonely bed
The artist is acknowledging their own privilege in waking up to a life that is not as difficult as the person they are singing about.
All the talking, this and that
The artist is frustrated by meaningless chatter that is not actually helping anyone.
None taking me to where you're at
Despite all the talk, no one is really doing anything to help or support the person in need.
Oh, as fine as the day is long
The singer is longing for a time or place where everything is perfect and beautiful.
Oh, my fineness, where have you gone?
The artist is asking what happened to the ideal time or place, and why it is no longer within reach.
And I know I'm not to sing of fights I've missed
The singer is acknowledging that they should not dwell on the past or missed opportunities.
But alone, I've got to sing just to exist
Despite the odds, the singer feels they must keep going; singing is a metaphor for persevering through hardships.
And to resist
The singer is also acknowledging that they must actively fight against oppression and injustice.
So you're gone now and who's to blame?
The artist is mourning the departure of someone who was once present but is now absent, and is questioning what led to their departure.
Left down here among the sons of Cain
The artist is acknowledging the fallen state of humanity and the difficulty of living in a world full of suffering and pain.
Have you gone on to their heavenly flame?
The singer is wondering if the person they are mourning has transcended suffering and gone on to a better place.
Leaving me here among the sons of Cain
The singer is emphasizing their continued struggle on Earth, highlighting the contrast between their own hardship and the possible relief the other person has found.
Oh, you're gone now and who's to blame?
The artist is repeating the same question from earlier, emphasizing their feeling of loss and confusion.
All alone among the sons of Cain
The artist is emphasizing their continued sense of loneliness and isolation in a world filled with people who are struggling and suffering.
Contributed by Micah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.