The Barr Brothers is a Canadian folk quartet founded in Montreal, Quebec, c… Read Full Bio ↴The Barr Brothers is a Canadian folk quartet founded in Montreal, Quebec, consisting of Andrew and Brad Barr (of The Slip), Sarah Page and Andres Vial. Their first (and eponymous-titled) album was released in 2011.

Best known as founding members of the spirited and unpredictable rock trio The Slip, brothers Andrew and Brad Barr had spent most of the 90s criss-crossing North America. In the spring of 2004, the band was playing a small club in Montreal, QC when a fire broke out in the venue. They grabbed a few guitars/drums and rushed out onto the rainy street with the rest of the concert goers. As the club's mezzanine was swallowed by flames, Andrew offered his coat to one of the waitresses from the bar. One year later, Brad and Andrew Barr were living in Montreal. That waitress is now one of their managers.

In his first apartment in the new city, Brad shared an adjoining wall with Sarah Page, a classically-trained harpist from Montreal, whose melodies would seep through the cracks of the wall and into the music Brad was writing. From this nebulous relationship, a friendship developed and the brothers, with Sarah, began recording and performing around Montreal. Soon, their friend and multi-instrumentalist Andres Vial was brought in to lend his wide array of expertise to the outfit, playing keyboards, bass, vibes, percussion, and singing. In 2006 they began to call themselves The Barr Brothers.

Hideous Glorious
The Barr Brothers Lyrics

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Did you come here for an ambush?
Did you come here for the truth?
Did you come here to tighten it down
Or to turn it loose?

I′m running out of reasons
For keeping it neat
Running out of ground

Beneath my feet

Darling I'm not
Saying that you are not
The best thing I′ve got
And that's saying a lot

I can still feel the hole
Where the revelation nailed me to the wall
Now I can't recall
If there was any revelation there at all
Or just some kids getting high about it all

There′s nothing easy about it
Don′t know which way I should run
Maybe go to Mississippi
Get a ride to Gunnisson
Wanna remember how we did it
The first a thousand times
Wanna be a thousand people
Living a thousand different lives

I can still feel the hole
Where the revelation nailed me to the wall
Now I can't recall

If there was any revelation there at all
Or just some kids getting high about it all

Overall Meaning

In the first stanza of "Hideous Glorious" by The Barr Brothers, the singer questions the intentions of someone who has come into their life. They ask if this person is there to confront them, to reveal the truth, to control the situation, or to set it free. This sets the tone of uncertainty and introspection in the lyrics.

The second stanza delves into the singer's inner turmoil and confusion. They express a feeling of running out of reasons to maintain order and losing stability, indicating a sense of disarray and instability in their life. The ground metaphor symbolizes a loss of foundation and security, highlighting the singer's emotional vulnerability and struggle.

The following stanza shifts towards a more intimate and personal tone as the singer addresses a "Darling" figure. They acknowledge the importance of this person in their life, affirming them as a significant presence. Despite this recognition, the singer hints at a complexity in their relationship, suggesting that even the best thing they have may not be enough to remedy their current situation.

The final stanza explores themes of seeking clarity and purpose amidst confusion and uncertainty. The singer reflects on past experiences and struggles to discern if there was any profound revelation or simply a superficial experience. The reference to "kids getting high" suggests a sense of naïveté and recklessness in their past actions, further underscoring the theme of self-discovery and introspection in the song. The desire to remember and relive past moments contrasts with the singer's current state of confusion, emphasizing the journey towards finding meaning and purpose in their life.

Line by Line Meaning

Did you come here for an ambush?
Are you here to catch me off guard?

Did you come here for the truth?
Did you come seeking honesty?

Did you come here to tighten it down Or to turn it loose?
Are you here to control or let go?

I'm running out of reasons For keeping it neat
I'm running out of excuses to keep things orderly

Running out of ground Beneath my feet
Feeling unstable or unsure of my footing

Darling I'm not Saying that you are not The best thing I've got And that's saying a lot
I'm not denying that you're important to me

I can still feel the hole Where the revelation nailed me to the wall
I still feel the impact of a truth that shook me

Now I can't recall If there was any revelation there at all Or just some kids getting high about it all
I'm unsure if there was any real revelation or just a superficial experience

There’s nothing easy about it Don’t know which way I should run
It's difficult to know what direction to take

Maybe go to Mississippi Get a ride to Gunnisson
Considering drastic changes or escapes

Wanna remember how we did it The first a thousand times
Longing to relive the excitement of new experiences

Wanna be a thousand people Living a thousand different lives
Desiring variety and new perspectives

Writer(s): Philip Bradford Barr, Andrew Gilmore Barr, Sarah Paga

Contributed by Evelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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