Most of the band's albums, starting with their 2006 debut album Act I: The Lake South, the River North, are concept albums and a part of a common storyline, planned to conclude with a sixth album. The most recent addition is 2016's Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional. Additionally, they have released albums unrelated to the Acts; The Color Spectrum in 2011, Migrant in 2013, and the EP All Is As All Should Be in 2017.
The band began as a side project of Casey Crescenzo when he was a full-time member of The Receiving End of Sirens. The Dear Hunter was originally intended as a vehicle for music Crescenzo had written that didn't fit with the sound of The Receiving End of Sirens. In the winter of 2005 Casey recorded the Dear Ms. Leading demos. He created 10 copies on burned CDs that were circulated amongst his friends and posted online for download. While elements and characters featured on the demos would reappear on the subsequent Acts, Crescenzo has confirmed that there was a transformation in how he represented these themes and persons; while the story had its origins in his personal life, the Acts removed most autobiographical elements in favor of fiction.
Smiling Swine
The Dear Hunter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down the stairs, and made it to the second floor
Stopped by the squeaky wheel, a smiling swine
Stunned by the sight and fearing what's behind
Hey there he pleasantly began
Good day he telescoped his hand
Is there a service I can possibly propose?
Ms. Leading seems to me to be a proper butterfly
Tucked in my shirt, and finally made my way outside
He broke the scene, a Machiavellian dandelion
Blissfully plucked from the bloom of another.
But all the while
She was still fresh in my mind
And though this might be premature
But ambition strikes just when the mood is right
The mood is right.
Now all the while, now all the while
She is still fresh in my mind, she's fresh in my mind
And though it might sound premature
But ambition strikes just when the mood is right
The mood is right.
Oh.
Now all the while, now all the while
She is still stuck in my mind, she's stuck in my mind
And though it might sound premature, oh
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right, the mood is right
And the mood is right, the mood is right
Oh.
Now all the while, now all the while
She is still stuck in my mind, she's stuck in my mind
And though it might sound premature
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right, the mood is right
And the mood is right, oh.
Now all the while, now all the while
She is still stuck in my mind, still stuck in my mind
And though it might sound premature, oh
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right, when the mood is right
And the mood is right, and the mood is right.
Now all the while, now all the while
She is still stuck in my mind, she's stuck in my mind
And though it might sound premature, oh
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right, when the mood is right
And the mood is right.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
One, two, three, four
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
One, two, three, four
One, two, three, four.
The Dear Hunter's song Smiling Swine tells a story of a man who wakes up alone, puts on his coat, and runs for the door. He then stops by the squeaky wheel, encountering a character called the smiling swine. This character offers to help the man with a service and suggests that Ms. Leading seems to him like a "proper butterfly." The man then leaves, still thinking about Ms. Leading and how ambition strikes him when the mood is right.
The lyrics of Smiling Swine are quite cryptic, but they are indicative of the overarching narrative of the band's six-part concept album series, which tells the story of a boy known only as "The Dear Hunter." Smiling Swine is part of Acts II and III, which focus on The Dear Hunter's adolescence and young adulthood.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke alone, put on my coat, ran for the door
Starting my day, moving quickly to leave
Down the stairs, and made it to the second floor
Running through my morning routine
Stopped by the squeaky wheel, a smiling swine
Distracted by a manipulative person
Stunned by the sight and fearing what's behind
Surprised by their nature, concerned about their intentions
Hey there he pleasantly began
The manipulative person greets me with a false smile
Good day he telescoped his hand
Offering a handshake with a hidden agenda
Is there a service I can possibly propose?
Pretending to want to help me
Ms. Leading seems to me to be a proper butterfly
Suggesting a woman, Ms. Leading, as a potential target for me
Then I suggest you pack your bags and learn to drive
Encouraging me to pursue this woman, even if it means running away
Tucked in my shirt, and finally made my way outside
Leaving the manipulative person behind, feeling uneasy
He broke the scene, a Machiavellian dandelion
The manipulative person exits, leaving behind a sense of manipulation and deceit
Blissfully plucked from the bloom of another.
Taking what they want, regardless of the consequences or harm to others
But all the while
Despite the distraction and manipulation
She was still fresh in my mind
I can't stop thinking about Ms. Leading
And though this might be premature
Realizing my attraction may be too soon, too fast
But ambition strikes just when the mood is right
Feeling driven to pursue Ms. Leading, even if it may not be wise
The mood is right.
Feeling motivated and inspired to take action
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
Counting beats in the music
One, two, three, four
Keeping track of the rhythm
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
Counting beats continues
One, two, three, four
Rhythm continues
One, two, three, four.
Rhythm ends
Contributed by Stella T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Hrogand
I woke alone, put on my coat, ran for the door
Down the stairs, and made it to the second floor
Stopped by the squeaky wheel, a smiling swine
Stunned by the sight and fearing whats behind
"Hey there" he pleasantly began
"Good day" he telescoped his hand
"Is there a service I can possibly propose?"
"Ms. Leading seems to me to be a proper butterfly"
"Then I suggest you pack your bags and learn to drive!"
Tucked in my shirt, and finally made my way outside
He broke the scene, a Machiavellian dandelion
Blissfully plucked from the bloom of another
But all the while
She was still fresh in my mind
And though this might be premature
But ambition strikes just when the mood is right
The mood is right
Now all the while (now all the while)
She is still fresh in my mind (she's fresh in my mind)
And though it might sound premature
But ambition strikes just when the mood is right
The mood is right
(Ooooh)
(Aaaaaah)
(Aaaaaah)
(Aaaaaah)
(Aaaaaah)
(Aaaaaah)
(Aaaaaah)
(Aaaaaah)
(Aaaaaah)
Now all the while (now all the while)
She is still stuck in my mind (she's stuck in my mind)
And though it might sound premature (ooooh)
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right (the mood is right)
And the mood is right (the mood is right)
(OH)
Now all the while (now all the while)
She is still stuck in my mind (she's stuck in my mind)
And though it might sound premature
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right (the mood is right)
And The mood is right (ooooh)
Now all the while (now all the while)
She is still stuck in my mind (still stuck in my mind)
And though it might sound premature (ooooh)
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right (when the mood is right)
And the mood is right (and the mood is right)
Now all the while (now all the while)
She is still stuck in my mind (she's stuck in my mind)
And though it might sound premature (ooooh)
But ambition strikes me when the mood is right (when the mood is right)
And the mood is right
(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight)
(One, two, three, four)
(One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight)
(One, two, three, four)
(One, two, three, four)
@zmznzbzvzmznzb
I never thought I would ever be influenced by my children. but this is incredible. Worth the seven hour drive to Grand Rapids with the boys intact. I laughed when Casey remarked on the Taylor Swift concert. Every band was fantastic that night. But The DearHunter ,professional and very gratious.
@needlesstng5190
This is the first song by The Dear Hunter I ever heard and if this wasn't my first this probably wouldn't be my favorite band. SHOUTOUT TO MY BROTHER
@sirhawkjames
one of the happiest sounding songs but its so fuckin sad to see how deluded our boy is. that happy sound is literally the dude being in lalaland in the midst of a dark world.
@PointNemoProduction
I just saw Casey Crescenzo two days ago at the jammin java. One of the best show I've ever seen and he played this song. I never really heard Dear Hunter before now I can't stop listening to them. Casey also just a really cool humble guy.
@Jestercrow
Never truly listened to em until you've experienced the eargasm that is The Dear Hunter Live
@horXhay
Makes me wanna dance! God I love them!!!
@areminderofwhatweare
I love how much this song feels like A Day In The Life by The Beatles. Especially the piano in the intro, it just fits the whole concept so tightly and I can't get enough.
@johnnyjr6292
I love this song! And the whole album!
@riccardodemartino6498
This Dear Hunter's song is practically Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra. :D
@devine3111
Holy jeebus I love this song. <3